My floorboards are wet - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bad68bowtie · 01-21-2006, 05:47 PM

I've been dealing with the cab leaking in various spots and I originally thought it was all because of the hole in the cowl where the antenna comes through not having a grommet or any other kind of sealent on it, but as I was working on it just now I'm not sure that's the only problem.

It rained here last night and as I went outside today to pull my truck in the garage to work on the leak a little more, I noticed there was a large amount of water spooled up on the dash just above the gauge panel. I suppose this is evidence that the windshield is leaking (frustrating because I had a new windshield installed not even a year ago) and when I turned the truck in the garage all the water ran over to the other side of the dash, and then all came out on the passenger side floorboard. After some investigating I found an indention in the dash where it meets the windshield and a slit cut in right below it. I thought with the indention there it looked like a factory thing and then I did find on the drivers side the same thing, only someone had packed it with silicone.

Are these slits something factory to take care of small windshield leaks? Also, what is the deal with the windshield? I've noticed some evidence of water before but never this much. I'm concerned that theres rust somewhere around the windshield but I'd like to think that when I had the new windshield put in the installer would've said somethin bout a rust problem. Any help and advisement y'all could provide would be great.

cwilli84 · 01-21-2006, 05:55 PM

Watch the roof rain gutter area across the front. I had a small area that allowed water to sit above the windshield that rotted through the inner roof panel all the we from one pillar to the other practically. The seam has areas that are butted/welded that rust out. If the truck was redone the sealant in the gutter is not always redone properly which leads to problems. Good luck.

john@thepier · 01-21-2006, 05:56 PM

Also look where the wind shield wiper motor goes through the upper firewall. The tar ring they used to seal it may not be installed very well. This is another leak spot. At least it has been on some trucks, and when water sits under the floor mats, only bad stuff (rust) can happen.

Brad · 01-21-2006, 10:45 PM

The slits are factory to allow water to drain. I had a similar problem and here's what I recommend. Get a hose and starting at the bottom of the windshield, work your way up to the gutter area. My guess is that you have a leak where the factory seam is at the top, next to the rain gutter. Look closely and you'll see what I mean. There are 2 seams, one on either side of the windshield. I think you'll find your problem there.

MACO · 01-22-2006, 01:29 AM

Same problem on my truck
Water pools on top of the dash at the base of the windshield and first time I turn right the water drips through the slot at gets my foot wet if I forget to move my foot.

CG · 01-22-2006, 01:40 AM

i drove mine for the first time in a while today. we have been having nothing but rain for days and days. water poured out from my dash all the way across. i opened the glove box and there was a pool of water in there, enough to support a couple of goldfish. not too worried about it though. starting a frame off now. im gonna seal the heck out of it as im putting it back together.

pebbleboy · 01-22-2006, 01:43 AM

I got a small leak from the window gasket on the drivers side. It's tempermental too.

I drove home in a downpoor and no leak.

Yeaterday in a light rain it kept dripping.

Mostly when I wash it no dripping

ChevLoRay · 01-22-2006, 01:57 PM

I don't drive my truck much right now, so I got me one of them PVC-type storage sheds that Sam's sells for about $200. Good thing I did. We've had a drought now for the past year, and my truck hasn't been wet in a while. Stops the rain from leaking in....when it rains....which it is doing today. It's about time.

There's been a lot of past posts about this very topic, so finding plenty of rhetoric about the subject, if you don't get the answers you're looking for on this post.

bad68bowtie · 01-22-2006, 07:50 PM

After looking at it a little more I think y'all are right bout it being the gutter area. It didn't occur to me till I got in the thing this morning that it seems to only be an issue when the truck is parked with the nose pointed downhill, causing water to pool up on the rain gutter area on top of the cab. I didn't find anything immediately obvious as to exactly where the leak is coming in but I think I'm gonna go at it with a hose sometime later this week when it's not quite so nasty outside. Once I nail down where the leak is I'm gonna have a body shop that I've done business with before check it out and see what they can do bout sealing it off.

Thanks for all the help. ChevLoRay, you want some of our rain? We're bout to drown here and from what I saw today there's more on the way for next weekend. I'm just ready for summer so it'll at least be warm.

