The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Used rubber anyone?

Not the soft spongy foam stuff, at least not yet, three years down the road and that's all still holding up. No, I'm talking about the harder thicker stuff. Noticed quite soon after fitting new fuel cap grommet that it split after only six months. I'm back to eyeing up the 50 year old original - no splits just a bit out of shape. Clutch rod boot gone too, the same way, but can't find original which was still perfectly usable. Same for brake and clutch pedal pads, both put on two years ago and both in worse state now than 50 year originals. Annoying of all is the gas tank sender gasket. That's gone in three months. Original did it's job till the very end but fell apart on removal. Had new windshield fitted the other day and fellow fitting said my story is all too common. Said new windshield rubber might see ten, perhaps less and that I should regularly treat it. Said chemicals once used in rubber as a preserving or anti-perish agent now no longer used on account of being hazardous, also muttered something mildly cynical about in-built obsolecence. Yeah. As if.
So what now? A burgeoning trade in vintage rubber?
Also, anyone have an alternative idea regards that sender gasket?

I made a gasket for the sender unit on my 51 3100 out of gasket stock from the local parts store.No rubber. Yours may be a different style though. I know those rubber "o" rings on newer senders are a pain to put in because they expand and are usually bigger than the groove they ride in.---Jack

With all of the truckers on the interstates shedding retreads, there should be no shortage of thick rubber. I have actually took a drive looking for the stuff for various projects.

Picture about five years ago when foot pedels, shifter boot,
starter boot and mat was about five years old:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/115158229
Here's one of the same stuff just last night, which would make
it almost ten years old and about 10k miles on the truck:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/156025267
When I rebuilt the fuel sender I used Buna-N sheet from, as Tiny
linked to, McMaster Carr. No swelling or odor of fuel in the
cab:
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/156036515
The rubber is better than a fiber gasket material or cork
because those are permeable which will probably lead to the cab
smelling of gas.
I've really not had any problem with any of the rubber replacement
parts so far.
Got to mention that when I brought the truck home the original
GM rubber motor mounts were turned to mush about the consistency
of a Jello mold.

Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Buna-N is Nitrile. The only experience I have had with Nitrile is gloves. They are great for almost everything. The only exception I have found so far is lacquer thinner.

Really appreciate the advice. Have now ordered four sheets of nitrile oil resistant, 2mm - 5mm to cover all bases. Should also have mentioned I'm in the UK where we get prolonged damp winters and stuff we call mildew, it's kinda like land algi, it's where a white picket fence turns rapidly green and slimy within days and as if that's not enough this stuff then proceeds to eat whatever it's sitting on. Nice. So you see rubber here has a lot to cope with.