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I am getting close to putting in the wiper parts and have a few questions my searches have turned up empty. It is a 71 rust basket case restomod. The wiper compartment looked like the surface of the moon as seen in the pics. On the passenger side there was a pneumatic door that is now not installed because the new Vintage Air system does not pull air from that compartment and also all pneumatic controls are replaced with electric. So the first question is do I put that door back in just to close off the duct (old mouse house). If so, where does the water go on that side to drain the wiper valley. The second question is about the driver side. There is no door or anything over there and it sure seems that leaves and debris will easily fall in the duct which I think is just a water drain area. So should I put a screen or something over there? Since there was so much rust damage in this area previously I want to make sure my draining is good over there. Also, is it worth while to put a garden hose in the wiper area and look for leaks? I think now is the time to goop everything up as much as possible. Any advice in this area is much appreciated.
From: South of Phoenix Arizona, but North of no-where.
I’m glad you asked. I’ve got the same questions.
my biggest worry is whether or not water can find it’s way into the cabin (like if you were to power wash out the wiper tray……which really fills with dust here in AZ.)
Kk, I’ll just sit by and wait for the answers you get.
LOL 😂👍🏻🙏
Water from the wiper tray goes down the holes on each side, down the side panel area and OUT the drain holes at the bottom of the side panels (just in front of the doors). Usually, those drain holes are clogged with debris (leaves, dirt, etc)), but you can clean it out so it will flow, again.
The "moonscape" finish is stock from the factory....but now cracked from many years of drying out. You can scrape it all out or you can just shoot some truck bed liner over it. Easier to do the latter.... If you paint, use satin black (not semi-gloss ). Even with Vintage Air system, the outside air intake could be used. With 'normal A/C", it should be open; with "recirculate A/C", it should be closed. But it should be open for Vent, Heat, or Bi-Level, too. It should ALWAYS be closed when the engine is OFF (to keep the cr@p out of it).
Water from the wiper tray goes down the holes on each side, down the side panel area and OUT the drain holes at the bottom of the side panels (just in front of the doors). Usually, those drain holes are clogged with debris (leaves, dirt, etc)), but you can clean it out so it will flow, again.
The "moonscape" finish is stock from the factory....but now cracked from many years of drying out. You can scrape it all out or you can just shoot some truck bed liner over it. Easier to do the latter.... If you paint, use satin black (not semi-gloss ). Even with Vintage Air system, the outside air intake could be used. With 'normal A/C", it should be open; with "recirculate A/C", it should be closed. But it should be open for Vent, Heat, or Bi-Level, too. It should ALWAYS be closed when the engine is OFF (to keep the cr@p out of it).
Thanks for the input. For my Vintage Air system the first thing they tell you to do is to block off the plenum on the passenger side so the system really only operates in a "recirculate" fashion. I guess I could make the kick panel vent hole open manually, but I would need to engineer some electronic opener since I don't have any pneumatics in the car now. It is a convertible so I am not sure it would be worth the effort. The air flow doesn't concern me as much as the rain water drains. On the passenger side the flapper door on the top (astro vent?) when closed would seem to keep all the water in the wiper tray. The driver side is just a giant hole for anything to fall into the plenum. I think I am inclined to put a screen in there and take your advice on the truck bed liner. Thanks!
Water from the wiper tray goes down the holes on each side, down the side panel area and OUT the drain holes at the bottom of the side panels (just in front of the doors). Usually, those drain holes are clogged with debris (leaves, dirt, etc)), but you can clean it out so it will flow, again.
Agree.... mine were PACKED with leaves & dirt. This is the approx location of the drain
.
Some of the Vette vendors sell a black plastic cover that hides all of that "clutter ditch."
Last I saw, they were around $55. Slightly on the flimsy side and over priced but overall appearance is remarkable.
It comes with double sided tape that I would question so I opted for small black sheet metal screws instead.
If you have a wiper-blade stop bracket, it will need to me removed.
The after market wiper cover is something the factory should have installed 50 yrs ago.
Some of the Vette vendors sell a black plastic cover that hides all of that "clutter ditch."
Last I saw, they were around $55. Slightly on the flimsy side and over priced but overall appearance is remarkable.
It comes with double sided tape that I would question so I opted for small black sheet metal screws instead.
If you have a wiper-blade stop bracket, it will need to me removed.
The after market wiper cover is something the factory should have installed 50 yrs ago.
If you would like to clean out the old cracked and sometimes Bubba added sealer/water proof crap, here is what worked for me. My car had that sh_t on everything in the wiper trough. First I used masking tape to “Dam” up each end of the trough (my car is a 73 with the wiper door), then I sprayed a healthy amount of Goo Gone Gel Spray on everything. Let it soak end 30 minutes, until the sealant becomes soft (wait longer if necessary), then take a Plastic Scraper and start removing the sealant. It may take a couple of spray/soakings to get all that stuff off everything. Once everything is removed, wash down with water. After everything dried, I went back with Mother’s Back to Black and the entire trough really looks good.
Thanks everyone for your help. Interpon, one of your links showed me exactly what I was thinking of doing. It is funny how you can search and search but not find it until someone shows you the way. Since the fresh air vent door on the top of the passenger side plenum is now removed I am going to do this and add the same on the driver side.
Drain holes on BOTH sides....entry at far ends of wiper tray and outlets at bottom of body in front of doors. IIRC, you can access the inside of the lower drain holes via the kickpanels.
Drain holes on BOTH sides....entry at far ends of wiper tray and outlets at bottom of body in front of doors. IIRC, you can access the inside of the lower drain holes via the kickpanels.
I can see the bottom passenger side drains from the kickpanel vent as shown in oldgto's photo in post 6 above. But on the driver side there appears to be no way to get a good look at the bottom holes in the plenum other from the top. What a crazy design. I am surprised they don't fill up with junk.
Poking a flat blade screwdriver up from the bottom may help dislodge the blockage on your driver side. Another idea that I used on my front cowl AND rear plenum grills..... black fiberglass window screen epoxied to the bottom. Keeps out leaves & debris, and is very hard to notice unless you`re looking right down into the vents.
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Wiper Compartment Questions
). Even with Vintage Air system, the outside air intake could be used. With 'normal A/C", it should be open; with "recirculate A/C", it should be closed. But it should be open for Vent, Heat, or Bi-Level, too. It should ALWAYS be closed when the engine is OFF (to keep the cr@p out of it).
