I'm working on rescuing my '69 coupe. I just reacquired it after 6 years in the same state that it was in 2012 save for 6 years of aging.
One of the things that is a priority is that I got it with some water in the footwell of the front seat on both sides. The weatherstripping on both doors needs to be replaced and will be. Is there any other location where old seals and weatherstripping can allow water to gather here? Anything along the front cowl or anything?
Also, this has caused some surface rust on the floors. Nothing is really thinned out or anything, but it definitely needs to be cleaned and repainted. The best option would be to have it sandblasted and then reprised with epoxy, but I'm not quite to the point where I want to pull everything to have it sandblasted. The car will need to be stripped in the future for some body work and paint but that is probably 6 months or a year off. I'm looking for a solution that will allow it to be dealt with in the meantime. Any recommendations beyond a wire brush? If I do go the wire brush route, what would be the best option to treat it that can be removed if necessary when the body is prepped for paint?
I am guessing that you don't have shelter for it? Water can get in from many different places. I would suspect somewhere around the windshield before I would think around the doors. If you are not driving it, the weatherstrip around the door isn't doing much. The door glass weatherstripping may not seal, but the doors should have drain holes at the bottom to allow that water to escape. You can test it with a garden hose. Start spraying at the bottom of the windshield and stay there for a bit, then move to the pillars and just spray there for a bit. Spray along the top of the windshield last.
This does remind me though, of a Dodge truck I chased a water leak on. I finally found it coming from the door panel where speakers had been installed but without any type of gasket.
Thanks Cal - the car is currently stored, but I want to make sure that everything is sealed up before I even consider work on the interior.
The weatherstripping around the doors is pretty worn. I cleaned out the inside of the driver's door a couple weeks ago and enough debris from leaves and pine needles had gotten in there that I think it may have been keeping the door from draining properly. The inside of the doors don't appear to be rusting, fortunately, but it's possible that a couple of good hard storms may have caused some havoc, not to mention some snow. I believe it sat out for a season, which is unfortunate. It will be getting new door seals, etc.
As for the issue with the surface rust on the floor, what's the general consensus? I can't have it sandblasted right now, but I want to get rid of everything that I possibly can so the damage doesn't get any worse. Suggestions there?
I had water showing up on the floor of one of my kids cars that sat outside. I finally found the problem was a build up of debris and pine needles that had filtered into the vent at the base of the windshield. The system is designed with a drain hole at the bottom for water to pass through but it would back up and come out the heater vent inside the car. Since you mentioned the crud inside the door this could be your water problem. If the car is staying dry now you should be fine cleaning the area with a wire brush and using a good primer to seal it for now.
Thanks Gus! I don't know that I'll be able to get any pics for 3 weeks or so. The car is currently 2000 miles away. I'll see if I can get someone to snap a few and send them to me.
The area under the front cowl panel is a typical rust area. Check the door drain holes first because removing the front cowl panel (while not terribly difficult) does take a bit of work. Also, the problem could come from a leak in the heater core, though this only leaks into the passenger footwell. If it feels oily, this could be the issue. But not likely since you stated that both driver and passenger sides are wet.
Has anyone heard of or used PN: SS-3013 Roofrail Weatherstrip for 1968-1969 Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird Coupes, Sold as a Pair? They are made by SoffSeal; if so, how much area did they cover i.e. front to back, only from the bend at the driver door? Also, will there be any special tools or applications required? I recently purchased a '68 350 Coupe and the windows don't seal/ shut correctly. I'm guessing that the weatherstrip need replacing to "seal the gap". Windows roll all the way up (Firebird on bottom of glass along window gap shows at full roll) so am unsure if it could be something else. Thanks for your time and response.