If you followed my thread in BR you remember I drained one of the great lakes from my trunk several times last week at CB.

This was the first time out in "heavy" rain since I bought the car. It was not pretty and I was not a happy camper.

One problem noticed right away was the lack of sealant under the trunk weatherstrip, it was beautiful blue and the weatherstrip will just pull right out. I got some new weatherstrip, 3M sealant and spatter paint at CB.

However, I think the problem is more than this and obviously want to get it resolved. The car has had new GM quarters put on and the workmanship was done very well. I also think the rear glass sealant may be part of the problem.

I'm going to my bodyman tomorrow to do some "hose" testing. Hopefully we can source the problem(s) but I thought I would seek some input from here as to any specific areas you may suggest to check.

The car is a 69 two door post.

Thanks gang.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

Don, My convertible leaks as well. I suspect it is the lack of sealant under the weatherstripping, since I know my rain gutter is good and I see it leaking out of the bottom of the car where its suppose to.
Check to make sure you have some drain holes down at the bottom of the quarters to let the water drain out.
When you do the hose test make sure you start at the bottom and slowly work your way up, if you flood it from the top it makes it difficult to pinpoint the problem area.
If you really trust your buddy, he can lock you in the trunk with a flashlight http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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TC #364
Aces #4309
Jeff's 69 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/daytonajeff1.jpg)

I don't know if you have ever had your back glass out, but if you havn't check for rust pinholes in the window seat. Hopefully its just the trunk weather seal.

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Elcaminos are special!
I'd rather walk around with a Chevrolet hubcap in my hand than drive a Ford


work in progress
Big James Elky(AKA Ol Paint) (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Big%20James4XL-Ol%20Paint1.jpg)
www.chevelles.com/showroom/workgoeson1.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/workgoeson1.jpg)

Don buy a sump pump http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif If it's in your trunk it seems it had a way in there, check for low spots and breaks/holes in the weatherstripping channel.. If not there the rear windshield will probably be the culpret!

Don, I had the same problem when I restored my last 69. I would say it's the weatherstripping deal.

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Dan Orgill

Well, I decided to go ahead and do the water test tonight. Jeff, I followed your suggestion which was a good point.

As it turns out I have 5 individual leaking areas with the trunk lid up. Maybe it's actually less once the lid presses on the weatherstrip. I believe they will all be solved by some sealant. I'm glad to say nothing came in under the rear window/panel area, all that water flowed into the trunk channel.

Two of the areas are in the upper corners where it appears the quarter panels end. The other three are all in what appears to be "seam areas" of the weatherstrip channel, where one part overlaps another if you know what I mean.

I'm still going to run it over to my bodyman to make sure the body panel seams appear sufficient to him.

James - thanks for the input, sounds like I could be OK in that area.

Normie - sump pump - LOL. Believe me, I could have used one. The breaks and seams appear to be where the problem is.

Dan - fingers are crossed.

Any other suggestions let me know.

Thanks guys.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

you can take a mirror and go around the underneath of the channel and check for suspect areas.

Don, I know you said it wasn't leaking at the window channel/trim area, but for anybody's that is, here's what I did: Mine was badly rusted and leaking at the lower corners of the rear window. After cutting out the rust and welding in metal and replacing the window to trunk panel with a repro, I drilled holes at the lowest points of the channel under the window trim (hidden). I epoxied in the holes some 2" long sections of 1/4" brake line tubing, creating a drain. I then hoseclamped rubber hoses to the drains and ran them over the wheelwells to the rocker panel drains under the quarter windows. They're effectively hidden to where you really have to look to see them. Luckily, they haven't been put to the test yet. At CB '98, we had about 3" of rain in an hour about 4am of Thurs morning. Shoney's parking lot looked like a river. This was pre-resto for me and I had mucho water in the trunk.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575
My '69 SS (http://sites.netscape.net/von69ss/homepage)

Glad its not the window! Should be an easy fix.

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Elcaminos are special!
I'd rather walk around with a Chevrolet hubcap in my hand than drive a Ford


work in progress
Big James Elky(AKA Ol Paint) (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Big%20James4XL-Ol%20Paint1.jpg)
www.chevelles.com/showroom/workgoeson1.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/workgoeson1.jpg)

Don, you should honestly be able to seal the trunk without using any WS adhesive or very little. The only spots I do are a little in the corners and of course on the ends that join together. If you ever tear of need to replace it again you will curse yourself for going all the way around and gluing it in. A few tips. 1) I like metro weather strips, use it if at all posssible. Soff- seal is OK for the trunk, but thats about the only thing of theirs I will use if I have to. 2) Use as much of the WS as possible, you can actually stretch it and use less and it does not seal well. That is kind of hard to explain, but when you start installing it, you should be able to tell, it will pull up in the corners if it is stretched. 3) most important, make sure it is installed the right way. I have seen too many restored cars with the WS in upside down, backwards, the wrong way. This is the biggest cause of leaks. Micky

[This message has been edited by micky69396 (edited 06-13-2001).]

This procedure worked for a friend of mine:
1 - drill a hole in the floor of the trunk to drain the water.
2 - call rollback when car quits on the side of the road.
3 - Have water removed from gas tank.
4 - patch gas tank
5 - fix trunk leak
http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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Make it the way you like it, forget what the other guys say!

Think we got the problam all solved. Some sealant and a much taller weatherstrip did the trick. Just the thicker weatherstrip in itself would provide much more downward pressure. Did a complte wet down test again and ZIP, NODA, ZILCH of a leak.

Micky - it was a Metro product I got at CB.

Appreciate the input guys, thanks.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)

Don, I was going to suggest a couple of large tubes of clear silicone caulk on and around the weatherstrip but it looks like you got it handled.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575
My '69 SS (http://sites.netscape.net/von69ss/homepage)

[This message has been edited by von (edited 06-14-2001).]

Don,

I was going to suggest duct tape! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I was just kidding, I don't like the silicone caulk on metal at all.

For wind noise I use white Lith. grease, It might help for minor water leaks around the seal

(no offense Von)

Bob



[This message has been edited by BobFmTyler (edited 06-14-2001).]

You know, Light Sausage, a sure way to find the leak would be to put all the parking lot people in the trunk, close the lid, then pour Canadian beer along the back glass. When the noises inside the trunk stop, pop it open and see where everyone is passed out. Simple. I couldn't believe a wise guy like you didn't think of that. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

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Never be afraid to try something new.
An amatuer built the Ark,
Professionals built the Titanic.
Team Chevelle Gold #33
ACES Member #02913
Rode shotgun in the ONLY Z16 convertible made.

Everybody's a darn comedian http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

What did I ever do to deserve such treatment http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif I've never pulled anybody's chain in my entire life.



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ACES #4241, TC #947
69 SS Sedan (http://www.angelfire.com/rock/69ss)