Each car or truck line – especially older vintage classic lines is different, even distinct and has their own tricks of the automotive trade. In the case of many of the vintage and classic \”Chevy\” mechanics and trades people many are not around anymore – either out of business with all the import cars and big box stores, retired or not on this earth. Following are some of the old style recommendations for both finding and sealing dust and water leaks on Classic GM Chevrolet vehicles should you either be in involved in an automobile restoration project or perhaps drive one of the American beauties.

Any unsealed crevice or small opening in the auto body will simply be an entrance way that will permit dust and water to enter the interior. It is a simple a concept as that. The actual location of the point of entry is often somewhat difficult and even an art to locate, yet by removing the interior trim panel or panels, the source the ( or any) leak or leaks can usually in the vast majority of cases be found or located. In many cases the tip off for experienced auto trades people of years gone by (before sophisticated electronics and specialized tools were on the automotive repair and diagnostic landscape), was that the dust and rain often left a trail on the body panel to follow and work back with.

Yet water testing of a car- in this case older vintage Chevrolet and other General Motors vehicles, should be done and performed in sections, rather than wholesale, by spraying and working on one small area individually at a time, before moving on to the next isolated area. Differential diagnosis is done one small area at a time, one by one. In this way you can often if not usually locate the points that do require sealing and sealing work. The correct way is to start at the bottom areas and work your way up not the reverse.

All panel seams, screws, hose and grommets should be carefully closed with body sealer. Check the various openings around the cowl and windshield openings and apply body sealer where needed or suspected. In addition raise the hood and make sure that there are no openings in the dash panel, which will permit leakage into the driver compartment areas. As well check the sealer box on the door hinges. The body sealer should be filled flush with the filler posts.

Door opening contribute to water leaks in two ways: first there may be leaks at metal joint seams, and secondly the roughness of the door opening metal may not provide good sealing contact surface for the weather-strip and weather stripping themselves. Leaks around the weather stripping can be located by the \”water test\” or by using carpenter\’s blue chalk blown from a \”testing bulb\”.

Faulty weather stripping should always be removed and replaced with new. When installing weather stripping, follow the instructions applying to the particular cement or adhesive in question. If necessary build up low areas of the weather stripping by means of rubber shim stock.

In the case of water leaks around the windshield weather strip, seal the windshield strip against the body opening by carefully working in a thin coating of windshield rubber sealer between the body edge and rubber molding. Or, lift the lip of the rubber strip where it contacts the body and use a nozzle, type of applicator.

If faulty sealing of the glass and windshield has caused the leak, apply sealer as far down as possible between the inner weather strip and the glass, for a considerable distance at each side of the leaking point.

To determine the exact location of a dust leak, remove the following trim and sections of interior trim from inside the vehicle. Floor mats, dash and toe panel pads, and kick pads. Dust leaks should be evident when these pads and mats are removed. Leaks can be sometimes located by putting bright lights ( made easier and more convenient in our time by using modern led low voltage testing and diagnostic tools and accessories), under the vehicle body itself. Additionally check the interior of the auto body by checking and inspecting the interior of the body at joints and along weld lines. Light will show through where leaks and sometimes areas of weakness do exist.

Openings that allow dust leaks will also provide water leaks. When checking for water leaks, a helper should be used on the inside of the car to locate the entrance of water while it is applied to the outside.

Lastly when it comes to water and water leaks always remember in the back of your mind that \”water travels\”. Water leaks do not always enter the body in the location where they \”show up\”. Therefore, back tracking the path of water may be required to show the true entrance of the leak itself.

Restoring vintage autos is a specialized trait and skill that requires both interest and great personal patience as well. They don\’t make them like in the old days. Vintage vehicles are mainly mechanical not having all those sophisticated modern electronics that come in modules and relatively un-repairable. That is one of the major beauties and enjoyments of those who restore, fix, own and drive classic vintage model Chevrolets and other such automobiles.

Author Bio: Ted. I Boatman
Chilliwack BC Used Auto Dealers
Winnipeg Truck Traders
 

Category: Automotive
Keywords: vintage Chev restoration,Classic Chevrolet Restoration,Classic Chevy auto parts,Chevrolet dust water