*bisquik65* · 01-22-2006, 08:24 PM

Clean the seam sealer out of the roof gutter rail...And get you some (3m) seam sealer at any paint or body shop store...or NAPA has it...Get it good and clean, and make sure its dry...This is self leveling sealer...That will seal it up for good..it will flow into the little cracks and your done!!

bad68bowtie · 01-23-2006, 09:46 PM

Whats the best way to go about cleaning out all the old sealer? I got a buddy that works at Napa delivering parts so I'm gonna check in with him bout getting some sealer. Thanks for informing me of that plan, anyway I can save some of my few dollars is good with me.

**PICKMUP** · 01-24-2006, 01:01 AM

When you dig out the old hard sealer, you need to stop the rust and prep the metal with primer or I use POR. It flows down in all of the seams and then I add the 3M sealer while the POR is still tacky. You get a good blend of the two products that way. Don't let the POR get completely dry because it gets real hard & slick and things don't stick to it well then.
You can then use the POR on ALL the seams that you can find and clean out of old sealer. They are under the cowl, under the dash and under the windshield gasket. Get them all and then keep resealing the rubber gasket with good urthane windshield sealant.
I only use windshield shops that "guarantee" the windshield will not leak for the as long as you own the truck.
Our trucks are leakers. Sometimes I have to have my windshields resealed every time the rainy season starts!

Steelawork'n · 01-25-2006, 01:28 AM

Mine leaks in the upper right corner...right on the passenger. It too is a gutter issue and in desperate need of a windshield and seal replacement.

01-21-2006, 05:47 PM	#1
bad68bowtie On the college boy budget... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 370	My floorboards are wet I've been dealing with the cab leaking in various spots and I originally thought it was all because of the hole in the cowl where the antenna comes through not having a grommet or any other kind of sealent on it, but as I was working on it just now I'm not sure that's the only problem. It rained here last night and as I went outside today to pull my truck in the garage to work on the leak a little more, I noticed there was a large amount of water spooled up on the dash just above the gauge panel. I suppose this is evidence that the windshield is leaking (frustrating because I had a new windshield installed not even a year ago) and when I turned the truck in the garage all the water ran over to the other side of the dash, and then all came out on the passenger side floorboard. After some investigating I found an indention in the dash where it meets the windshield and a slit cut in right below it. I thought with the indention there it looked like a factory thing and then I did find on the drivers side the same thing, only someone had packed it with silicone. Are these slits something factory to take care of small windshield leaks? Also, what is the deal with the windshield? I've noticed some evidence of water before but never this much. I'm concerned that theres rust somewhere around the windshield but I'd like to think that when I had the new windshield put in the installer would've said somethin bout a rust problem. Any help and advisement y'all could provide would be great. __________________ -'68 C10 short/step- 350/350

01-21-2006, 05:55 PM	#2
cwilli84 1FINE69 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 239	Re: My floorboards are wet Watch the roof rain gutter area across the front. I had a small area that allowed water to sit above the windshield that rotted through the inner roof panel all the we from one pillar to the other practically. The seam has areas that are butted/welded that rust out. If the truck was redone the sealant in the gutter is not always redone properly which leads to problems. Good luck. __________________ Had a 69 swb fleetside 350zz3 w 400turbo trans oak lined bed with rhino coated sides red exterior. SOLD

01-21-2006, 05:56 PM	#3
john@thepier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Lake Geneva, WI 53147 Posts: 970	Re: My floorboards are wet Also look where the wind shield wiper motor goes through the upper firewall. The tar ring they used to seal it may not be installed very well. This is another leak spot. At least it has been on some trucks, and when water sits under the floor mats, only bad stuff (rust) can happen.

01-21-2006, 10:45 PM	#4
Brad Out of the carpool lane. Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Clark Co, WA Posts: 5,673	Re: My floorboards are wet The slits are factory to allow water to drain. I had a similar problem and here's what I recommend. Get a hose and starting at the bottom of the windshield, work your way up to the gutter area. My guess is that you have a leak where the factory seam is at the top, next to the rain gutter. Look closely and you'll see what I mean. There are 2 seams, one on either side of the windshield. I think you'll find your problem there. __________________ 1968 C-10 SWB, 5.7 Vortec/700R4/3.73 posi, Torch Red 1968 Camaro, 250/Powerglide, all original (No, I'm not gonna drop a 350 in it!...Jeez!) 2000 Honda VFR in the faster yellow! 2008 Husqvarna TE-610 1967 C-10 SWB 'Six Appeal'-Gone but not forgotten...

