1963 Comet Custom tail light housing question....

Treat it with mineral oil for a day or two until it becomes pliable. it will soften..or buy the reproduction of it.

Even if the mineral oil softens it up, there are chunks missing. Might that present a problem? And idea what the name of that part is? I have been unable to locate such online. Thanks for your suggestion.

It is the tail light housing seal, and I have used DUM DUM on these before, but it also dries and becomes brittle and starts falling away but works in the short run. I have been tempted to try some of that new flex seal liquid, make up a clay mold of what I'm trying to reseal. Don't know if that will work cause I haven't tried it yet but it is a thought.

Just a start, I'm sure you can locate the correct thickness in foam or rubber type compound. http://www.steelerubber.com/restoration-parts A few layers of dynamat would be ideal too. I do lots of restoration.

I saw grommets at the Steele site but not sure they would work as 2 anchoring bolts have to go through the tail light housing seals. It is apparent I am a very green novice at this, but am struggling to get educated. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Is it correct to assume that the tail light housing seals for the Comet should be pliable?

Yes, its correct those old age hardened seals wont seal! or dampen vibration to the taillights. There are many manufactures that offer almost every seal or rubber component you could ever require. Regards

If you think mineral oil would soften it for the long haul, I might try that, but will still have to, I guess, add something to fill in the areas that have broken off, etc. And, then adhere it to the housing with some sort of adhesive that will hold the seal when pliable. I am sure I am making a mountain out of a mole hill.

If your not going to take it off once it is in place use some Flex Seal, I have used it on a lot of old seals that were not going to ever be moved again for a long time and it works.

Will the Flex seal also make the older seal somewhat pliable?

Not really, but it can fill in some of the missing pieces if applied a little at a time. If you use mineral oil to soften the seals you now have you won't be able to use anything else to make a seal due to the oils.

I guess I still don't understand. It doesn't sound like any remedy applied to the old seals will make them pliable again, meaning they will not be protecting as they were originally designed to do.

Find someone that has a 3-D printer and they will make that right up for you !