Technical Cowl hood seal

Very strange problem, my 350 rocket hydrolocks everytime it rains . Hundreds of rat rods out there with engines exposed but anyway what is a alternative rubber seal product I can use for a cowl/hood seal

 

What car? What air cleaner? How about some pictures?

 

And are we talking California rain or PNW rain?

 

Do you really mean hydrolock, as in the cylinders fill with water and then engine won’t turn?

Self adhesive foam strip works well. You can get it in various sizes and quiet soft so it’ll fill big/varying gaps.

 

Huh?

 

Sorry 1948 oldsmobile 350 oldsmobile rocket engine , at least 2 cylinders fill with water causing it not to turn , remove sparkplugs shoot water out by turning over engine install plugs all good car is in Florida .

 

Without photos this is a hard question to answer. A 1948 olds has a 2-piece hood that is secured together. Is the water coming from between the hood halves, or is it coming through the cowl?

From your description it sounds like this happens when it's sitting in the rain? Which cylinders fill? That might help you figure out where the water is coming from and what to actually seal. Does your air cleaner have a solid top on it?

 

Put an air cleaner on it, make sure the Oil fill cap and PCV valve both seal good and move on. If you still have water getting in, you have a bigger problem than you're aware of.

 

Is water getting past the air cleaner hold down? I had to put a rubber seal on one of mine do prevent this.

 

Don't drive in rivers.

 

Lost a brand new crate motor because of the hood seal leaking. 1954 Chevy with a calVan stainless strip on it. No seal on the air cleaner nut.

 

Never to old to learn , 48 oldsmobile has a single hood with a seal across the cowl but I never would have never thought water would go down threaded rod for air cleaner . I have yet bought a wing nut are a seal . So water goes to whatever intake valves are open . Thanks to all who replied

 

Are you sure it's water and not antifreeze? You could have a head gasket problem.

 

That was the first thing I checked all full

 

Hood is two pieces . Mine is not totally welded together . So unless there is some sealer under the trim it's going to leak..
Put some sealer under the hood trim,and a rubber washer under the wing nut on the air cleaner .
I have never had water to get in to mine.(same car same motor) it lived outside for years. Have had this car since 77.