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floor pan drain plugs

Old 09-17-2016, 01:35 PM
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llabesab7
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Default floor pan drain plugs

Whats the purpose of the floor pan drain plugs and whats inside it. Thanks
Old 09-17-2016, 04:26 PM
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Mooser
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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

Last edited by Mooser; 09-17-2016 at 08:37 PM. Reason: Alan pointed out the correct installation is from the inside
Old 09-17-2016, 08:25 PM
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KapsSA
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Well, I found out my heater core was leaking cause I saw coolant dripping from the floor pan plug
Old 09-17-2016, 08:27 PM
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Alan 71
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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


Last edited by Alan 71; 09-17-2016 at 08:28 PM.
Old 09-17-2016, 08:35 PM
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Mooser
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
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

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.
Old 09-17-2016, 08:51 PM
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7T1vette
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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.

Last edited by 7T1vette; 09-17-2016 at 08:52 PM.
Old 09-17-2016, 09:12 PM
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KapsSA
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Actually later C3s don't have plugs, they have drains.
Front floor pans and storage/battery compartments.
Old 09-18-2016, 08:52 AM
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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!

Last edited by Alan 71; 09-18-2016 at 08:53 AM.
Old 09-18-2016, 09:43 AM
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Lakeside49
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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.
Old 09-18-2016, 01:09 PM
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Bummer.....

Last edited by 7T1vette; 09-18-2016 at 01:10 PM.

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