The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors rubber plug over master cylinder in TF

this is probably a silly question: is there a secret to getting this thing to fit? i bought a plug (from one of the usual vendors - i forget who) to cover the hole in the floor over the master cylinder in my 56. it is about 3" across. it is rather inflexible and as hard as a hockey puck. I can't get the thing to seat. i have tried softening it up in hot water first, put a little oil on it, beat it with a rubber mallet, pushed, squeezed, etc. Anyone have any ideas for me?

Make hole bigger.

that's not happening - the correct plug must be out there, as i am sure folks didn't modify their floorpans to get a plug to fit!

You have done everything, short of trimming the plug. I would try another plug from a different vendor. Sometimes you just run into a bad fit item and it drives you crazy.

Good-Luck
Dale

Your friends at AC Delco make something called "weatherstrip lubricant". It's a silicone emulsion, and it will soften the plug. You can also use it to soften up old weather-stripping, its great stuff. Watch where you put it though, 'cause it is silicone, and will cause troubles if you are painting. I really like it though. You can buy it at your local GM dealer, in the parts dept.

you might have gotten a defective one, but don't expect it to be a simple finger-fit thing .... the reason those plugs are 'inflexible' is cuz they're a rubber coating over a piece of steel, and any I've dealt with are a hammer fit ... get one edge into the hole with the plug fairly flat - tap the higher side so the low side is tight on the flange - hold it there and use a dull slot screwdriver to force the bottom rubber edge down until it's in halfway round or more - hammer the high side over and down .... after a few times opening it, the task gets easier, but a hammer is still needed

Bill

thanks Bill - i can feel an internal structure to the thing, it must be the steel you mention.

I recently replaced mine and thought the thing was to tight like you but that was comparing it to the one I'd replaced which was original and falling apart. Squeeze gives a spot on description of how I got mine on and I bet in 20 or 30 years it will come off much easier.