I just recently purchased and '76 vette and very quickly realized the weather stripping all needed to be replaced. I had a nice puddle on the center console and floors after the very first rain. I replaced all the weather stripping and ran a bead of clear silicone around the windshield and a few other places. It is much better but I am still getting a little water on the floor. I have felt it dripping in from under the dash. the next thing I plan to do is scraping off and fixing all the cracked sealant around the windshield wipers.
Is this a common issue with these old corvettes? Any other areas I should check to figure out where these leaks are coming from?
Thanks

 

My advice is to leave the factory sealant in the wiper trough in place. Most of it is probably doing it's intended job. Use 3M automotive undercoating in the rattle can and shoot coats over the top of the existing stuff.

 

Well, that sounds like a whole lot less work and headache, I'll give that a try. Thanks!

 

How carefully have you looked at the metal birdcage around the windshield and cowl and down? If there's enough rusted metal gone there, it will provide an entry point for water under the dash and onto the carpets. Let's hope that is not your issue.

 

I have read repeatedly that the birdcage can rot, causing leaks. I haven't taken a good look at mine. The last owner said that he kept it garaged and covered, so I suspect (hope) that there isn't much rust. Would simply removing the interior panels give me a view of the birdcage?

 

I had the same problem with mine Check the door seals mine did not seal very well and allowed water to enter. I did finally replace all the weather strips.
Take your kick panels out and take a look at the lower mounts to see how things look and you can see the lower bird cage.
One thing to keep in mind is their is a difference between 68-76 T-top seals and 77-82 (I believe those are the years. The later uses a single T-top lever and uses a different seal that has a metal window retainer molded into the rubber. Hopefully you did get the right gaskets.

 

I ordered the weatherstrip kit from Eckler's, says it was for a '73-'77early. Fit perfectly, and I'm not seeing anymore leaking from the top. I'll go take a look behind the kick panels.
Thanks

 

Yep. Seal the trough, then check for leaks. No sense pulling out interior panels trying to chase down the leak if the undercoating solves the problem.

 

Try putting a hose in the cowl area where the screens are at the top of the fenders. The water runs down and leaks in around the vent doors in the kick panels. I have fixed this leak by dumping liquid tar sealer down the cowl.

 

Same on my 76 as you describe. And yes, this is a common problem on C3 Corvettes.

What I did and suggest the same is to pull the 3 interior trim pieces, 2 pcs, one each side and another one across the top, pull the door sills and then pull the kick panels off on each side. None of this is a particularly big deal to remove and is very useful to understand the condition of the birdcage. A 76 factory AIM (Assembly Instruction Manual, ck ebay and Corvette vendors) will show all of this and very much more valuable information.

I had a small rust hole in the top horizontal bird cage trim. Behind the kick panels was a little rusty but not too bad. For the time being, I sprayed rust convertor all around.

My glass buddy said he could pull the original windshield but it will likely crack in the process, so I am going to leave as is for the moment and live with my small rust hole.

My glass buddy also advised to get a hose with a small stream of water and move it around over the outside to give you an idea of where the water might be coming in. Hopefully you might can seal it up from the outside and then check again with these interior pieces still removed and see if progress is being made.

While you have all of this open, I would also take the seats out, 4 corner bolts each, not a big job either just be careful, getting them out of the Corvette to avoid scratching the door panels with the seat track corners and check your floor pans for rust. The metal floor pan started in 76, I think, and of course water under the wet carpet rusts the sheet metal floor pan. My floor pans had a couple of holes so I just fiberglassed over the whole floor pan which is easier in my view than replacement if the damage is not too bad.

Hope this might help and Congratulations on the 76 purchase!!! The good thing I like about my 76, is I can drive it and enjoy it without having to worry about it being a highly collectible museum piece. C3's are the best!!!

 

Corvettes are allergic to water. I think I have heard mine say..."please keep me dry"


Most have some issues with leaking . Best leave it in the garage when it rains .