Preventative rainfall in my 60

[Mike G.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

[quote=.

My question is does anyone have a solution to the leakage problem with the C1, C2 corvettes? I am going to do trials with silly putty packed in the grooves for an emergency such as this.
Valeria[/quote]

the only way to keep these old convertibles from leaking is to keep them inside. they all leak to some extent. at least c4 back.

[Pat M.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

the only way to keep these old convertibles from leaking is to keep them inside. they all leak to some extent. at least c4 back.

Not my C4. The day I picked up my 96 vert from the dealer (which was exactly 14 years ago today ) it was raining unbelievably hard, and it did not leak at all. And it was just as watertight the couple other times it's been in the rain since.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

1>Five gallon pail - 5 or 6 plastic dispenser loads of Tide (or ?), add water, insert seat belts. Once per day for 4 days agitate belts and place back in pail - may need to replace solution if dirty enough. repeat until clean.
2>Find a good convertible top facility; go there with your AIM in hand; explain the problem and ask if they can verify that your top has all of the prescribed weatherstrips; if it does, ask them how to determine HOW the water is coming in - over the top of the header bar or between the glass and the weatherstrip or ???
3>Move to Arizona - you'll like it.

Thanks Loren for the tip on cleaning the grease out of my seatbelts. I'll try it.
Boy, I know I'm good for highjacking other peoples threads but now I'm doing it to myself!

Thanks again. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

Believe it or not, this is my third attempt to add my two cents worth to this thread. This morning I kept getting "server is busy" messages, so perhaps someone would rather I not comment.

Basically, I just wanted to state that as someone who has a leaky C-2 and lives in Florida, I do know how to dry out carpeting (after three bad hurricanes). I use a powerful wet/dry vacuum along with a hot and powerful hair dryer together, and you must get it as soon as possible.

My 63 didn't leak for the first 15 years with the original top, but then I think the body sags and it's a whole new ball game. Even with a new top and weather stripping it continues to leak. I don't venture out if there is any chance of rain, and that is why it gets out about as much here as when I lived in Illinois. I once got caught out in a driving rain storm in Chicago after a Chevrolet ad shoot on the Lake front. It not only got wet during the shoot, as they insisted we leave our tops down for the effect, but on the way home too. My wipers quit running and I spun out in a major intersection in my haist to get the heck out of there. Never again.

Stu Fox

[Loren L.]

Back in the day.....

Way back in the day......and continuing today for those who have them.......RPO 684/687 car owners might not have been sure about the air cooling the brakes, but one rainstorm and they KNEW that they carried H2O to drum brakes REAL GOOD........

[Stan G.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

Back in the late 60's I had a 58 hardtop only car that I drove daily and I can never remember it leaking , tho that was in So Cal but it always sat outside and they do get rain in Cal during the winter . I think the factory did a better job of sealing up the windshield than we do when we restore , to worried about caulking showing and not planning on being rained on . Stan

[Ronald L.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

If serious, pull out your AIM, set up a spray stand fixture, if not use a garden hose. By the mid 60's they had all sorts of dum dum that the JG may not recognize, extra screws went into the A-post weatherstrip (I have documented on several original cars) that are not in the AIM and all that went into assuring the cars left the factory water tight.

To this day it is called water management - what it implies is that the water flow is managed so you do not get wet. That may mean as in the case of the C2 verts, that the water runs behind the cowl flap and away from the inside. If you do not put the dum dum there, you get a flood.

As has been mentioned, and brushed off, your door inner had a water shield, is that old torn paper, or new with a butyl bead? You have to get that right or you will have a flood there too. How about the door seal itself? Get the fogger and see if you have full contact seal to the body.

If you really know where the water is entering, you can fix it.

[Valeria H.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

Check the rubber weatherstrip at the top of the windshield to see if the glass is sealed there. If the spacer is left out between the upper trim stainless piece and the weatherstrip this will let the weatherstrip move up and the glass will not seal well there. I have seen this on these before and it means taking the windshield apart to put the spacer back in.
Good luck Joe

Joe, Upon looking at the front windshield frame, the joint where the middle piece of the frame overlaps the two end pieces is not tight. There is a noticeable gap there esp on the pass. side.
If you have a C1 could you take a picture and post it of the area you speak of and post it so I will know exactly what you are talking about.

