Rain comes in here!

[launieg]

I'm cleaning up the "under cowl" in preparation for painting. As well as cutting away some rust on the overlapping panel, I've scraped away some of the thick sealer the factory laid down. I can also see now where rainwater is running backward along the channel and down the door jamb. Is this normal? I'm thinking of blocking the end of this channel,forcing the rainwater to go forward down the hood channel or into the "under cowl" recess (and then out the drains that are in that recess). Right now, the water runs down the door jamb and some of it comes out onto the floor.

By the way, after I paint, I want to seam seal this area again. I notice it is not sealed on the '72, but it definitely looks like a factory sealant/pad laid down in a triangular shape on the upper corners of the "under cowl" on this 1981. Do you have this on yours? Has anybody come up with a good replacement for it. I have tubes of seam sealer, but this "pad" is much tidier, and was apparently factory painted along with the "under cowl".

Thanks.

[pope]

Very common rust area, especially in the north. I too have both sides rusted. I am repairing with new metal. I would keep those passages open to allow the water to flow down the inside of the door channel, because at speed the water is pushed back there and forced out. I dont think you could block that area off completely, it would just force the water to go over the blockage anyways, as the cowl panel just sits on top of that area and cannot block it totally. It will not drain forward till you stop. If you are getting water inside your car, it is because the door seal is not doing its job, which might be weak, split or cracked, or there is an open seam or rust hole that is allowing the water to enter under the dash panel before it runs down the inside of the door jam.
I cannot be absolutely sure, but I think that the factory tar pad was black and any color on top of it is because of repainting, I know thats how mine was.

I agree that what ever you do, sealing the metal is the most important part. Epoxy primer those corners, seamsealer, what ever it takes. Actually sounds like a perfect area for POR-15 or Master Series.

Of course, you could just drive it on sunny days with no rain!

[launieg]

Yes, that makes sense - about the water flow. I only drive it on sunny days, but the rain comes in when it is sitting around. I'll take a look at my door seals - probably shot.

I am pretty certain this car was not repainted, so I am guessing that the tar pad was applied before the factory paint was put on - in this case. It is certainly a lot tidier than seam sealer, so I'm going to look around and see if I can find it new. I would apply seam seal (after rust protection) and then put the pad on top of that for a clean look, then the new paint.

[mdrburchette]

It seems to me that tar pad is retaining moisture. On all my early model cars, the inside cowl is painted and they are not rusted, even if the bottom half of the car is gone due to rust.

[launieg]

Yes, that is certainly possible. The pad no longer adheres properly, so water sits under it a bit. I'll have to take a close look and see what to do. I can't leave the seams exposed, so maybe just a moderate amount of seam sealer and then paint.