C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

The 65's first wash. It wasn't pretty

Old 05-13-2007, 06:56 PM
  #1  
woodsdesign
Safety Car
Thread Starter
 
woodsdesign's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2004
Location: Macedonia Ohio
Posts: 4,126
Received 537 Likes on 350 Posts

Default The 65's first wash. It wasn't pretty

After three years of restoration and paying particular attention to caulking for leaks and adjusting the weatherstriping ( even doing the dollar bill test) I got out the hose and let the coupe have it. I figured it would be good to know where I stand. The result was leaking like a sieve. Puddles of water on the shift console and in both footwells. Apparently it came from the wiper vents which I caulked and thought I sealed. I know they all leak but do they all leak this bad?
woodsdesign is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 06:59 PM
  #2  
ctjackster
Le Mans Master
Support Corvetteforum!
 
ctjackster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2003
Location: Westport CT
Posts: 6,807
Received 19 Likes on 15 Posts

Default

I'd guess you might have sealed something you shouldn't have in the wiper grill area (drain holes) but, to be honest, my 65 leaks just as you described
ctjackster is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 07:13 PM
  #3  
DansYellow66
Race Director
Support Corvetteforum!
 
DansYellow66's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2003
Location: Central Arkansas
Posts: 15,736
Received 2,615 Likes on 1,947 Posts

Default

That's why I haven't tried to wash mine since I went through and rebuilt it from the ground up - so far.

Dan
DansYellow66 is offline  
The following users liked this post:
1960 (08-07-2021)
Old 05-13-2007, 07:17 PM
  #4  
Dicecal
Melting Slicks
 
Dicecal's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2001
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 2,846
Received 40 Likes on 30 Posts

Default

I live in AZ, so much dust I have to wash my car regularly. My car leaks quite a bit, I just put down towels along the door sills and foot wells when I wash the car.
Dicecal is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 07:42 PM
  #5  
MikeM
Team Owner
 
MikeM's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,843 Likes on 1,398 Posts

Default

You guys have something bad wrong. They're not supposed to leak like that, at all.

If your car is leaking from behind the dash and glove box try this:
Remove the wiper grills. Spray water down in the cowl, making sure you do not get on the wiper pivot or around the windshield. Do one side at a time. There are no seams down in there so no place to leak behind the dash or glove box. If you're still interested to this point, let me know what you find.
MikeM is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 08:33 PM
  #6  
ctjackster
Le Mans Master
Support Corvetteforum!
 
ctjackster's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2003
Location: Westport CT
Posts: 6,807
Received 19 Likes on 15 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by MikeM
You guys have something bad wrong. They're not supposed to leak like that, at all.
Mike, no offense but do you live in the same C2 ownership world that we do? Yeah mine does leak like that, and I have YET to meet anyone who claims their C2 is dry in the rain ('cept maybe you)
ctjackster is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 08:42 PM
  #7  
BarryK
Le Mans Master
 
BarryK's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2004
Location: Newark DE
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 0
Received 35 Likes on 11 Posts

Default

my '65 leaks like a sieve in the rain or when I wash it also.
The new windshield and rear window gaskets helped a lot when the glass was out for the paint 2 years ago but water still comes in a lot from under the dash.
i've tried sealing up under the wiper grills but it didn't do much good.

i remember someone, I think maybe John McGraw but may be wrong, explaining and showing on his car when the front clip was off where it comes in where the bottom of the windshield frame attaches to the cowl area. After years the seals dry up and than leak and the only way to access that area to try to repair it is to remove the front clip off the car. I am not about to do that so I'll have to live with the leaks
BarryK is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 08:44 PM
  #8  
knight37128
Le Mans Master
 
knight37128's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2006
Location: "cutesy" TN
Posts: 6,048
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ctjackster
Mike, no offense but do you live in the same C2 ownership world that we do? Yeah mine does leak like that, and I have YET to meet anyone who claims their C2 is dry in the rain ('cept maybe you)

Mine stays dry in the rain.








I do not drive in the rain.
knight37128 is offline  
The following users liked this post:
1960 (08-07-2021)
Old 05-13-2007, 08:50 PM
  #9  
Trophy Blue
Melting Slicks
 
Trophy Blue's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey. The deer ate my Garden State.
Posts: 3,073
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Last November when I was wet sanding my car right after it was painted, I noticed about two inches of water on the floor pans. I removed the plastic plugs to drain the water out. Oh well. It's part of owning a C-2.
Trophy Blue is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 08:54 PM
  #10  
AZDoug
Race Director
 
AZDoug's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Camp Verde AZ
Posts: 12,434
Received 1,478 Likes on 905 Posts
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist

Default

It isn't normal.

back when C2's were on the used market, they didn't leak like that.

Driving drips on a convertable, yes, puddles, no.

