C2 coupe leaking windshield - rain catcher ideas?

[Alexander D.]

I replaced the windshield in my '67 coupe with a new one from Classic Auto Glass. My old windshield was scratched and also leaked water into the cabin.

Regrettably, although the new windshield is beautiful, I am still getting water inside the car!

Whoever installed the old windshield used black urethane to glue down the surround moudings! My installer had to use a razor to carefully cut the urethane to release the moldings, then remove the old windshield. The paint did lift in a couple of small areas, which with the moldings back in place aren't too noticeable. The installer used a new gasket from "Corvette Rubber" and was careful to use caulk/sealer in all the right places, but alas, water still finds its way in! I was present during the installation, and the windshield channel looked good, with no obvious reason why the new windshield would leak once installed.

My installer has done C2 windshields before, and warned me that leaks are hard to fix and are common on C2's. Why is this?

On mine, the water drips on the outer (door) ends of the footwells. The passenger side is leakier than the driver's side.

I'm reluctant to remove the windshield again, disturbing everything in an possibly futile effort to fix the leaks.

One form of adaptation is to devise a means to catch the water that comes in. I don't drive the car in the rain, although it does get washed, and rain can happen during a drive.

My question is: Has anyone devised a means to catch water coming into the cabin? I put small trays on the floor when I wash the car, but that's not practicable to do during a drive.

Any suggestions?

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[Leif A.]

Alexander,
The leaks may not be coming from the windshield, at all. Have you checked/cleared the drain holes in the cowl vents just ahead of the windshield. Over a 58 year period, lots of debris collects and clogs these drains and allows the water to drain into the cabin...very common.

[Gary J.]

When the windshield was out was there any rust around the windshield frame? Could be holes from rust in the windshield frame. If there is no rust, after a thorough cleaning and inspection I would use, a brushable primer that the glass shop uses. Be sure to cover the clip screws. Then lay a bead of caulk down around the windshield frame. Install glass. After glass is installed run a bead of calk between the the weather strip and windshield frame on the inside of the car. Next step would be run a bead of calk between the glass and the weather strip on the outside of the car. Need two people for the job. As one is pulling the glass weather strip back as you follow behind him calking. Others will chime in on the sealant they use. I use CRL 7708. Be sure to have plenty of tee shirts and prepsol for clean up.

[Alan D.]

Agree with Leif "The leaks may not be coming from the windshield" He has given you one area to check that has happen a lot.
A search should come up with lots of other areas to check.

[Alexander D.]

Alexander,
The leaks may not be coming from the windshield, at all. Have you checked/cleared the drain holes in the cowl vents just ahead of the windshield. Over a 58 year period, lots of debris collects and clogs these drains and allows the water to drain into the cabin...very common.

Yes, I checked my cowl vent drains some time ago. I did this by carefully pouring water into the vent, and watching where it came out. The water would run out beneath the car, ahead of the doors, and did not appear to get inside the cabin. Maybe it's time to check those drains again!

Is there another way to check the drains? Should I remove the wipers and grates, and push something into the drains themselves? Do drain tubes carry the water away? Or is it a gap in the body panels?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge in this area.