Drain hole in jack storage area? 1970

[Juliet P.]

Is there supposed to be a drain hole in the bottom of the pan where the jack is stored behind the passenger seat in a 1970 350/300 Auto Ragtop? There's no drain hole in mine, but a friend's '70 BB (Top Flight) has one in the left rear quadrant. I'm thinking of drilling a hole in mine. Would I loose points or did the factory forget to drill a hole in mine? I've got a wonderful 3" water line and rusted out alarm components & brackets due to no water drain hole and standing water in there sometime in the vette's past. BTW, I am addressing the real problem - how water gets there in the first place. Just curious about what's correct or not regarding the drain hole, if anybody knows.... Thanks, Juliet

[JAT]

Re: Drain hole in jack storage area? 1970

My 70 has a hole in the right side, side closest to the right tire. It is about in the center of the right side, and mine came from the factory with a plastic plug in it. If you will look under you car where the floor boards are you will see a plastic plug filling a hole for both floor boards. If my memory is correct, the two floorboard plugs are just a little bit smaller than the one in the jack storage compartment. I have a coupe but I would look for the water to get past the lid seal and then perhaps migrate forward into this compartment. Your 70 should have two drain holes in the lid lip for water to drain through. These drains are at each of the corners at the rear.Test each one to make sure its not stopped up. The next area is likely a leak source but you can check it anyway. Your rear vents have a drain tube that exits into each of the wheelwells at the top of the rear tires, make sure it flows out okay on each side. Since you are getting familiar with this area another thing you need to know about is access to the bolt that secures the rear of your console. If you will put your hand into the jack compartment and move it in front of the center compartment and feel around you will find the 3/8 inch head of a bolt that has to be removed when you remove the brake console piece. I always have used a 1/4 in ratchet and short 3/8 socket to remove mine. What shape is your jack and spring hold down in with the water problem?

[Joe L.]

Re: Drain hole in jack storage area? 1970

Juliet-----


Typically, I believe, 68+ Corvettes had drain holes in both the passenger side and driver's side(battery box)rear compartments. The passenger's side hole which is about 5/8" diameter was plugged with a black plastic/rubber plug which was "flat" on both sides. The battery box side drain hole was fitted with a special rubber "plug" which is about 1-1/2" long and somewhat tapered. When installed, it is nearly flush with the bottom of the battery box, but protrudes below the box for most of its length. It has a hole in the center which is divided into "quadrants" by a molded-in "divider". This special "plug", which serves as an active drain for the battery box, is GM #3948148 and is still available.


Of course, if your car doesn't have the passenger's side drain hole, that must mean that all cars did not have it. Certainly, some previous owner didn't have it removed with all traces of it being there obliterated. I'd leave it that way. My 69 has the passenger's side compartment plug, but never in my 30+ years of ownership have I had the need to remove it to drain the compartment of water.

[Juliet P.]

Re: Drain hole in jack storage area? 1970

Well, guess what. I found the drain hole. It was under the jack. I guess last time I was looking for it (with the jack removed) I was looking for an open hole (like my friend's BB), and not something plugged. Is this a nasty looking jackstorage compartment or what? Once I get to the alarm restoration stage I'll be addressing the rusted brackets, missing flasher, inoperable (no doubt) relay etc... BTW, the picture is oriented with the top the back of the car and the left the passenger side of the car. Thanks, Juliet

[Ol' Geezer]

Re: Drain hole in jack storage area? 1970

Juliet -- Thanx for the photo. My 70 is even worse -- Jack, etc., is missing because someone once had a CB radio in this compartment.