floor pan drain plugs
#2
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: North of Toronto - Ontario
Posts: 10,853
Received 3,135 Likes
on
2,069 Posts
If you're talking about the round plastic plugs
[Image removed as it doesn't help the topic]
Then there are a couple of theory's that pop up. One says they holes were needed by GM for manufacturing purposes (alignment jigs type thing) and the other is they are drain holes, now if it was drainage from manufacturing process like the steel-bodied cars that were dipped (primer?) and needed someplace for the excess to drain or if they were meant for a way to drain the interior if water did leak into the cars (open roofs, windows down, etc) is another story.
The steel primer dip thing might make sense since they were larger oval plates and installed from the inside.
Pick a theory and run with it
M
[Image removed as it doesn't help the topic]
Then there are a couple of theory's that pop up. One says they holes were needed by GM for manufacturing purposes (alignment jigs type thing) and the other is they are drain holes, now if it was drainage from manufacturing process like the steel-bodied cars that were dipped (primer?) and needed someplace for the excess to drain or if they were meant for a way to drain the interior if water did leak into the cars (open roofs, windows down, etc) is another story.
The steel primer dip thing might make sense since they were larger oval plates and installed from the inside.
Pick a theory and run with it
M
Last edited by Mooser; 09-17-2016 at 08:37 PM. Reason: Alan pointed out the correct installation is from the inside
#4
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: Westminster Maryland
Posts: 30,173
Likes: 0
Received 2,878 Likes
on
2,515 Posts
Hi ll,
What's interesting is the way the plugs were originally installed at St.Louis.
They were installed from the interior of the car, not from below as in M's photo.
So if there were a few inches of water in the foot-wells and rear compartment the access to the plugs wasn't from under the car, it was from under the carpet!!!!
So?????
Regards,
Alan
What's interesting is the way the plugs were originally installed at St.Louis.
They were installed from the interior of the car, not from below as in M's photo.
So if there were a few inches of water in the foot-wells and rear compartment the access to the plugs wasn't from under the car, it was from under the carpet!!!!
So?????
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; 09-17-2016 at 08:28 PM.
#5
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2011
Location: North of Toronto - Ontario
Posts: 10,853
Received 3,135 Likes
on
2,069 Posts
Hi ll,
What's interesting is the way the plugs were originally installed at St.Louis.
They were installed from the interior of the car, not from below as in M's photo.
So if there were a few inches of water in the foot-wells and rear compartment the access to the plugs wasn't from under the car, it was from under the carpet!!!!
So?????
Regards,
Alan
What's interesting is the way the plugs were originally installed at St.Louis.
They were installed from the interior of the car, not from below as in M's photo.
So if there were a few inches of water in the foot-wells and rear compartment the access to the plugs wasn't from under the car, it was from under the carpet!!!!
So?????
Regards,
Alan
That's good to know Alan, mine were all from the underside (so I put them back the same), besides with all the insulation and sound deadener in there it's not gonna drain anyway
So it's back to something during the assembly process?
M
Last edited by Mooser; 09-17-2016 at 08:36 PM.
#6
Team Owner
What's under those plugs....is.....the driveway.
They are there to let spilled fluids (or rain, etc) drain out when a spill occurs. Otherwise, carpet mold, smell, rust on metal seat rails, etc.
Many 40 year old C3's no longer have them in place. But, if you drive in the rain, it's a "good thing" to have them. They also keep the water from coming in from the bottom.
They are there to let spilled fluids (or rain, etc) drain out when a spill occurs. Otherwise, carpet mold, smell, rust on metal seat rails, etc.
Many 40 year old C3's no longer have them in place. But, if you drive in the rain, it's a "good thing" to have them. They also keep the water from coming in from the bottom.
Last edited by 7T1vette; 09-17-2016 at 08:52 PM.
#8
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: Westminster Maryland
Posts: 30,173
Likes: 0
Received 2,878 Likes
on
2,515 Posts
Hi kap,
The earlier cars also have the drain you show in the bottom of the battery compartment, but not in the other locations.
Regards,
Alan
IT'S placement I can understand!
The earlier cars also have the drain you show in the bottom of the battery compartment, but not in the other locations.
Regards,
Alan
IT'S placement I can understand!
Last edited by Alan 71; 09-18-2016 at 08:53 AM.
#9
Burning Brakes
To 7T1 Vette note, actually my original '82 has them. The C3 parts catalogs show their application through '82. A lot of little (and bigger) things were changed on the later C3's, especially after '77, but these plugs stayed, throughout.
As an aside, one of my pinion seals were leaking and I noticed that the 'one way' drain plug design didn't stop the differential oil from entering and saturating the floor of my jack storage compartment over a period of time.
As an aside, one of my pinion seals were leaking and I noticed that the 'one way' drain plug design didn't stop the differential oil from entering and saturating the floor of my jack storage compartment over a period of time.
#10
Team Owner
Bummer.....
Last edited by 7T1vette; 09-18-2016 at 01:10 PM.