Safe Paint And Adhesive Inside Hvac Duct Work?

[MN_Stang]

I have my entire HVAC box out of the car and trying to restore to new to go as long as possible before doing this PITA job again.

My questions are on safety of various adhesives, foams and paint to use inside the box.

I noticed there is a steel cross support in the blower motor area of the HVAC box that is all rusty. Can I safely paint that with self etching primer and topcoat? The can says not to apply to surfaces that exceed 200 F. I think the coolant gets about that hot, but can't imagine the air would... Ok to paint that steel to avoid future rust?

Also, I want to replace the foam on the door by the blower as well (damn mice), but wondered if I have to use a specific adhesive that would stand up to heat/ not degrade. I'm planning on using Home Depot weather stripping foam. Please let me know if anyone knows of something better.

Finally, there was a foam gasket around the evaporator that I plan to reuse. What adhesive is safe to attach to the evaporator?

Heater core did not come with foam i see in some youtube videos. Do people go without or again add some specific foam/adhesive from Home Depot that withstands heat?

Appreciate any advice.

 

[Davedacarpainter]

I cleaned up my airbox recently on my '83. Here's a link to where I started on it https://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/83-t-top-coupe-new-mod.892774/page-94
It goes all the way to page 102.

Lot of rambling and other parts done in those pages, keeping reading through it and you'll see what I did to it.

Etch and rattle can paint on the metal parts will be fine. The heat won't be a problem.

 

[billison]

Dave knows way more than I do, but on my car I'm using tamco 5311. They claim it stops rust. The owner posted a metal slab they claim they painted 10 years ago and left it side with no rust the the painted areas.

 

[MN_Stang]

Thanks for the replies! Great to hear from others who have "been there."