Guess where my dash water leak is coming from.

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72Valiant4Door

72Valiant4Door

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Ladies and gentleman, I invite you all to play a game of, "Where is the leak coming from."

I am the proud owner of a 1972 Plymouth Valiant sedan, 318/ Auto. The car is pretty solid regarding any rust, I just had body work and an original color respray done.

12006157_10207614862310275_1367078891354384919_n.jpg


When I bought the vehicle I was told it leaked, but that the leak could not be located with the hose test. I recently had to drive the car in rain and sure enough, water was coming through the dash.

The spots are basically above the fuse block, on drivers side, and same spot... more or less or passenger side. No water is coming down body the panel or firewall.


The car is currently at a speed shop, having the carb rebuilt, car tuned and brakes reworked. When I get it back I will tear the dash apart, to check and clean everything. I have speedo issues, a weak blower motor, nonworking radio and nonworking map light to tend to.

So before I locate the leak, feel free to guess where it is coming from.
 
There's only "so many places"

Windshield gasket

Debri in cowl has plugged drain holes, and comes "over the top" of the cowl vent "rims"

(Drain holes are down in the corners out near the hood hinges)

Rusted through the cowl "bottom"

Other damage, such as previous crash damage has cracked a seam, weld, or even sheet metal itself.

"Someone" drilled a hole in an unfortunate spot LOL
 
Old wiper transmission pivot seals are the most common problem & they are also the easiest to fix.
 
Very possibly wiper pivot seals. However, I am going to suggest how to test for the leak. Start at the lowest place the leak could be coming from. It sounds like the lowest place is the cowl. Using a hose with a medium trickle (you don't need a gush), pour water through both sides of the cowl vents, and look for leaks. If that doesn't show a leak, move to the next highest possibility; probably the pivot seals. Use the hose again in both seals and check for leaks. Then move up to the windshield. Then as a last resort, see if water may be running down the A pillar and going into interior past door seals.
 
If that left pivot is severely worn ( many are ) the squishy foam collar filling the void in the cowl wont stop the leak. Those kits include a zerk /grease fittings. Pumping the pivot assembly full of grease often slows/nearly stops the leak. Can quieten the wiper operation some too. If this world turns long enough we will need reproduction wiper pivot assemblies. Today we cant find a rebuilder for the OEM. Good luck
 
UPDATE, i have water coming in on the far corners of where the under dash metal seams are, not the wiper pivots. I assume this means my windshield is leaking.

leakin.png
 
I would get the windshield gasket replaced and sealed with black liquid butyl rubber.
 
I know that replacing the seal is not what you want to do but sealing with liquid butyl and replacing the 30 old seal will fix the leak..

If not it will rust around the window frame.
 
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