Another one bites the dust....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Another one bites the dust....
Got to check another step off the list....changing the drain tubes for the rear plenum.....both tubes were rotted and draining directly into the car.............. yikes!
1- used a small grinder wheel and took off the top of the rivets for removal
2- scrapped and peeled off old decayed rubber
3- replaced new tubes using stainless steel panhead bolts, washers and self locking nuts, seemed much easier than trying to get in there with a rivet gun.
here are some pics
1- used a small grinder wheel and took off the top of the rivets for removal
2- scrapped and peeled off old decayed rubber
3- replaced new tubes using stainless steel panhead bolts, washers and self locking nuts, seemed much easier than trying to get in there with a rivet gun.
here are some pics
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 125
Likes: 2
From: carmel indiana
I had the same issue that I addressed last month. My 69 that I recently purchased had rotted drain tubes resulting in water damage inside. Had to replace all the carpeting and rear compartment doors and hardware. PITA to grind off the tube hardware but finally addressed.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
My guess is a LOT of small window C3 owners aren't even aware that there are drains back there.... and wonder where the heck the water is coming from.......I'm sure almost ALL the older cars tubes have rotted and cracked, its just the nature of the beast. Repairs are not that bad..sure beats the heck out of new carpet and storage doors!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 850
Likes: 12
From: Shakopee MN
I have my rubber boots to do this job along with new stainless steel covers, just haven't done this job yet. I too had thought about using bolts instead of pop rivets to hold them on. My reasoning was that since both of my original metal covers were long gone when I bought the car, the extended rivet in the wheel well met one too many rocks and they just broke off and the metal plate fell off on some dusty road. So that got me thinking of maybe using something stronger than the pop rivets to hold them on, just like you used, panhead bolts. I figure there is less surface area for rocks to catch on to cause them to break off. 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote