Oh no, more rust!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 282
From: Back in Nebraska
Oh no, more rust!
It was a beautiful day so I decided to get out and wash the winter off the 1970 vette. Everything was going great, the thing sparkled when I was finished. But when I fired it up to put it back in the garage I noticed that the driver’s side kick panel speaker wasn’t working. I pulled the panel and the found a loose wire, hot dang, done. This is where it went south. I noticed that the area behind the speaker was wet and seemed to have more rust than last time I had the speaker out. Where could this water be coming from? I had the right upper bird cage repaired about a year ago. The left side wasn’t bad looking at all. The windshield was replaced during this repair. Could the water be coming from a badly sealed windshield? Oh by the way it's a convertible. Help!!!!!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,270
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi A,
That's what you get for enjoying a nice day in February.
It very well could be coming from the windshield seal, the wiper bay, or even the a-pillar door weatherstrip.
Regards,
Alan
That's what you get for enjoying a nice day in February.
It very well could be coming from the windshield seal, the wiper bay, or even the a-pillar door weatherstrip.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 282
From: Back in Nebraska
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
From: Coquitlam British Columbia
The drain is located in the bottom of the cowl area and is just a small hole that may need clearing to let the water drain from this area it's often overlooked and also mentioned in the book Corvette Water Leak and Wind Noise Solutions by Michael J. Davis, which has some good tips. Unfortunately I was not so lucky a few years back and the second pic was the cause of my leak and rust coming down from the upper cowl area. I would not wish this on my worst enemy as that frame I cut into pieces and went with a replacement cage.
ikwhite
ikwhite
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 282
From: Back in Nebraska
No, just the trim and windshield. The right side of the windshield upper frame had to be cut out and a new piece welded in. The left side was not rusted at that time. The car is always in the garage and only driven in good weather. But this leak will drive me nuts everytime I wash it>
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
If the upper corners are ok, chances are that the water, running down on the side of the frame ends up between the firewall in fiberglass and the steel cage. This area is sealed and over time, the seal starts to crack. Once it gets under the fiberglas the way is open to drip into the A-pillar.
I should mention its very hard to get at with an assembled car.
I should mention its very hard to get at with an assembled car.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 282
From: Back in Nebraska
I removed the wiper door and even the door mechanism. As others have stated the lower area below the wiper compartment was full of leaves and debris. I even found an inner cardboard center to a roll of duct tape down there.
I’ve tried to find the plastic screen that I have seen on other cars to install and maybe stop some of the stuff from getting back down there. I can’t find it on any of the online Corvette parts sites. I also found that the offset lever that attaches the wiper motor to the wiper transmission needs to be replaced. I can’t find it either, anywhere! Any help on these parts?
I’ve tried to find the plastic screen that I have seen on other cars to install and maybe stop some of the stuff from getting back down there. I can’t find it on any of the online Corvette parts sites. I also found that the offset lever that attaches the wiper motor to the wiper transmission needs to be replaced. I can’t find it either, anywhere! Any help on these parts?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 485
Likes: 1
From: Oakville ON
If the upper corners are ok, chances are that the water, running down on the side of the frame ends up between the firewall in fiberglass and the steel cage. This area is sealed and over time, the seal starts to crack. Once it gets under the fiberglas the way is open to drip into the A-pillar.
I should mention its very hard to get at with an assembled car.
I should mention its very hard to get at with an assembled car.
Look at the lower photo from IKWhite. The area behind the upper fender is suppoorted by a piece of FG and that is riveted to the frame and "sealed" with perimeter caulking. The caulking dries out and water gets behind the support and rots the steel. I don't think you can get at it w/o removing that section of upper fender.
