sealing leaks

[BarryK]

Hi all

99.5% of the leaks from my windshield and rear window have been eliminated with the new gaskets and sealers used when reinstalling the glass after the paint job but I still have a major amount of water leaking in from UNDER the dash when caught in rain or even just washing the car.
While at Carlisle, Dennis (Midyear) showed me where to seal up under the WS wiper grills as I believe that's where my remaining leaks are coming from.
He also told me what to use to seal up those areas but I forget what he told me to use. It was some type of windshield sealer I believe but really don't remember and I need to know what is the best thing to buy to do the sealing up.
Any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[Ken Anderson]

Dum dum

 

[BarryK]

really? I thought he suggested something else but I could easily be wrong. I can see Dum Dum working and sure easy to work with
Thanks!

 

[studiog]

Barry, I was browsing the archives for something else and came across these items. Thought they might be of interest to you.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003.../LeakSource.jpg


http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57072&highlight=door+panel+screws

This is John Z's comment in the above thread...

"Excellent photos, Dave - most folks don't know about the cowl side drain holes, and it doesn't take much to plug them up; when they get blocked, the runoff water from the cowl plenums just rises in the cavity until it reaches the bottom of the hole for the air vent grille, and then "wicks" down the carpet." (John Z)

 

[BarryK]

hi Studiog
I'm aware of the debris that can collect and cause water problems behind the fresh air vents and while I'm dealing with the cowl areas I also plan on checking to make sure the vent areas are free of "stuff" and the drain holes clear. My problem is definately above the level of the fresh air vents though as it literately "rains" from under the dash when it gets wet rather than just the carpet getting wet if it was just "wicking" the water from the flooding vent areas although that may be an additional issue that I haven't noticed and it will be worth the time to check those areas.
Thanks

 

[DZVette]

Barry

The guy who did my windshield uses something called ADCOSEAL WB300 Non-drying sealant. ADCO told me it is the same thing as CRL 7708 (C.R. Lawrence) Windshield and Body Sealant. 3M also makes an Auto Bedding and Glazing Compound 08509 in caulk tubes if you can find it. I found the 7708 at Trophy Mustang:

http://www.trophymustang.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=7708&osCsid=237c53b66ee1305ae1831ad6b7af38c9&x=21&y=12

Yeah, I know, that's a sacrilege! But they had it and the shipping didn't require an arm or any other body part. For areas that you can reach to plug with your fingers, you can get the 3M Strip Caulk probably from your local auto parts store or PPG paint shop, etc. LIC and the others also carry it.

I haven't used the 7708 yet so I can't comment on it. It's a butyl product.

Like you, I am still chasing leaks in my 65. Got caught in the rain coming home from a local show the weekend before last and I now know that I have more leakage than I thought I had.

Goos luck!

DZ

 

[BarryK]

Thanks DZ

I picked up some dum-dum yesterday and did the areas under the wiper arm grills in the cowl areas. Next Time I wash the car and/or get caught out in a rainstorm I'll see if it worked!
If it didn't than maybe i'll try going over the areas again with the windshield sealant you suggested.
The biggest problem I came across while working on it yersterday though was that so much of the cowl areas under the grills are not accessible with the front clip on the car so as much as I was able to get, there was a lot of areas that MIGHT still be a problem that I can't get into.
Oh well, time will tell on this............

 

[BarryK]

UPDATE:

just had to wash my car so this was a good test for my recent sealing job under the cowl grills. I actually made sure to try and get a lot of water sprayed directly into the cowl areas under the grills and also to make sure a lot of water ran off the hood into the same areas rather than try to avoid water there like I usually do.
I still had a few drops dripping under the dash and onto the carpet but so far nothing to the degree that it was leaking in previously.
looks like the dum-dum helped a lot. It may not have stopped 100% of the leaks but so far it looks to have at least reduced the amount fairly significantly.
With limited access in the cowl areas under the wiper arm grills it is probably the best I'll be able to get but at least I was able to reduce the amount of water coming in.
I'd rate the leak under the dash area now as a light drizzle rather than a torrential downpour!

 

[jlog323]

I'm just seeing this thread now, but for what its worth, I remember being hounded by a water leak on the passenger side footwell of my '67 coupe. No matter how many times the windshield was sealed, it helped only minimally. And it never leaked on the road, only when sitting in the rain for a period of time.

One day I opened the passenger door, and on the body side door frame just below the windshiled pillar I finally noticed a hairline crack where the right fender body and body side of the door jamb were supposedly sealed.

It was many years ago but I remember prying at the hairline crack and pulling the metal away and exposing a cavity with an open seam low inside. I could put a hose down there and get all the water I wanted in the footwell.

Needless to say, I sealed the crack deep in the cavity with silicone applied from the end of my finger, I think, then pushed and prodded the metal back into place and also sealed it the best I could.

Never had water again. I hope this helps someone even though this is an old thread.

jlog323