some time ago i noticed that when my 72 el camino sat outside during a hard rainfall i would have a wet carpet. mostly behind the seat. a few years ago i had it painted and at that time i installed all new rubber seals [on doors, etc.] however it has never sat outside since then so i dont know if the new seals fixed it or not. i plan to begin driving the car more and would like to make sure that there are no leaks. what is the most likely place for water to get in? thanks for your help.

Many times the smugglers box cover (in the bed) will allow water through into the area where the plastic storage box lives. If the storage box is cracked or not sealed to the rear cab wall adequately, the water will find it's way to the floor behind the driver's seat. Is it wet on both sides....or just behind the driver?

Also, when it sat outside, was it pointing downhill...or uphill? You sure don't want water standing in the bed. It'll find a way in. :(

the storage box was not sealed. when it was setting outside it was pretty much level. as i recall the wet area was mostly behind the driver side but there may have been some in front of driver. of course it would wick thru the carpet and pad making it hard to locate the entry. thanks for the input.

p.s. that is an awesome '69 you have!

You also might want to check and see if your area under the rear window has rotted away causing a water leak. This is a very prevelant place to rust away and leak as water would sit behind where the rear window molding was and destroy the metal. My friend noticed nothing on his 72 elky till he pulled out the rear kick panel and saw swiss cheese.

I have had 6 El Caminos in the 68 to 72 years and they all leaked water into the carpet area from some where or another. Some from around the smugglers box, a couple from around the front vent area and one I never could find out where it was leaking.
My son has a 72 El Camino and it leaked also from the front area. We cleaned out the area in the cowl where it goes from under the windshield down to the vents on the side of the front of the car and that took care of the front. We also took off the plate in the front of the bed and sealed it with seam sealer and retightened with new screws and that took care of the rear area. But once in a while in a heavy rain it will still get a small amount of the carpet wet in the front near the vent on the drivers side. Love the El Caminos but seems like they all have a problem with water leaking. RichF