I need your help. I have a C6 and it's my daily driver, but I want another Vette. So I'm going to look at this beautiful restored 1970 BB this weekend.

My question is: I want to check for leaks by running a hose over it for awhile. What parts of the car should I be taking a hard look at?

[I.E. back window, foot wells, t-tops]

I appreciate your help and experience on this.

 

Back window is removable; leak here usually means only the weatherstripping.

T-tops can be expected to leak a little. A snug fit and good weatherstripping will still not keep you completely dry in a deluge.

Water in the footwells indicates a leak along the cowl, usually the wiper trough. 3M automotive undercoating in the rattle can will seal the area. Water can also enter the footwells if the drain area under each fender corner is clogged with accumulated gook.

Water in the floor behind either seat usually means the doors glass is not sealing well on the top or at the halo panel.

Check the rear deck vent area. There are drains under the vents which sometimes clog.

 

I see two options for this in early c3s:

1) Don't drive in the rain

2) Drive in the rain with a Shamwow.

I have a friend who has a C1, a C2, and a C3. He has competely rebuilt all three, has owned them for years, and has only washed them a few times (like 2-3 times each). They get wet inside, what you gonna do?

 

Who's going to pay for the cleanup? I have a 1970 and I never use a hose/drive in rain because I don't want to clean the water up. These cars are 38 years old and will leak. But, there are lots of great ideas on the forum for fixing leaks.

 

Leaks ,thats all your worried about ? how often do you get over to the c-3 group we dont ask alot of leak questions (not to be mean or anything )we ask frame questions rear end questions believe me the leaks will be the easy thing to do if the frame is good the motor is good the rear end is good who cares you can do the rest yourself if it has a leak look up the part that needs to be fixed and ask the price of that part be taken out A LEAK we should be so lucky.It sounds like the car is in great shape but dont let the outside fool ya take off A kick panel see how the body mounts are.Lay under the back and check out the frame, mufflers, and look at the half shaft area.

 

PM sent


P.S. I buy this car and you will be seeing alot more of me. Gotta learn somehow.

 

Sounds like the C3's reputation for leaks is valid. I agree with you that most leaks (rear-window, t-tops, windows) can be fixed. I think the part that worries me the most is in the fire wall area, where I can't visually see in there. I like the idea of taking off the kick panel idea and checking the mounts anything else I should be looking at in that area?

BTW: I would show you all the car but it's on Ebay, and I don't think the rules let me post the link. (but then again I'm not selling it, screw it!)

Take a look: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA:IT&ih=016

 

After 3 days of rain my passenger floor has about an inch of water in it, I have owned several c3's and know people say they all leak, but give me a break,

I was rooting around this forum for info on water leaks and this thread popped up, seems the mind set is vettes always leak...deal with it ...end of story.

I bought a near new 81 it didn't leak...well if you blasted up under the tops just right you would get a drip.
But it didn't fill the floors with water like in my 69 and the same with the 76 I sold these cars have small pools in the floors.

My second 81 had a leak you guys didn't mention and it's a lou lou
The car will have water on the floor but it will appear to be coming from right above the kick panels, the leak is from the 3 rivets that hold the fender mount on, rivets get loose and sealer wears out and it leaks...and no amount of sealer poured in will get to it.




The pictures are from my second 81 and water pretty much poured in thru the rivet holes.

I admit I never owned a showroom new c3, I really find it hard to believe that from 68-82 chevy sold a car that would have a floor full of water after a rain or wash...I am not talking a drip I am talking near hot tub in the floors.
I also wonder how savvy the re builder was if a properly restored car leaked this badly.

Cowl area leaks....besides where the wipers pass thru what other places can leak into the car?
And it was said if the sides get full of crud it can leak...where does that water enter, or are you meaning it will fill the wiper valley with water.

Come on there have to be a few dry floor vettes out there....

 

I agree that leaks should be far down on your list of things to worry about, unless you determine that they are coming from a rotted out windsheild post. If the body mounts behind the kick panels are rusty, be very wary. It is true that most people on this forum keep thier C3's in a garage or at least out of the elements, as do I, and leaks dont' concern me at all. (Yes mine does leak, as I found out at Carlisle 2 years ago in a torrential downpour!).

 

Greetings,

I own a 69 C3 and the only time it feels water is when I bathe it. Keep it garaged and never drive in the rain. If you can't keep the 70 garaged or protected from the elements Then let me have a shot at it.

John

 

John, I appreciate the input, but this is a year and an half old thread.

I did look at the car but I took a pass on it.

 

Any car with 40 year-old glass sealant and weatherstripping will leak. If that stuff isn't less than 5 years old, you are wasting your time.... other than to see if the birdcage is rotted through near the windshield area. If it doesn't pour water into the interior (just drips and light trickles), you're probably in better shape than most.