I have been keeping my 66 convertible down by my beach houe for a few weeks and so it's not in a garage. I found out that I have a leak somewhere when it rains. The carpet under the floor mats and the mats get soaked and I get water driping on my leg from under the dash. This also happens on the passenger side of the car. I can't tell if it's coming fron a bad windshield gasket or somewhere else. Any suggestions on how to isolate the problem would be a help.
Al

 

There are so many places that could leak. I replaced most of the weather strip on the soft-top and on the doors rather than try to isolate it. Also, am in the process of replacing all of the w/s on the hardtop.

Depends on how old the existing w/s is and how well it was installed. Sorry I cant be more specific, but my strategy has been to just replace all of it.

Truth is. They all leak a bit. Even with new/good w/s.

Good luck,
Mark

 

Al,

If it is dripping on your leg there is a problem in the joint between the front clip and the bird cage. This is bad because it will probably cause bird cage rust. At the bottom of the windshield, the front clip is glued to a fiberglass strip that is riveted to the birdcage. As a result there are two seams (birdcage/strip & strip/front clip) that can allow water in. Also the birdcage had screw holes and other openings that can let water in.

To see what is causing your problem you need to remove the outside trim parts which is not easy (I think you need to take the inside off first). Once you do this you should be able to clean up the area and reseal it. The problem and your motivation for doing this is not just water inside but the fact that the bird cage is likely rusting.

The attached link (Windshield Joint) shows the riveted strip on the birdcage of my 65 before I glued the new front clip on.

If it is only wet carpet it is possible caused by plugged drain hole in the cowl vent area. This issue is explained by a sheet at the link noted below (FrontDrainHoles).


Hope this helps.

Dave
:cheers:

http://www.photohost.org/gallery/sho...stype=&ppuser=


[Modified by Dave McDufford, 7:01 AM 9/12/2003]

 

Dave & Hot1,
Thanks for the help. I'll be looking into the problem this weekend and let you know how it goes.
Dave,
Awsome picture they are going to help alot.
Al

 

I have had this problem 3 times in 15 years. Each time it was solved by a trip to the glass shop to get the stainless trim removed and the windshield sealed to the body. The cost was $20 then $35 and the last time the shop did it for free. :D

 

Hi Dave; Could you explain more about the leak at the front clip joint? I think I have that problem. What trim parts are to be removed? I had the outer windshield stainless off and re-sealed around the windshield. Still leaks. Looking at your picture I can't see the riveted strip.
Thanks, Frank.

 

Like magicv8 said, most of the time it's the windshield thats the bad guy. I don't believe the water is coming in between the surround and the bonding strip. The only way that could happen is if the surround has become de-bonded from the bonding strip or the adhesive was not buttered all the way across. Now it could be leaking between the bonding strip and the bottom windshield frame (birdcage) and this could only happen if the window is "not" completely sealed in, so were back to the windshield. Taking out the windshield is the only way you are going to see those raw edges real good of the surround and the bonding strip and after you clean all the GUNK out. This same bonding strip is two fold, meaning the surround bonds to the top and the upper cowl bonds to the face of it. (It still is just one strip) Take one of your vent grilles off and look back towards the window and you will see the cowl where it 90's up, thats where it attaches to that bondig strip. What I also would be looking at for leaks and this does happen, is the rivets down inside both vent holes. You can see about 3 of the bigger rivets that connect the upper cowl to the lower windshield frame and the 4 smaller rivets that hold the bracket for the wiper arm post assembly. I would put a LITTLE sealant around the heads of all the rivets you can see (3 across the top and 4 on bracket) then I would put a LITTLE sealant around the edges of that bracket. One of those upper rivets is hard to see, it's just out of sight (back about 3 in.) of the vent and towards the hump in the surround. As said before I would be checking that windshield out good, because if the water is getting in there, it can get through the trim clip holes, it can get through the steel channels of the lower windshield where they overlap in two places and it also can....maybe leak between the bonding strip and the steel frame (birdcage)
CRAIG BTW At one time those wiper post brackets had the sticky pukie under them to seal them. Another place you can get water in is through the short plenum duct that your fresh air grilles screw to inside the car. If you pull your inside grille off, you will see how they are bonded to the plenum. I have seen more then one including this 67 car where these ducts are not bonded at all or very little at the top of the radius and down the sides (you can see day light). A good test would be to pull your fresh air grilles and kick panels off and feed some water down from the inlet vent grilles outside. When you look at the top pic,you can just see the top of that duct down in the plenum hole.





[Modified by Cmacsvette, 6:10 PM 9/13/2003]

 

Here is another pic of the bonding strip installed, the surround bonds to the top and the upper cowl bonds to the face. I don't know what happen to the pic, I'm very new at this stuff????
Craig




[Modified by Cmacsvette, 6:18 PM 9/13/2003]

 

Well this weekend I isolated the problem. Turns out it was just as MagicV8 said. It was the windshield gasket. I duct taped around the windshield and parked the car outside and waited for it to rain. (In New Jersey if it's the weekend you only have to wait a short while for the rain) Anyway, it rained good and hard and no leak, even after driving in the rain for a while. Thanks everyone for the help.
Al