I suspect my body drains are stopped up because rain keeps getting inside on both driver and passenger sides of the front floor. I have new weatherstripping around the doors, etc., and it appears that the water source is around the kick panels.

How can I check the body drains for blockage and clean them out?

Thanks for any help, Charles

I just checked on my 66. There is no recognizable "hole" for the drain rather there is a triangular gap designed into the sheet metal seam at the bottom of the body. This gap is located very near the bottom fender bolt. You can use a small screwdriver or pick to clean it out. The gap is fairly small so it will easily plug with leaves or debris. You can check this by pouring water into the cowl panel grill and watch for water draining from the gap. It may be that your kick panel vent seals are leaking, but since both sides are affected, I suspect that the drains are plugged on both sides. Access to the drains is very limited and you may need to pull the kick panel vents to reach in and remove the blockage.

Thanks Wayne.

Before I got the car on the road last year, I vacuumed out the vent areas behind the kick panels as best I could using a small vacuum cleaner and managed to find a few screws and nails along with some dirt in there. But there's probably some remaining junk that I can't get at with the vacuum that's causing the water problem.

I'll peep underneath the car this evening when I get home and see if I can locate the drain holes and go from there.

Thanks again! Charles

Are you sure it's not coming from holes in the sheet metal channel at the base of the windshield on each lower corner? That would be the normal course for water to get into into the cab in that area.

That's a good point, Herb. He could determine that with the water pour test also by dribbling water down the windshied.

Hmmm. I'll try the water trickle thing this evening as well.

Thanks again!

Although not correct for the Chevelle, the three cowl grills are good for keeping the leaves and needles out.

Your kick panel vents come with a couple pounds worth of sealant from the factory tp prevent leakage. Did you clean all of the stuff off when you were in there?

Well, I tried the cowl vent water trickle test and the water ran straight through and onto the ground on both sides. I also pulled up the edges of the carpet and looked for signs of water near the vent/kick panels....no water.

I had the windshield resealed last year and it doesn't leak inside when raining that I can detect.

Looks like I'll have to use a water hose and deluge the front area to try and find the water source.

Thanks, Charles

Yep, that's the next logical step.