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81 water Leak

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81 water Leak

Posted: 9/3/06 12:33pmMessage 1 of 6
t
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mount airy, MD - USA
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 71
Vette(s): 1981 Charcoal Met., Silver Interior, Gymkhana Suspension, 27K original miles. It's my daily driver.

Hi 

           This is my first corvette and it rained yesterday and I vacuumed out about 20 oz. of water off the driver and pass. side floor. It has t-tops but I didn't see anything coming in around them. Is there any one place that would cause this more than another? This is my daily driver and I don't really want to suck out this much water every time it rains.  Thanks,   Tom

P.S.  As soon as I submit this I am going to go and join as a paying member!! 

tsmith149938963.5241435185
1981 Corvette, 26K original miles, charcoal gray, gymkhana suspension, AM/FM/8 track.
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81 water Leak

Posted: 9/3/06 12:53pmMessage 2 of 6
I
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Joined: 7/24/2003
Posts: 2155
Vette(s): 1982 Collector Edition #3413
[QUOTE=tsmith1499]

Hi 

           This is my first corvette and it rained yesterday and I vacuumed out about 20 oz. of water off the driver and pass. side floor. It has t-tops but I didn't see anything coming in around them. Is there any one place that would cause this more than another? This is my daily driver and I don't really want to suck out this much water every time it rains.  Thanks,   Tom

P.S.  As soon as I submit this I am going to go and join as a paying member!!  [/QUOTE]

Great to have you here.  

For your question.    I would grab the hose and do a water test on the T-Tops first then side window and if theres no water from them leaking try water testing the top black molding that holds the windshield/bird cage.   Sprey the water when like your driving.   When doing this test see if another person will help you.   If you don't any problems with this then there is one last place to look for.   It is where the T-Top weather seals are placed on.   The chrome on the windsheild where it's a three peice chrome and screws are.   Has a gap in by the screw.  Check that area. 

Hope you find your leak.   

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81 water Leak

Posted: 9/3/06 8:51pmMessage 3 of 6
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Greensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5387
Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe, 1989 Coupe, 2001 Roadster Present: 1967 Stingray Roadster, 1976 Stingray Coupe, 1989 Roadster..
Moooo ... Your udders are clogged (that's a joke...)

The cowl drains get stopped up, then the cowl fills with water in the rain (or after being washed), then the water works it's way through the firewall into the passenger side floor area.
Check your cowls for leaves, debris, a mouse wasp nest, etc. these areas are notorius for gettin stuff in them and being overlooked. (Especially if the car has set somewhere for a significant period of time.
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81 water Leak

Posted: 9/3/06 9:30pmMessage 4 of 6
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 22720
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Larry is onto sumpthin...
The problem is, the drains for the cowl are on the side of the car. If enough crap gets down in there, they will stop up, and water will flow over into the floors.
Take the side/kick-panels off, and see if it is wet behind them, either now, or after the water torture mentioned above.
If there is a ton-o-crap behind the trim panels, that is most likely where the H2O is gettin in. You might find a rat's nest, tree leaves, paper, or even rust down there. Any of it can stop up the drain holes.
Sometimes, the factory bond between the cowl and the body will deteriorate, and leak.
Take a indoor/outdoor vaccuum, and suck out all of it, and see if you can clean out the very bottom of the area, so water will drain properly.

If the car was just sitting when the water got in, it most likely will not be leaking around the top of the windersheild/trim. If the seal is leaking at the top, it will normally only leak as you are driving, because that forces the water up under the trim, and past the sealant, sortta like a pressure washer.

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

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81 water Leak

Posted: 9/3/06 9:41pmMessage 5 of 6
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Greensburg, IN - USA
Joined: 9/24/2003
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Vette(s): Previous: 1984 Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe, 1989 Coupe, 2001 Roadster Present: 1967 Stingray Roadster, 1976 Stingray Coupe, 1989 Roadster..
Why thank ya Joel...

(The sun shines on a dogs hind end once in a while )

I figured if'n I could spark them thar memory banks o yourn y'all could explain it more eloquently than this here country boy.
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81 water Leak

Posted: 9/4/06 9:29pmMessage 6 of 6
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mount airy, MD - USA
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 71
Vette(s): 1981 Charcoal Met., Silver Interior, Gymkhana Suspension, 27K original miles. It's my daily driver.

Thanks for all the info.  After looking over the car a little more closely I think I see one big contributor to the water problem. On both doors at the top front corner where it meets the windshield all I see is a metal banding where I think should be rubber. It looks like the door weatherstripping might be one of the culprits. I also noticed the bottom of the pass. door panel was wet and the passenger side pocket was wet on the inside.  Thanks for all the input. As this is my first Corvette I can use all the help I can get.   Tom

1981 Corvette, 26K original miles, charcoal gray, gymkhana suspension, AM/FM/8 track.
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