Thanks,
Valeria

[Valeria H.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

If serious, pull out your AIM, set up a spray stand fixture, if not use a garden hose. By the mid 60's they had all sorts of dum dum that the JG may not recognize, extra screws went into the A-post weatherstrip (I have documented on several original cars) that are not in the AIM and all that went into assuring the cars left the factory water tight.

To this day it is called water management - what it implies is that the water flow is managed so you do not get wet. That may mean as in the case of the C2 verts, that the water runs behind the cowl flap and away from the inside. If you do not put the dum dum there, you get a flood.

As has been mentioned, and brushed off, your door inner had a water shield, is that old torn paper, or new with a butyl bead? You have to get that right or you will have a flood there too. How about the door seal itself? Get the fogger and see if you have full contact seal to the body.

If you really know where the water is entering, you can fix it.

Ronald,
First just an update on Bella. I spent many intimate hours last evening with her. After I ripped up the carpet I picked up many sponges, dried them in the dryer and like an episode of "I Love Lucy" where Lucy and
Ethel stomped the grapes in Italy, I placed a sponge below and one on top of the carpet and stomped the water out piece by piece, drying the sponges and re-stomping, along with having 2 hair dryers blowing.

I turned on the dehumidifier in the garage on and when I went to bed placed 3 very large "Sta - dry" packs on the carpet. When I returned this evening the carpet was completely dry. I will still place the sta-dry packs back on that side tonight when I go to bed. They are in the oven being re-dried.

I have an AIM and pulled it out tonight and found the "water test" which is located on page 124. My copy is so faint I can not make out all of the print, but it is there.

That is a great idea about taking it to the convertible top shop. After I trial silly putty I will do just that. It appeared that most of the water was streaming in across the metal door panel. I am not certain of it's origin.

I thought about calling AAA and having Bella flat bedded home with her waterproof cover on. I guess I should have done that. Live and learn.

Thanks to all who have responded and left their pearls of wisdom here on the TDB! All comments were appreciated.

Valeria

[Dick W.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

I thought about calling AAA and having Bella flat bedded home with her waterproof cover on. I guess I should have done that. Live and learn.
Valeria

NEVER, EVER tow a car with the cover on unless it is specifically designed for that purpose. Where most covers weigh about 10 or so pounds, a towing cover weighs over 50# and has multiple tie down points.

If you use a regular cover, the dust in the cover, the blowing in the breeze, etc will scuff the surface of your paint.

[Jim D.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

I have had multiple solid axle & mid-year Corvettes and ALL have leaked. It is just a matter of how much does it leak. I thought it was a no charge option. Regards, Don H.

PS After the rain a high volumn fan blowing throught the interior "fixes" the problem!

Interesting. I've owned many as well and the only ones that leaked, and it was only a few drops in the biggest downpour were the soft top cars. Hardtop C-1's and C-2 coupes never leaked a single drop. Follow the AIM for instructions on how to address them.

Jim

[Valeria H.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

Dick,
Thanks for the advice. It would not have made any difference this time as "Bella" is due to go back to the painter and get several flawed areas repaired.
She had a rock impale the front end on the road tour. After the paint redo I will not take her on road tours or drive her to meets.

Again thanks for the advice!
Valeria

[Robert S.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

My 60 has leaked around the top of the windshield forever. I use electrical tape to seal the convertible top and windshield header to the windshield. Start with the first layer of tape on the convertible top. Half lap the tape layers until the last layer is on the glass. This will not leak and will not blow off at speeds up to 80. Don't ask how I know. I forgot about the tape once for about four months and the adhesive did NOT transfer. (Duct tape will be a mess.) The only warning is that the tape must be installed when the windshield is dry. That's why God made overpasses and terry cloth towels.

[Terry D.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

Valerie

If you don't drive to these things what fun is there in having them? Try to remember how old the car is. You probably don't run as well as you used to either. If these old cars were perfect everybody would have one. Just drive it, enjoy it and put up with the few hazards.
Just my old two cents
Terry

[Valeria H.]

Re: Preventative rainfall in my 60

Forgot to add that one of the windshield wipers stopped half way home. And I am sure you know which one it was!!! Ding Ding Ding!!! you got it right, it was the driver's side! I drove home the rest of the way with the wipers off.
My buddy in front in the "63 Rag" never turned his on. He turned out to be the smart one of us two as I now need to have mine repaired. Just another day in the life of a 50 year old car that is still in a dead heat on the road.

I'm still thinking trailer for any long overnight trip!