Anyone know of a good product/source for this? I think the lack of enough of it has led to the demise of many a Rx-7. Without enough, I believe water is drawn under the seal, and between layers of steel, by capillary action. Clogged drains don't help any.
Rain season is starting here in FlorIda, and my next DD is nearly void of any sealer.
I'll try an auto body supply shop, but thought I'd check the collective too.

 

why don't you try some of the non-hardening silicone that is carried at most autoparts stores?

 

Fixing the drains would be a good idea, too.

 

Windshield adhesive

 

Try some Permatex Form-a-gasket #2. It is non hardening.

 

Thanks for the ideas, I should have said non curing, not "non hardening", sorry.
The stuff that's in there from the factory is like a putty(see photos). I managed to get some out of another car(very very small amount). Went to O'Reilly's, and they had nothing like it.

Divin, I can't possibly fix all the drains in all the 7's in the world

 

I don't recall there being any adhesive or sealant under my hatch seal, but it's been a huge number of years since I changed it.

If you're just looking for anti-wicking protection, I'd think a thin layer of clear silicone grease would do the job without harming anything. You'd only really need it along the lower portion of the seal, and if used sparingly, it wouldn't migrate.

 

Went to Napa, the guy looked trough a 3M catalog, and couldn't find anything. Also called a local auto body supply shop, they said no.
The silicone grease sounds like it would work, but may not stay contained under the seal, though that may not be as important as keeping the water out.
Really would like to find the OEM stuff. The 83 that I got the little bit out of in the photo, has very little rust in that area, rare for a SE car. May have to resort to an adhesive

 

I found this online today: http://www.bestmaterials.com/detail.aspx?ID=8984
Went to a local bldg supply and they had it, same price. Seems to have the exact consistency of the oem stuff.
I debated folding it over the metal edge, and pressing the seal over it, or folding it in half, and stuffing it into the seal, then press the seal on. Went with the latter. Now think I should have done it the other way, oh well. I can always redo it. I only went about 1/3 the way around at the bottom, and 2 spots at the top where the steel overlaps.

 

Ought to keep things watertight for you. Might be a bit hard to get off later, but that's later.

 

I don't recall ever seeing rear hatch sealant on any of the 1st gens I've worked on. It comes down to the drains being clear, how tight the latch is adjusted, condition of the gasket itself and the rubber washers for the struts.

 

Trochoid, you may not have seen it because you weren't looking for it.
An 83 (first 2 pics), and an 81 in my garage, I'll get you pics of an 85 in a couple days.
As I said in my 1st post, the water is drawn in by capillary action(wicking, as Divin put it) I don't believe the seal can be tight enough to prevent it.