The 65's first wash. It wasn't pretty
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
The 65's first wash. It wasn't pretty
After three years of restoration and paying particular attention to caulking for leaks and adjusting the weatherstriping ( even doing the dollar bill test) I got out the hose and let the coupe have it. I figured it would be good to know where I stand. The result was leaking like a sieve. Puddles of water on the shift console and in both footwells. Apparently it came from the wiper vents which I caulked and thought I sealed. I know they all leak but do they all leak this bad?
#3
Race Director
That's why I haven't tried to wash mine since I went through and rebuilt it from the ground up - so far.
Dan
Dan
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1960 (08-07-2021)
#4
Melting Slicks
I live in AZ, so much dust I have to wash my car regularly. My car leaks quite a bit, I just put down towels along the door sills and foot wells when I wash the car.
#5
Team Owner
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You guys have something bad wrong. They're not supposed to leak like that, at all.
If your car is leaking from behind the dash and glove box try this:
Remove the wiper grills. Spray water down in the cowl, making sure you do not get on the wiper pivot or around the windshield. Do one side at a time. There are no seams down in there so no place to leak behind the dash or glove box. If you're still interested to this point, let me know what you find.
If your car is leaking from behind the dash and glove box try this:
Remove the wiper grills. Spray water down in the cowl, making sure you do not get on the wiper pivot or around the windshield. Do one side at a time. There are no seams down in there so no place to leak behind the dash or glove box. If you're still interested to this point, let me know what you find.
#6
Le Mans Master
Mike, no offense but do you live in the same C2 ownership world that we do? Yeah mine does leak like that, and I have YET to meet anyone who claims their C2 is dry in the rain ('cept maybe you)
#7
Le Mans Master
my '65 leaks like a sieve in the rain or when I wash it also.
The new windshield and rear window gaskets helped a lot when the glass was out for the paint 2 years ago but water still comes in a lot from under the dash.
i've tried sealing up under the wiper grills but it didn't do much good.
i remember someone, I think maybe John McGraw but may be wrong, explaining and showing on his car when the front clip was off where it comes in where the bottom of the windshield frame attaches to the cowl area. After years the seals dry up and than leak and the only way to access that area to try to repair it is to remove the front clip off the car. I am not about to do that so I'll have to live with the leaks
The new windshield and rear window gaskets helped a lot when the glass was out for the paint 2 years ago but water still comes in a lot from under the dash.
i've tried sealing up under the wiper grills but it didn't do much good.
i remember someone, I think maybe John McGraw but may be wrong, explaining and showing on his car when the front clip was off where it comes in where the bottom of the windshield frame attaches to the cowl area. After years the seals dry up and than leak and the only way to access that area to try to repair it is to remove the front clip off the car. I am not about to do that so I'll have to live with the leaks
#9
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey. The deer ate my Garden State.
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Last November when I was wet sanding my car right after it was painted, I noticed about two inches of water on the floor pans. I removed the plastic plugs to drain the water out. Oh well. It's part of owning a C-2.
#10
Race Director
It isn't normal.
back when C2's were on the used market, they didn't leak like that.
Driving drips on a convertable, yes, puddles, no.
Doug
back when C2's were on the used market, they didn't leak like that.
Driving drips on a convertable, yes, puddles, no.
Doug
#11
Melting Slicks
Hi
My 1968 leaked like a sieve...My 1963 leaks real bad too..I dont wash it much I had washed it 3 times in the 3 years i have owned it...I wipe it down with damp cloth..I figure its and OLD car...Its going to leak..
I remenber reading and article about them leaking when they were new.....
My 1968 leaked like a sieve...My 1963 leaks real bad too..I dont wash it much I had washed it 3 times in the 3 years i have owned it...I wipe it down with damp cloth..I figure its and OLD car...Its going to leak..
I remenber reading and article about them leaking when they were new.....
Last edited by Blk63Vette; 05-13-2007 at 09:03 PM.
#12
Racer
Member Since: Sep 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
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I cover the cowl vents with blue painters tape, line the footwells
with garbage bags, and try not to blast the windshield with any more
water than necessary. A little water still gets in....
with garbage bags, and try not to blast the windshield with any more
water than necessary. A little water still gets in....
#15
Tech Contributor
Boy do I feel lucky.
My 65 coupe leaks around the front auxiliary door weatherstrips, and a wee bit around the base of the windshield rubber, but that's it whether in a rain storm or while being washed.
Jeff
My 65 coupe leaks around the front auxiliary door weatherstrips, and a wee bit around the base of the windshield rubber, but that's it whether in a rain storm or while being washed.
Jeff
#16
Melting Slicks
My Coupe leaked like a sieve when I first got it. After replacing the windshield, repairing the rusted steel channel and sealing the gasket properly I still had a small leak on the drivers side and at the side vents. This winter I added more sealer around the windshield gasket and cleaned out the cowl vent drain holes. Maybe it will be better.
This is what I got out of the cowl vent drain holes (driver & passenger side).
Roy
This is what I got out of the cowl vent drain holes (driver & passenger side).
Roy
#17
Team Owner
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I'd think you'd be a more careful reader of the written word. Nowhere did I claim either of my C-2's are completely dry. Almost, but not quite.
If your car is leaking as bad as you claim and it was mine and I couldn't fix it, I'd burn it to the ground and go get a good one. Maybe you like your car smelling like a swamp. I don't.
I think many people let them leak because they just know it's a rusted birdcage or the windshield has to come out because Corvette Joe Blow over here told them that ALL OF THEM LEAK THERE, and therefore they consider it "okay" and they do nothing.
#18
Le Mans Master
Knock on wood....maybe I'm one of the few also. I can do a normal wash job on my '65 Conv and do not wind up with water inside. I wash the top, windshield, and side windows and rinse (spray) them off. No water inside.
I have been caught in the rain twice. Water poured in through the top and front of the conv. top. I know that I have a bad piece of weatherstrip there though. My car is a late '65 conv. A.O. Smith body.
I have been caught in the rain twice. Water poured in through the top and front of the conv. top. I know that I have a bad piece of weatherstrip there though. My car is a late '65 conv. A.O. Smith body.
#20
Melting Slicks
My '66 leaks a bit in the front if I'm caught in the rain, but the real problem is around the rear glass. Leaks terribly there. Luckily, I've only been in the rain a couple of times with the car. I do not wash the car with water. I use Dri-Wash-n-Guard to clean and polish it.
I haven't done the water test on my '63 yet.
Rich
I haven't done the water test on my '63 yet.
Rich