Clutch Master Cylinder--Waterproof Seal?

[sjaroslo]

I believe my car (67 Camaro) is set up with something akin to the DSE hydraulic clutch master cylinder bracket, which is great, but there is a pretty big gaping hole underneath it where the assembly pokes through the firewall opening. Is there any method to be able to seal that opening? I saw a picture of the bracket welded to the firewall, which was beautiful, but that wasn't offered and is no longer an option. Can the stock firewall grommet for the factory clutch rod be modified to provide that seal? I guess I'm not even positive that that's the same hole that the M/C uses to poke through.... Thanks.

[sjaroslo]

Bump for any suggestions? Picture doesn't show quite the entire opening but it is pretty good sized--large enough for buckets of water to splash up, for sure. Picture is taken looking straight up from below. Thanks.

63609

[rchaskin]

I had this same question......it is a big gap.......

I used an adhesive backed rubber piece (like 3" od x 1/4" thick) and cut a tight fit hole for the master cyl body to slip thru.
I put this on the interior side of the firewall to keep the noise down.

I plan on welding the bracket, and some closeouts on the side/bottom to the firewall when my car is torn down for painting.

Good luck.

Randy

[sjaroslo]

Thank you for the feedback. Unless anything different comes along, that sounds like the approach I might have to use. Do you remember where you got the raw materials from?

FYI, there's a great picture from the Rick's Camaro web site of the DSE bracket welded in--it looks fantastic, in my opinion--definitely the way to go. I would have chosen to go this route if I knew better while the paint & body work was getting done.

63662

[rchaskin]

Try MCMASTER CARR.

I used a piece of scrap laying around at work.

Randy

[sjaroslo]

Thanks, appreciate it.

[ed1le]

63662

That looks great, helps give a nice factory look.

[sjaroslo]

Yeah, there were two things that I wish the shop had offered to do for me while the car was getting built--this was #1, and then the American Autowire kit--the first thing that it tells you to do on a 67 Camaro is to enlarge the fuse panel opening per the template they enclose. Would have been an easy 5-minute job when they had the entire front clip off. Now I have to figure out if I can get at it with my Dremel, which is the only tool that I have for the job (and probably the only one that matches my skill level....)

[MrQuick]

Its not too late to do it. Tape your template down. I use a lot of tape and a step drill then change over to a mini recipricating saw.

Unless the inner firewall is dynamatted you can still tack in the filler piece then a little touch up around area. It pays to trial fit and mock everything before it goes to paint.

[sjaroslo]

Oh, yeah, and I forgot that the builder neglected to weld the studs to the inside of the smoothed firewall for the Vintage Air installation. His solution? "Use the DSE bracket," except that DSE doesn't make a bracket for a 67 with the Gen IV system--thanks a bunch!

[MrQuick]

Im going through the same deal with a Chevelle im building. Owner had it painted without mocking up anything. Unknown filler sections covered in nicely polished black paint.

I made a few brackets that mount to the existing dash support brackets. Also one that uses the bulk head nuts to support the lower section.

I have a few pictures on my Facebook page. Link below.

[sjaroslo]

Resurrecting an older thread; I just saw "Versimold" on Gearz the other night. Looks intriguing, and might be an interesting solution for my issue. Anyone have any experience with it?

http://versimold.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBRfK_DaS5k