C2 How to stop cowl leak on AC car

[Randy S.]

Guys,

I have a leak in the passenger footwell of my 66 AC equipped convertible. I know they all leak. Water is entering the footwell from the vent/grill assembly. When I pour water into the passenger cowl vent, water drains mostly out the cowl drain at the bottom of the car as it should. The drains are not plugged. However some of the water puddles on top of the adapter assembly (photo) then dribbles over the back edge. I can feel behind this edge and it is the fresh air opening for the vent door so this is how water is entering the vent area. The adapter assembly is shown C60 D2. Water enters in the area shown by gasket symbol 6. The gasket is a new gasket. The top of the adapter in the cowl drain area is almost like a flat roof with a lip. It seems to me the water flow should be directed away from this area but I am at a loss to figure out where to divert the water.


How is water supposed to flow from the cowl area over this adapter. Should I fill in this flat roof area with caulk?


adapter.jpg

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 How to stop cowl leak on AC car

Perhaps you have found your leak however another area to check is the inside joint between the fiber glass and the bird cage. I have found water often gets into this area from above and leaks inside. A simple application of a caulk to the space will stop that leak.
(now I assume these cars are not driven every day so if the water just sets in the area above and must dry due to time its no big deal since it only happens a few times in the car's life time)

Shown the area above the passengers side where the water leaks in. You should be able to see the gap from the inside. Just another area to check.

[Clem Z.]

Re: C2 How to stop cowl leak on AC car

what i have used on cowl leaks in tin cars is the stuff they used to rustproof inside the doors and panels. it is a small long flexible hose device that sprays the material that can be inserted in from the area in front of the windshield.

[James B.]

Re: C2 How to stop cowl leak on AC car

Clem:

Any details of the product / process that you can share?


James

[Clem Z.]

Re: C2 How to stop cowl leak on AC car

Clem:

Any details of the product / process that you can share?


James

mrs clem worked at the dealership and they used their regular rust proofing system to do this. when they rustproof inside the door etc they drill a hole in the edge of the door and insert the device and spray the material inside . they just did the same thing but went in thru the cowl vent area in front of the windshield. check the yellow pages to see if anyone in area would want to do this for you.

[Randy S.]

Re: C2 How to stop cowl leak on AC car

Thanks Clem,

Maybe I should buy that stuff they advertise on TV, the screen door in the bottom of a row boat that has been sealed up with the miracle spray.

Seriously I have been using "rope caulk" that they use at the local auto dealership. The challenge is to find where the water is entering.

Randy

[Randy S.]

Re: C2 How to stop cowl leak on AC car

Alan,

Thanks for the photo and tip. If I have my bearings correct I should look for a seam above the pass vent grill where fiberglass meets steel.

Randy