Gasp! Water in floorboards.

65and68Stang

65and68Stang

New Member
Apr 7, 2003
148
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0
Raleigh, NC
#1
So, I do the old pitcher of water in the cowl test. No drips on driver's side, gushing like a river on the passenger side. Hmmm, not good. But I looked up under the passenger side (heater box is gone and a new Classic Auto Air system is in) and I can see the bottom of the cowl and it look svery solid.

Well, I bought one of those handy-dandy plexiglass cowl covers thinking this would be good for when I wash my car. Yikes, water in both floorboards after washing the car.

Two questions:

1. How can I be 100% sure the water that I pour down the cowl is getting inside due to cowl deterioration? Is that the olny way it could get in the car doing the pour test?

2. Assuming my plexiglass cowl cover is water-tight while washing my car, where else could the water be coming from?

Thanks guys!

Kelton
 
#2
i would like to know also because when my car was outside, even with a plastic bag and duct tape over the cowl vent, yea i know... when it would rain or when i wash it it gets water on the floor mats... I checked the cowl, it looks good, checked the windsheild, it looks sealed... Maybe the door seals? or is there anyway it could get between the fenders and the cowl panel??
 
#4
I'm having the same issue and mine is defnitely not the cowls. I examined them and minus some surface rust they are fine. However,when is rains i get water int he floor board...right beside the door and in front of the seat...i see some wet spots on the kick panel. Raining today too so...not good.
 
#6
I am currently working on the floorboards/interior of my 66 coupe. After I removed the heater assembly and was removing the firewall insulation I discovered that one of the insulation pad fasteners was missing. The two most outer fasteners on both sides push through the firewall and into the tire wells. With this fastener missing water was able to get in the car from the tires wells.

After I removed the pad and was inspecting the firewall I noticed the hole where the fastener was missing had alot of surface rust around the hole and straight down from there also. Luckily it was just surface rust there.

Just another area to check.

tk
 
#7
OK....

Some of yall need to check your windshield seals. If you pour water in your cowl and it leaks into the car....

1: check to make sure that the water is also draining under the fenders....if its not draining out as fast as you are pouring it in....you need to snake that drain hole up into the cowl because it may be clogged.

2: if that is clear...you DO have cowl rot...somewhere up in there. You may not be able to see it, but its there.
 
#8
These cars are notorious for leaking at many spots. Don't discount the windshield because it looks "OK". Leaks can usually be attributed to the windshield and backlight if you can't seem to find the leak anywhere else and can be elusive to locate since the water can run along panels etc. and drip far away from the actual leak.

If you have to re-seal the windshield or backlight then take some precautions before you put it back together. The lips that hold the gaskets that seal both the windshield and the backlight are made of several layers and one problem is the water entering through a gap in those plys of sheetmetal and running down between the panels until it finds an escape to the interior/trunk. If there are any gaps I usually fill them with body sealer and then take a body hammer and dolly and make sure all the lips are as flat as possible. I then take a grinder and even up all the plys so than there aren't any bulges that can make it hard for the gasket to seal properly. I then use POR-15 or the like to seal any bare metal and the edges of the plys (it runs in the cracks and acts like a sealer when dry). When the glass is re-installed make sure it is glued in with the proper non-hardening selaer....not the polyurethane stuff that is used to glue in newer glass as it will not seal to the rubber once dry.

If you don't have all the tools then you can always rope in the glass yourself and then take it to a professional and have them inject the proper sealer into the gasket. I did this on my 57, the guy was mobile and came to my house, and it hasn't leaked in 8 years and it is a real difficult winshield to seal. It's all in the detail guys.....good luck.
 
#15
Pakrat said:
All fine examples why even though many folks still do it, these cars are best left to occasional fair weather drivers as opposed to daily drivers and/or left outside 24/7. :shrug:
Click to expand...

I disagree. If the car is properly relieved of it's issues (say, some POR-15?) there's no reason for it not to be.
 
#16
Well if you did invest all of that time and money to relieve it of it's issues, then it would be a huge waste of that effort to leave the car outside 24/7 still wouldn't it? That's the reason that comes to my mind. I have no issues with them as a DD provided they have a garage at least, thus the (and/or) at the end of my sentence. I'm sure many would disagree, but it just seems selfish to me to demand all the extremes out of such an old car when the car is to really serve one purpose, and that is to look cool. It's not economical, comfortable or environmentally friendly in any respect what so ever, so to put it through the paces and then as a reward abuse it further with the elements just seems wrong. People are entitled to disagree with that philosophy, but let's be honest at least, it is not what is in the cars best interest and is not responsible ownership. I personally am hoping that my car long out lives me and makes some new owner some day just as happy.
 
#17
Pakrat said:
Well if you did invest all of that time and money to relieve it of it's issues, then it would be a huge waste of that effort to leave the car outside 24/7 still wouldn't it? That's the reason that comes to my mind. I have no issues with them as a DD provided they have a garage at least, thus the (and/or) at the end of my sentence. I'm sure many would disagree, but it just seems selfish to me to demand all the extremes out of such an old car when the car is to really serve one purpose, and that is to look cool. It's not economical, comfortable or environmentally friendly in any respect what so ever, so to put it through the paces and then as a reward abuse it further with the elements just seems wrong. People are entitled to disagree with that philosophy, but let's be honest at least, it is not what is in the cars best interest and is not responsible ownership. I personally am hoping that my car long out lives me and makes some new owner some day just as happy.
Click to expand...



Mine was garaged until the 2004 came home. It was kind of outranked. No matter. The climate here is semi-arrid, so no real danger of it not outlasting me unless I park it too close to the lawn sprinklers. :D
 
#18
Pak--I'd have to partially disagree. I don't drive my car to look cool or because it looks cool. I drive it because I like it and it has personality--warts and all--unlike the pristine all-the-same cars that you can get off the lot.

My truck is a faithful Toyota--93 with 120000 on it and still going strong. While, technically is much more advanced that my Mustang, it lacks the . . . soul?. . . of the mustang. It has gotten me places that my Mustang couldn't even think of going. Still, I drive the Mustang every day it doesn't rain--park it on campus.

Yes, my mustang leaks in the trunk when it rains. Yes, my wife's Jetta's AC is much colder. The Jetta is more comfortable, too. Still, I drive my Mustang because it is part of the family.

Besides, I'm too old to look cool. :D
 
#19
Outranked by an 04'? An 04' what? Inconceivable!!!!!!!! :p

Your climate is pretty dry though Oz, that's for sure. My 04' sits in the driveway with the 00' day in and day out. I don't plan on either being with me after 5 years of age though, and neither will ever be a classic. To me they are merely something to get around in between the nice days, however many of them there are a year.
 
#20
My car is kept in a climate-controlled garage and truth be told, probably will see very little if any rain. But I still want to make it leak proof. It is not a daily driver (have a work car) but will be an occassional driver, maybe around 5,000-6,000 miles per year.

Thanks for the continued responses guys! I'm certain the water getting into the car with the cowl cover on is due to a poor seal (with a brand new windshield and gasket) at the lower corners. I am looking into having it professionaly replaced sometime very soon. At that point, the cowl cover should buy me some time until I can tear into the cowl.

C'ya!

Kelton
 
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