Where is the water coming from?
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Where is the water coming from?
Hi Y'all
I made some progress on my 76 stripping the interior, dash etc and pulling the motor and trans.
Soon I'll be ready to start welding in new floor pans, and it looks like I might have to do some re-inforcements to the frame near the passenger footwell. (red arrow)
Pics
https://picasaweb.google.com/1018131...10483104084402
Anyway, all the steel & grp behind the dash, around teh windshield etc is in great condition, so where did all the water come from? I fully expected to find a big hole or something given the level of rust on the floor. Are the T-tops known to leak?
My other question was where do I cut the fiberglass door sils when installing the floor pans?
Any advice - much apreciated!!
I made some progress on my 76 stripping the interior, dash etc and pulling the motor and trans.
Soon I'll be ready to start welding in new floor pans, and it looks like I might have to do some re-inforcements to the frame near the passenger footwell. (red arrow)
Pics
https://picasaweb.google.com/1018131...10483104084402
Anyway, all the steel & grp behind the dash, around teh windshield etc is in great condition, so where did all the water come from? I fully expected to find a big hole or something given the level of rust on the floor. Are the T-tops known to leak?
My other question was where do I cut the fiberglass door sils when installing the floor pans?
Any advice - much apreciated!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 968
Likes: 122
From: Lighthouse Point FL
You can't tell how your windshield channel looks until the windshield comes out. There are some serious rust areas visible at the base of the windshield in pic 3.
Last edited by maj75; Apr 26, 2011 at 09:29 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I would suggest you upload this file and read a bit...
http://willcoxcorvette.com/repairand...lp.php?hID=306
But I would pull the header and pillar moldings.. and review the condition.
I would also look at where the A-pillar connects to the floor area.. see if there are large flakes of rust. In most cases when you have a hole in the windshield frame it will leak down (behind the kick panel) the A pillar and then in to the car.
Willcox
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
Hi Ogers,
Great tips provided by members all around. I too had to replace the left floor pan. You can drill out the spot welds where it 'mates' to the the remainding floor and lap joint it on the side without getting into the fiberglass to weld in the new part. The front toe board rivets to the metal floor pan. Drill it out there, make a plan and work back to the riser at the back floor deck behind the seats. Sand blast before install, use weld thru primer, a good epoxy primer and then a sealer and you will be fine.
The water either came in from a leaking windshield or from T-Roofs. Do a inspection or all of you hard work will be repeated in time.
There are two plastic deflectors located on the bottom of the 'A' pillar or windshield frame at the bottom of the glass that will deflect water from away the cowl panel which maybe finding its way into the interior that has been rotting you floor pans. Replace. As Willcox mentioned, rust flakes mean an area of concern.
There are may posts regarding rust, worth looking into at this time.
Dano,
Great tips provided by members all around. I too had to replace the left floor pan. You can drill out the spot welds where it 'mates' to the the remainding floor and lap joint it on the side without getting into the fiberglass to weld in the new part. The front toe board rivets to the metal floor pan. Drill it out there, make a plan and work back to the riser at the back floor deck behind the seats. Sand blast before install, use weld thru primer, a good epoxy primer and then a sealer and you will be fine.
The water either came in from a leaking windshield or from T-Roofs. Do a inspection or all of you hard work will be repeated in time.
There are two plastic deflectors located on the bottom of the 'A' pillar or windshield frame at the bottom of the glass that will deflect water from away the cowl panel which maybe finding its way into the interior that has been rotting you floor pans. Replace. As Willcox mentioned, rust flakes mean an area of concern.
There are may posts regarding rust, worth looking into at this time.
Dano,
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Forty Fort PA
I subscribed to this thread.
I have the same issues and I have been hoping to find someone doing the same project. Please post your progress pictures.
Looks like the water collected in the seatbelt wells on mine. The PO put household carpeting directly on the floor pan and I think it did a great job of holding the moisture to the steel. The metal is thin but I don't have any holes big enough to stick my face into.
I have the same issues and I have been hoping to find someone doing the same project. Please post your progress pictures.
Looks like the water collected in the seatbelt wells on mine. The PO put household carpeting directly on the floor pan and I think it did a great job of holding the moisture to the steel. The metal is thin but I don't have any holes big enough to stick my face into.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
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From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
The best way to determine if water is coming in via the windshield area is to run some water over the windshield and see if any gets in. Leakage can be from the windshield seals and/or the wiper tray area. Caulk in that area gets old and brittle and cracks show up over time. If you do the 'water test', try to keep water running only on the area you are checking at the time. Perhaps start by checking the wiper tray area, first. If that is dry, then you can do the windshield and not be concerned about leakage in the wiper tray.