01-22-2006, 01:29 AM	#5
MACO Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Columbia CANADA Posts: 118	Re: My floorboards are wet Same problem on my truck Water pools on top of the dash at the base of the windshield and first time I turn right the water drips through the slot at gets my foot wet if I forget to move my foot. __________________ 1969 C20 Customer Camper CST, 396, TH400, Factory A/C, Olive Green.

01-22-2006, 01:40 AM	#6
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 19,843	Re: My floorboards are wet i drove mine for the first time in a while today. we have been having nothing but rain for days and days. water poured out from my dash all the way across. i opened the glove box and there was a pool of water in there, enough to support a couple of goldfish. not too worried about it though. starting a frame off now. im gonna seal the heck out of it as im putting it back together.

01-22-2006, 01:57 PM	#8
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: My floorboards are wet I don't drive my truck much right now, so I got me one of them PVC-type storage sheds that Sam's sells for about $200. Good thing I did. We've had a drought now for the past year, and my truck hasn't been wet in a while. Stops the rain from leaking in....when it rains....which it is doing today. It's about time. There's been a lot of past posts about this very topic, so finding plenty of rhetoric about the subject, if you don't get the answers you're looking for on this post. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

01-22-2006, 07:50 PM	#9
bad68bowtie On the college boy budget... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 370	Re: My floorboards are wet After looking at it a little more I think y'all are right bout it being the gutter area. It didn't occur to me till I got in the thing this morning that it seems to only be an issue when the truck is parked with the nose pointed downhill, causing water to pool up on the rain gutter area on top of the cab. I didn't find anything immediately obvious as to exactly where the leak is coming in but I think I'm gonna go at it with a hose sometime later this week when it's not quite so nasty outside. Once I nail down where the leak is I'm gonna have a body shop that I've done business with before check it out and see what they can do bout sealing it off. Thanks for all the help. ChevLoRay, you want some of our rain? We're bout to drown here and from what I saw today there's more on the way for next weekend. I'm just ready for summer so it'll at least be warm. __________________ -'68 C10 short/step- 350/350

01-22-2006, 08:24 PM	#10
bisquik65 Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: N.C. high country Posts: 6,107	Re: My floorboards are wet Clean the seam sealer out of the roof gutter rail...And get you some (3m) seam sealer at any paint or body shop store...or NAPA has it...Get it good and clean, and make sure its dry...This is self leveling sealer...That will seal it up for good..it will flow into the little cracks and your done!!

01-23-2006, 09:46 PM	#11
bad68bowtie On the college boy budget... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 370	Re: My floorboards are wet Whats the best way to go about cleaning out all the old sealer? I got a buddy that works at Napa delivering parts so I'm gonna check in with him bout getting some sealer. Thanks for informing me of that plan, anyway I can save some of my few dollars is good with me. __________________ -'68 C10 short/step- 350/350

01-24-2006, 01:01 AM	#12
PICKMUP "Trucks with Class" Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: OLYMPIA, WA, USA Posts: 8,126	Re: My floorboards are wet When you dig out the old hard sealer, you need to stop the rust and prep the metal with primer or I use POR. It flows down in all of the seams and then I add the 3M sealer while the POR is still tacky. You get a good blend of the two products that way. Don't let the POR get completely dry because it gets real hard & slick and things don't stick to it well then. You can then use the POR on ALL the seams that you can find and clean out of old sealer. They are under the cowl, under the dash and under the windshield gasket. Get them all and then keep resealing the rubber gasket with good urthane windshield sealant. I only use windshield shops that "guarantee" the windshield will not leak for the as long as you own the truck. Our trucks are leakers. Sometimes I have to have my windshields resealed every time the rainy season starts!

01-25-2006, 01:28 AM	#13
Steelawork'n Just hang'n around Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Camano Island WA Posts: 248	Re: My floorboards are wet Mine leaks in the upper right corner...right on the passenger. It too is a gutter issue and in desperate need of a windshield and seal replacement. __________________ Driving a '68 Chevy C20 and a '93 Astro Van. Lots and lots of mileage that I deduct each year.



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