Doug
AZDoug is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 08:59 PM
  #11  
Blk63Vette
Melting Slicks
 
Blk63Vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2005
Location: Sarasota Florida
Posts: 2,576
Received 30 Likes on 25 Posts

Default

Hi

My 1968 leaked like a sieve...My 1963 leaks real bad too..I dont wash it much I had washed it 3 times in the 3 years i have owned it...I wipe it down with damp cloth..I figure its and OLD car...Its going to leak..

I remenber reading and article about them leaking when they were new.....

Last edited by Blk63Vette; 05-13-2007 at 09:03 PM.
Blk63Vette is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 09:05 PM
  #12  
NVaVettes
Racer
 
NVaVettes's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I cover the cowl vents with blue painters tape, line the footwells
with garbage bags, and try not to blast the windshield with any more
water than necessary. A little water still gets in....
NVaVettes is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 09:15 PM
  #13  
Mikey65
Drifting
 
Mikey65's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2005
Location: Clovis NM
Posts: 1,919
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Also try washing your car nose down if you have a slight incline/decline.. seems to help quite a bit.
Mikey65 is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 09:18 PM
  #14  
Jack60
Burning Brakes
 
Jack60's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Westminster Maryland
Posts: 844
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

My C1 leaks around convertible roof and at the back, but it don't leak around the dash. I have been in some heavy rain. Haven't washed it since I got her.
Jack60 is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 09:27 PM
  #15  
62Jeff
Tech Contributor
Support Corvetteforum!
 
62Jeff's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2005
Location: Houston-ish Texas
Posts: 15,499
Received 47 Likes on 37 Posts

Default

Boy do I feel lucky.

My 65 coupe leaks around the front auxiliary door weatherstrips, and a wee bit around the base of the windshield rubber, but that's it whether in a rain storm or while being washed.

Jeff
62Jeff is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 09:35 PM
  #16  
67-427ci
Melting Slicks
Support Corvetteforum!
 
67-427ci's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2004
Location: Cave Creek AZ
Posts: 2,300
Received 25 Likes on 21 Posts

Default

My Coupe leaked like a sieve when I first got it. After replacing the windshield, repairing the rusted steel channel and sealing the gasket properly I still had a small leak on the drivers side and at the side vents. This winter I added more sealer around the windshield gasket and cleaned out the cowl vent drain holes. Maybe it will be better.

This is what I got out of the cowl vent drain holes (driver & passenger side).
Roy
Attached Images   
67-427ci is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 10:12 PM
  #17  
MikeM
Team Owner
 
MikeM's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,843 Likes on 1,398 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ctjackster
Mike, no offense but do you live in the same C2 ownership world that we do? Yeah mine does leak like that, and I have YET to meet anyone who claims their C2 is dry in the rain ('cept maybe you)


I'd think you'd be a more careful reader of the written word. Nowhere did I claim either of my C-2's are completely dry. Almost, but not quite.

If your car is leaking as bad as you claim and it was mine and I couldn't fix it, I'd burn it to the ground and go get a good one. Maybe you like your car smelling like a swamp. I don't.

I think many people let them leak because they just know it's a rusted birdcage or the windshield has to come out because Corvette Joe Blow over here told them that ALL OF THEM LEAK THERE, and therefore they consider it "okay" and they do nothing.
MikeM is offline  

Get notified of new replies

To The 65's first wash. It wasn't pretty

Old 05-13-2007, 10:21 PM
  #18  
Grey Ghost
Le Mans Master
 
Grey Ghost's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2000
Location: Calhoun, GA_______ Let It Rock
Posts: 8,506
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Knock on wood....maybe I'm one of the few also. I can do a normal wash job on my '65 Conv and do not wind up with water inside. I wash the top, windshield, and side windows and rinse (spray) them off. No water inside.


I have been caught in the rain twice. Water poured in through the top and front of the conv. top. I know that I have a bad piece of weatherstrip there though. My car is a late '65 conv. A.O. Smith body.
Grey Ghost is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 10:36 PM
  #19  
Vetterodder
Safety Car
 
Vetterodder's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 1999
Location: Fountain Hills AZ
Posts: 3,625
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts

Default

My `65 coupe would get a few drops on the inside of the vent windows when washed but that was it.
Vetterodder is offline  
Old 05-13-2007, 10:39 PM
  #20  
MidShark
Melting Slicks
 
MidShark's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2002
Location: Belmont Michigan
Posts: 2,342
Received 275 Likes on 143 Posts

Default

My '66 leaks a bit in the front if I'm caught in the rain, but the real problem is around the rear glass. Leaks terribly there. Luckily, I've only been in the rain a couple of times with the car. I do not wash the car with water. I use Dri-Wash-n-Guard to clean and polish it.
I haven't done the water test on my '63 yet.

Rich
MidShark is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: The 65's first wash. It wasn't pretty



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:00 PM.