I've searched about kick panel sealing & see advice to use 'a lot' to seal them in - some times to use most of a block. I was able to find a product named dum dum - it comes in a lot of small rolls about the size of a small pencil and a foot long. What I don't know is how many rolls to put together - how big a roll should I make? 1 inch diameter? 1 1/2 inch? One thread mentioned to put some on the car as well as on the kick panel. Anyone had experience with that?

Thanks for advice

Technically you can not use too much.
The problem with using a lot is that it forces you kick panel back into the car if that makes any sense. So the more you use, the more you have to push the kick panel back to the "outside" of the car. The more you push it back to the outside of the car (to make it lay flat) the more you are likely to create a gap in the sealant.
As long as the kick panel is sealed to the body of the car, water can not get in. A 1/4" of an inch is enough if you are experienced, but if not I can not imagine using 1/2". There are other products that will seal it better then dumb dumb puddy or strip caulk, but you will not be able to remove the kick panels in the future!!!!. If they are repoductions, that may not be a big deal. But if NOS/Original, stick with something like Dumb-Dumb.

Like I said, if you are experienced you will use less.

Make sure you clean all the old sealant off before you do anything.

That "Dumdum" product is rope caulk. It works, but it's kinda "thick" and hard and doesn't conform well and is hard to compress. It also sticks like glue, getting them out again will be tough.

Many will disagree, but I used plumbers putty. It's nearly the same color and consistency as the original caulk. It's easy to form into the required 1/2 rope, and easy to compress into place.

And the stuff will seal. If it can seal the drain in my bathtub for fifty years, it will seal a kick panel.

I did think about window/builsers putty when reputting mine in. after i got a leak lol
I thought it may become hard brittle over time, so didnt use it
Instead I have used builders tar foam sealer...it is like a sponge foam with tar impregnated thru it, from memory used a strip 25mm x 25mm.
I held it in place with some thin strips of duct tape while installing.
I also used as sealer in the rear taillights very sucessfully....and under the clear corrigated roof on the deck around the house

Thanks Jim & Steps.

I already have the dum dum from the body shop supply store so will go with it. It has held up well on my car for 40 years - & I probably won't be worried about it in another 40 years.

Original kick panels look great after lots of washing & Mar-Hyde satin sprayed on. Now that I've found the interior light switches for the doors, I can put the panels back in.

Thanks again for advice.

Put my kick panels in today - used roll of 3 strands of dum-dum. Seemed to fit in without too much trouble (no carpet in yet) - after I found the screw holes - next time, I'd not put dum-dum seal roll over the screw holes. Look great - interior is starting to come back.

You should put the carpet in before the kick panels, to get it to tuck up underneathe easy and tidy

Steps - OOPS too late - will have to do the carpet the hard way I guess as the kicks are in & I don't want to take them out again.

I installed my kick panels before carpet and had to take them back off to get the carpet tuck in right. After pulling the kick panels off a few times, now I can do it with out any bleeding or cuss words.

All this talk about installing kick panels, how the hell do you get them out?

u can poke the carpet up under the kick panel with a bent screwdriver afer loosening if the screws etc this is ok for the drivers side...the trouble here is it is hard to get the carpet tight..
With them off you can pull the the carpet up a little tight then as the kick panel is positioned and screwed down it pushes the carpet back into place.
I did find mounting the bottom door trim panel in place to hold the carpet right, then the lick panel over the sill panel....unscrew the sill panel , pull out from under the kick panel then screw back on.....Also the panel that goes around the steering column is good to hold the capet in place, before kick panels.

All this talk about installing kick panels, how the hell do you get them out?

I just removed them in my 68. It is a bitch! Since someone (not me) broke the extensions off I had to get new ones. Since they were junk I ended up using a short tire tool to pry them out of the hole.

Mark, as Deerhunter says - use a long pry bar - like a wheel wrench to get in behind and pry it out. My son & I took the pass one off & my restoration technician did the driver one. After seeing the stickyness, it might help to warm it up with a hair dryer or heat gun - just don't melt the vinyl.

Good luck