Upon purchasing my 83 z28 and removing my entire interior, I found a few areas that were torn up with rust. I can only imagine water leaking from somewhere to be the reason for that rust. Places I located rust and moisture is passenger floor board toward the front. Inside the doors, and on the underside of the doors, and in the trunk right side rear tire compartment. As far as the front passenger floor goes, it looks like its dripping down the firewall in the corner, down and puddling up there in the floor pan. Water drips down into the insides of the doors I guess, rusting the inside of the doors. As far as the spare tire compartment rust, it looks like the rear hatch rubbers may not be seaing right and dripping into that area, puddling up and rusting.

All rust was removed, repaired, cleaned out, sealed, rhino liner then, sound/heat proofing then carpeting.

I want to make sure the leaks are taken care of so not to rot the new carpet.

If anyone can share where the most common leaks are in their thirdgen, I would greatly appreciate it. I am assuming the t-tops are one area but I just dont know.

If you can share, please do. Thanks in advance

Tec

 

Does it got T-Tops? Those are a major area it leaks from. The seals wear out and water gets past them and usually runs down the sail panel the to the floor. Also due to age a T-Top cars body will flex eventually enough that things don't line up anymore so installing subframe connectors is usually recommended. The doors are common for these cars as the weather stripping will dry out and crack letting water pool in the bottom of the doors. I don't think GM ever put drain holes in the doors to let the water drain out. The trunk is because again years of age and body flex things just don't line up properly and water finds those gaps and gets underneath. IMHO I like you just sand everything to clean metal and undercoat the **** out of all of it.

 

Check the firewall drains, on each side often they plug and then the water backs up and rusts holes in the firewall down by the HVAC/Heater box.

That is obvious when you remove the carpet and fix the floor boards. If you are asking, then you might not have noticed this problem.. once you start pocking around the body seam sealer with a screwdriver you can find the holes really quickly.

 

Lots of places for a 3rd gen to leak. Get someone to go over the car with a water hose while you sit inside.

As for the rust in the passenger floorboard, it could be a leaking t-top seal, door seal, or the seam at the firewall.

 

Anyone have any resources that help with going through the door, making sure all parts are working correctly, to sealing the door completely and installing the door panel?

I have replaced the locks, the latches, the striker plates. Undercoated the inside of the doors.

I know I have to seal these door cavities. I am currently adding sound/temp barrier to the door panels.

I am going through and replacing all of the gaskets around the passenger cage.

Any other things I need to do. I am sure you guys have already dome most of these things.

Any help is appreciated

tec