Help: Interior Troubles

[IdahoMan]

Hi all.

I'm concerned about my interior. There are leaks and some bubbling under the carpet by the kick-panel. I've decided I'm going to tackle the entire interior, but I need some advice. For instance: What should be replaced or if it is better off left alone or restored OEM.

Here are pics: (if you need a pic, just ask)

There's some orange in the highlighted pic, that worries me (it's the base of the windshield above the glove-box). My new windshield gasket has always been a problem. Large gaps between it and the body. You can see the water trickle behind the kick-panel. In the last pic, the hole to the right seems to go straight through to the outside. Is it supposed to be like that?

[IdahoMan]

Condensation puddle?

[IdahoMan]

BTW,

What's the difficulty level of replacing a back window? Mine's in great, original condition, but the chrome is getting very brown/discolored. I'd like to see it new, but maybe I should leave well-enough alone?

I also am thinking of restoring the vent windows. Oh boy..

[Your41Plague12]

Originally Posted by IdahoMan

BTW,

What's the difficulty level of replacing a back window? Mine's in great, original condition, but the chrome is getting very brown/discolored. I'd like to see it new, but maybe I should leave well-enough alone?

I also am thinking of restoring the vent windows. Oh boy..

You can replace just the strip itself without removing the window. The corners are a bit of a pain. There should be a tutorial on here somewhere.

[tucsonjwt]

You are not supposed to have that leak, but all 3 squares I have owned have leaked like that at some point. You need to start with the windshield and make sure that you have a rust free opening and all of the sheet metal is flat where the seal fits. I think this is a job for the best windshield shop in your area. They need to pull out the windshield and let you have a look at the condition of the seal area. If you have rust or it is not smooth, then you need to fix that first - a body man job. Most windshield shops will just slap in a new windshield and forget about the condition of the opening.

Also, the discount windshield seals are junk. Precision is supposed to be a good brand, but check with your best installer.

[enaberif]

Windshield needs to come out to inspect the drain holes and metal flange. You have a leak in the windshield somewhere.

[IdahoMan]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

Also, the discount windshield seals are junk. Precision is supposed to be a good brand, but check with your best installer.

Thanks. That's the other issue: Finding the right stuff. OEM in normally always better than Repro so I'd like to keep or restore what I can. If not, I REALLY need to know what brand to go with.

[jetmech85]

I had a windshield and back window put in my '86 a few years back. I wanted new one peice gaskets and had a hard time finding mail order ones that were in stock. LMC was the only one that could ship the next day. Reluctantly I bought from them. Turns out both front and rear fit perfectly. The glass installer said my old ones were good and very usable just needing the lock strip replaced but I liked the one peice front and used the new ones. Now I always use the old originals and hardly ever find one that is weathered and cracked. You can easily find black lock strips from '90/'91 Suburban windshield and side glass or purchase new if you want chrome.

[IdahoMan]

What of that black lining/stuff under the carpet: Should it be replaced? Can it be replaced with something OEM-quallity?

[IdahoMan]

Originally Posted by IdahoMan

What of that black lining/stuff under the carpet: Should it be replaced? Can it be replaced with something OEM-quallity?

Same with the carpet. I've heard of ACC. Is there GOOD auto or marine worthy carpets that fit perfect and are durable?

[IdahoMan]

Originally Posted by IdahoMan

Condensation puddle?

Alright, it's been raining a lot. That's when that puddle appears.

What's it coming from? Couldn't be the windshield. A roof light?


IM

[IdahoMan]

Seems the leak is coming from the roof area?

[patrickth]

Your truck shows every sign of being hit hard at one time. If I am seeing right, the bubbles over paint look like either "fisheyes" or someone painted over water. Do a Google image search on paint fisheye". You are probably best served by doing some excellent detective work and measurements before spending too much money. You could be getting into a money pit. My point being learn more about it before you just go tell some "put a new gasket on" or whatever.

I would like to see some pics of doors closed on a level surface to see if panels, fenders, roof and door actually line up correctly.

[IdahoMan]

Think you posted to the wrong Thread Pat. lol.

[patrickth]

Originally Posted by IdahoMan

Think you posted to the wrong Thread Pat. lol.

I am not convinced. No disrespect, but that does look like fisheye, it also appears your door striker is moved a lot more than usual. Not sure exactly what the covering is in that area. but looks to me like they used it to cover up an alignment issue.

I have been wrong a lot in my lifetime, but I hold to the old maxim, trust but verify. Alignment and leaks usually mean it has taken a hit in my experience.

[IdahoMan]

Been raining a lot.

Where the water is coming in here:

(Not the cup-shaped grommet, but right above it in the background)

[motornut]

I get some drops too from those upper areas.
But I'd call that pic welding or seam sealer splatter.
I've seen bumps like that scrape right off

[silverbear]

What year is your truck? GM had an issue with the seam sealer in 87 that they used to seal up the rain gutter. Rather than it filling the void and leveling out it ran thin and dripped out the bottom. The results of this is water would have a tendency to sit in the gutter and rust through on the cab side. Water would then run down the inside of the firewall and soak into the sound deadener and then rust out the bottom edge of the kick panels and the floor. I had to fix some of those rust holes on on my 86 (87 cab) and I have two friends with 87s and they have the same issue.

[tucsonjwt]

My 76 had a bad sheet metal crimp from the factory in the upper right corner. (This happened while Keith was on vacation.) This meant the the slightly upturned edge of the opening caused the seal not to a "seal" properly. If you have someone take the windshield and seal out you should check that area. In my case, I took the truck back multiple times to the installer before I went out into the shop and saw the problem. They had been using more and more goop on the seal and that was never going to work. I had them hammer down the offending area and it never leaked after that.