Has anyone replaced "cowl top hood to plenum seal"

[SSTibet]

Folks,

I know this is a minor defect but I want my Corvette as perfect as possible...

Problem is at the "air intake plenum for a/c & heater" area at the base of the windshield wipers. My "cowl top hood to plenum seal" has deformation around where the left and right metal grills are mounted on it. As you may already know the seal is made of rubber and is attached to the firewall with a number of screws / small bolts. There are two metal grills (driver & passanger sides) that are screwed to this rubber seal. I also notice something like a chemical putty (compound) between the seal and grills. I also notice sort of air holes (irregular shape holes) on the surface of what I call the "putty".

The "cowl top hood to plenum seal" looks in pretty good shape except for the grill interface areas, where it has "bowed away" from the grills. There are gaps almost 5 - 6 milimeters (little less than 1/4" or so) wide between the seal & grills.

I have been thinking of replacing the seal but I am now afraid of this since I have noticed this putty stuff around the grills where the current problem is. Has anyone changed this seal / grills before, and what is the luck for success? Should I do this and if yes, how?

I have attached picture of the parts from Corvettecentral and from my car below.

Cheers,

Selim

 

[SSTibet]

Waiting for inputs folks...

 

[JEFNLSA]

Selim,
Although I know you want your car to be "perfect", if the offending part isn't causing you any problems you may be better off leaving as is or just doing a little "surgery" to the existing part.

Sorry if I'm not much help but that's all I've got....
Jeff

 

[Vettelt193]

unless you are a perfectionist... just leave it alone paint the emblem on the engine covers first, it is more noticable

 

[SSTibet]

Vettellt193, this is an old picture of the engine... I have already replaced the C4 emblem on the cover and also placed adhesive labels (red color Corvette letters) on both covers. I have black color CORVETTE on the rear bumper and "LT-1 Tuned Port Injection" label behind the driver door. It is sexyyyyy.

 

[SSTibet]

I am still waiting for the answer to my original post...

 

[Vettelt193]

Vettellt193, this is an old picture of the engine... I have already replaced the C4 emblem on the cover and also placed adhesive labels (red color Corvette letters) on both covers. I have black color CORVETTE on the rear bumper and "LT-1 Tuned Port Injection" label behind the driver door. It is sexyyyyy.

sweeeeet.

As far as your original post goes, it will probably be a bit tough to find someone that replaced it... I know of many people that cut that peice down (shorter) to let heat out from under the hood, so it is a somewhat un-needed part.

 

[WhalePirot]

I suscribe to the 'if it ain't broke.........'

The question is, is it broken? Will replacing it, which seems YOUR question, will you create another problem, such as proper sealing around the screens.

Seems the hood presses down and deforms the seal to fit the hood. Heat would make any deformity permanent, probably on the new seal, as the old one.

$150k? Not at all unusual, from what I have seen. Gee, if the US charged import taxes, like most other countries, including Japan, Korea, and China, there would be an uproar about free trade; from THIS side. I thought those things went both ways, but what do I know. Some countries try to protect their industries and workers. We don't.

I once shopped replacement shocks in Japan for a Honda we used to own. The parts cost a LOT more in Japan than in CA. Can you say d-u-m-p-i-n-g?

 

[SSTibet]

Okay okay okay, I give up... Will not replace the part! May be add another screw or two to push the rubber seal back towards where it is mounted to.

Is this rubber seal connected to the "firewall" and if I drilled and screwed two small bolts would that damage anything behind the firewall?

You see, I am not giving up on this yet

Cheers

Selim