I've heard more than once that leaks at the kickpanel are typically caused by leaves and crud piling up at the bottom of the cowl-vent-thing.

Many things I've found on my Elky are a result of people doing really strange stuff to the car. This may be one of them.

Check this pic:
http://www.derekf.com/images/11100206.jpg
Circle 1 is where the metal's been butchered for speakers. When water starts flowing into the cowl vents, it starts collecting here. I can't find anything that looks like a drain from this area, except for circle 2, where the water comes pouring out onto my floorboard.

Should water even be getting to the area in circle 1? Or should it get directed a different way that's either plugged or filled with that goofy spray-foam? My vacuum isn't strong enough to do anything by sticking it down the cowl-holes.

Derek,

Circle #2 is not considered the drain. The drain is down behind opening #1 at the bottom. When the plastic kick panel is installed there should be a band of putty or caulk behind the vent. Rope putty from your local hardware store works great for this application. The extra sheetmetal (hole #1) that has been cut away should be replaced. Finding a doner car for this sheetmetal would be your best bet. This area is not prone to rust because it is inside the car.

------------------
FastSS396Man
Brian

Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr3.jpg), Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrrqtr3.jpg),
Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396mantrunk2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manfrchassis.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manexh.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manengine1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrchas1.jpg)
69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!
02' Harley FatBoy, Diamond Ice Pearl and lots of chrome!
ACES# 3466

Thanks, Brian.

I poked around the bottom of #1 but couldn't find where the drains should be - are they actually in the area below #1 or are they further forward?

Derek,

There may not actually be a "drain" per say, more like a place for water to drain between body panels. When debries such a leaves and such collect in that area then water could build up and leak through the other holes onto your floor boards. It is also common for water to come in around the kick panel vent if the sealer I mentioned is not used during reassembly. Even if the drain area is not plugged up.

With the sheetmetal cut away as in your picture, hole #1. Water can find its way onto your floor boards even though your drain area is clear. Water runs down through the cowl and down the back side of that panel. If it is not sealed out as you know water finds the path of least resistance.

------------------
FastSS396Man
Brian

Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr3.jpg), Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrrqtr3.jpg),
Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396mantrunk2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manfrchassis.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manexh.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manengine1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrchas1.jpg)
69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!
02' Harley FatBoy, Diamond Ice Pearl and lots of chrome!
ACES# 3466

Thanks again, Brian.

Should hole 2 really be there? It looks like even if I fix hole 1, the path of least resistance is (by far) #2. When water flows in, I can see it start to puddle up inside #1 but it doesn't fill #1 enough to flow out. #2, on the other hand, is directly connected to #1 and water flows from it easily.

Are there other pics I could post that might help explain what I'm seeing/asking? Car's a daily driver, so while I would be tempted to pull the fender off and go at it from the bottom, I really can't since I've got to get to work each day.

Derek,

If you look down behind hole #1 and don't see anything that could be blocking the flow of water then you could just loosen the 2 bottom bolts of the fender and remove a few of the bolts attaching the inner-fender. Pull out gently on the bottom of the fender and see if anything needs cleaned out there. You could also blast behind hole #1 with high air pressure. Typically it's just dirt, leaves and sediment restricting the flow of water. Also take a small blade screwdriver or putty knife and clean all around the edges where the body panels fit together behind hole #1.
Hole #2 is suppose to be there. But if you welded over it it wouldn't hurt anyones feelings.

------------------
FastSS396Man
Brian

Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr3.jpg), Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrrqtr3.jpg),
Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396mantrunk2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manfrchassis.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manexh.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manengine1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrchas1.jpg)
69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!
02' Harley FatBoy, Diamond Ice Pearl and lots of chrome!
ACES# 3466