Water leaks

[OneWheelPeel]

I didn't expect it to rain last night and around 1AM it started pouring, so I checked the car once the sun was out and found.......a trickle.

Buuuuut it trickled where the floor was rotted out, probably decades of that trickle making the carpet moist did the damage. So anyway I grabbed a pitcher of water and did some experimenting. A pitcher of water poured in the cowl vents drained under the car, seems good to me.

Poured water around the new windshield and seal, which as I expected is fine, then the water gets to this spot on the A pillar, painted area between the chrome trim

And it comes out here:

Since I want to postpone tearing things apart I thought I'd just ask is this common? Like a rusted hole or known body plug that perishes? I don't know when I'll tackle it but its good to be armed with info for when I do.
EDIT to point out its the same story on both sides of the car.

 

[ckessel]

My wagon leaks in several places after I wash it. Down the road will do some investigating. For now, no rainy weather driving.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

I poked around with a ziptie for a hole and it seems its solid under the trim, maybe its running along something and then takes a turn back in and I'm not catching it with my kind of lame vision. I'm not super worried since floor repairs aren't complete so any water that gets in can drain out/is on stuff that will be cut out/is on new sealed metal. But I want to figure it out before carpet time.

Or paint the car in flexseal!

 

[threewood]

Pop the trim off and have a look.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

I will eventually, trying to see if there was group knowledge first. Also have to look up how to pop it without causing damage, I think I've only done brightwork trim on old Fords and VWs.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

Edited the first post to point out both sides of the car react the same to water poured in that spot.

 

[Speedbird]

Assuming there is no rust in the lower places, my wild guess is the circled area of the gasket. It's sort of odd place in the rubber where there is a transition and requires (required) a good amount off sealant in the corner.
It transitions from the gully to a fence on the A pillar. I've got an extra gasket in the shed and can post a picture if necessary of the corner I'm talking about.
Caveat.
Of course water can come in anywhere above where it actually finds it way out.
There is no such thing as an easy reveal trim removal.
I put an arrow on where the roof seal ends under the door, but I doubt that has anything to do with it since your drip is inside and under the dash frame.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

Assuming there is no rust in the lower places, my wild guess is the circled area of the gasket. It's sort of odd place in the rubber where there is a transition and requires (required) a good amount off sealant in the corner.
It transitions from the gully to a fence on the A pillar. I've got an extra gasket in the shed and can post a picture if necessary of the corner I'm talking about.
Caveat.
Of course water can come in anywhere above where it actually finds it way out.
There is no such thing as an easy reveal trim removal.
I put an arrow on where the roof seal ends under the door, but I doubt that has anything to do with it since your drip is inside and under the dash frame.
View attachment 1751307

Thanks I'll check, I have little syringes I can use to direct water directly in that area to pinpoint the source.

 

[davek]

water gos were it wants,pop the trim. JMO

 

[NHRoadrunner]

If it helps, here is a photo of my 1969 RR at the same corner of the windshield. Is it possible the windshield channel is rotted out?

 

[OneWheelPeel]

Thanks. I'm guessing thats not the case based on pics the PO sent me before the windshield went in where everything was cleaned and painted. You can see there was surface rust dealt with. Also I can pour the smallest amount of water straight down and it comes thru right away, so even if its just not sealing well it would have to go up and over the lip, I think. I meant to investigate it more but I have house things taking up my time now.
When I get back to it I will inject water under the seal and see if its a channel issue.

 

[440 4 speed]

If you purchased a new w/s lately, they are thinner than original. So they don’t fit in the repo gaskets as well. I called AMD they measured their w/s thickness and it was thicker than the others.
Didn’t look closely, but could your water be running down the A pillar?
If you get a well made trim removal tool, like glass shops have, they work very well.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

If you purchased a new w/s lately, they are thinner than original. So they don’t fit in the repo gaskets as well. I called AMD they measured their w/s thickness and it was thicker than the others.
Didn’t look closely, but could your water be running down the A pillar?
If you get a well made trim removal tool, like glass shops have, they work very well.

Thanks, I'll have to look again where it runs down. The windshield looks new but I have no idea who made it right now. I'll see if there are identifying marks in one of the corners.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

I ran out for a quick look and the windshield says:
PGW
Solex
Laminated
DOT563 AS1 M650
23
DW 00715

I would have to look that up but just from the logo it has to be a modern piece of glass.

 

[440 4 speed]

I ran out for a quick look and the windshield says:
PGW
Solex
Laminated
DOT563 AS1 M650
23
DW 00715

I would have to look that up but just from the logo it has to be a modern piece of glass.

View attachment 1754620

 

[440 4 speed]

If I had it, I would get someone to put bedding material in the gasket to seal it better.
There certainly are people far more knowledgeable about this than I am.
My policy is getting a guarantee of NO leaks. Has worked so far.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

I'll look into sealing it better if that is the cause. Most likely I'll get my neighbor who seems to love the car to dribble water in that area while my head is under the dash.
I've only ever had a windshield put in by a company once and I made sure they had a guarantee. I've also installed a few a long time ago.

 

[ynst]

Park your car on a slight upward angle and pour water into the cowl vent louvers and see if you get a similar leak.

You may have a rust hole in the cowl area and the excess water that you're pouring on the trim is actually flowing into the air vent area where your fresh air intakes are located.

There are, usually, rubber flaps located near the base of this "chamber" that allow for rain water to drain out. Quite often, these drains get plugged up with leaves and debris, thus, allowing water to sit in the cowl vent area and rust away the bottom of the vent chamber.

If the vehicle was parked outside with the front end raised, the same thing will happen but at the rear of the chamber because there's no place for the water to go.

I've lost track of the number of cars that I have had to repair the cowl vent area for this problem.

My driveway is sloped upwards towards my garage and if I have to park a vehicle outside the garage I always back into my driveway to park my cars so that the water drains OUT through the regularly-cleaned drain flaps. The only car I can't do that with is my hemi Magnum with the sun roof because the rain water collects in the sunroof air deflector and I don't need wet seats.

 

[440 4 speed]

If I had it, I would get someone to put bedding material in the gasket to seal it better.
There certainly are people far more knowledgeable about this than I am.
My policy is getting a guarantee of NO leaks. Has worked so far.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

Park your car on a slight upward angle and pour water into the cowl vent louvers and see if you get a similar leak.

You may have a rust hole in the cowl area and the excess water that you're pouring on the trim is actually flowing into the air vent area where your fresh air intakes are located.

There are, usually, rubber flaps located near the base of this "chamber" that allow for rain water to drain out. Quite often, these drains get plugged up with leaves and debris, thus, allowing water to sit in the cowl vent area and rust away the bottom of the vent chamber.

If the vehicle was parked outside with the front end raised, the same thing will happen but at the rear of the chamber because there's no place for the water to go.

I've lost track of the number of cars that I have had to repair the cowl vent area for this problem.

My driveway is sloped upwards towards my garage and if I have to park a vehicle outside the garage I always back into my driveway to park my cars so that the water drains OUT through the regularly-cleaned drain flaps. The only car I can't do that with is my hemi Magnum with the sun roof because the rain water collects in the sunroof air deflector and I don't need wet seats.

Thanks for that info, I’ll try that.