Hey all

So this is my first post of probably many, but just thought I'd start with this one since it rained here last night. Just wanted to ask you all if there were any common places that leak on these old trucks. I recently bought a 1970 F-100 Ranger. Regular cab, no A/C. Cab rubber appears to be original. Went out there this morning after rain last night and there was a small puddle on the passenger side right next to the transmission hump in the front of the floor board right under the dash. I looked everywhere and could not find where it came in in order to end up where it did. No clue. Incidentally, I raised the hood on the truck before finding the water and the water on the hood ran down onto the back of the engine and firewall etc. but I can't imagine how that water would have ended up on the floor in the truck Anyway, thought I'd see if there were any thoughts on this. Thanks!

Branden

 

Welcome to FTE.

So the water was on the left side of the passenger floor pan next to the tranny hump.

Possibilities:
1. Windshield seal. Any cracks or slits?
2. Cowl vent seam

.. But the thing about water leaks is that the puddle doesn't necessarily have to be in line with were it is leaking. Water can travel a ways before dripping and collecting.

Try this next time... while parked in the same place, seal off the cowl vent grill slits with tape and a plastic bag and see if water puddles again.

Of course you can try and replicate the precipitation with a garden hose. Spray it to simulate rain.. not hose it as a deluge.

 

Water on the passenger side floor usually means that the heater core is leaking. If there's antifreeze mixed with water, you can usually smell it.

 

Welcome to FTE


The vented area on the cowl is a good place to check as debris sits in there and cause the pinch weld seam to rust creating holes. Next you could check the wiper arm seal which seals the wiper arm stem to cowl. Other than that you could check wire and cable seal on the fire wall.


Good Luck






cstoyer

 

OK great! Thanks for all your replys. So, it wasn't antifreeze for sure. Also yes the windshield seal is cracked and needs replaced along with the back window glass rubber. VERY little rust on this truck at all. Dry Georgia truck. I will check the wiper seals and the seam weld though on the cab. What though is the "cowl vent seam"? I am guessing it is something in that cowl area or window seal also. Thanks again guys

Branden

 

Hey I just went out and looked and realized that there is not a seal present between the back of the hood and the cowl...there was one at one time so, IDK, maybe it leaked in there and down through the heater box somehow? Anyway.

 

I have had a few of these trucks with no rot except the bottom of the cowl. Leaves get in there, hold moisture, and rot it out. The worst one was my original 69, I found out it was rotted at 65 on the freeway, all of a sudden the cab was full of leaves and debris.
On my current build I am looking into cutting the front of the cowl open so I can paint inside and then make a bolt-on plate to allow maintenance later.

 

The pic below is of a 68 Mustang and exemplifies the problem with Ford's "balloon" cowl assembly which is very similar to the F-series.. The upper and lower halves were simply welded together without any real protective coating except what may have entered during the paint process. Note the faded red paint and to the left, right, and foreground is surface rusted.

Our rigs receive cabin air from the vent bowls - one on each side of the cowl. Its drain hole is waaay undersized and one of the door hinge bolts ends up right smack in the middle of the drain where it can create an obstruction for whatever debris ends up inside the cowl. When I got my '70, the vent bowls were full of mulch... ICK.

 

Branjo, welcome to the forum. Thanks for asking that question. Now I think I know why my truck has a puddle inside too.

 

Great, I guess there's really no easy way to get inside the cowl area under there then is there? Or clean and seal from the inside under the dash? Does anyone think that the lack of the hood-cowl seal could cause it? Thanks

 

Hood to cowl seal? No. Not me...

'Might be a firewall driprail problem. Over time, the seam sealant dries out and cracks. I redid mine when I had the front end was naked.

.... I'm referring to the horizontal seam under the steering column.

Could be a wiper shaft seal problem... not common but possible.

 

I had a 67 f-100 that had rusted out floor boards from the INSIDE due to water seeping in through the wiper pivot mounts. There is a gasket under each one that is very common to dry out. Most suppliers have them or you can easily make your own if there is something left of the old ones to make a pattern from. If you remove the glove box inner housing you can see the left one and usually can tell if it has been leaking.

 

Ok, thanks for all the help. Looks like I have some dash digging to do.

Branden

 

Mine leaked in from the wiper pivot shaft mounting flange in the under side of the dash.
Got to remove the glove box & the dash cluster to get to them.

I made new replacement rubber gasket.

As you can see what's left of a 40+yr old wiper flange gasket look.
Orich

 

Hey orich, Thanks for the pics and info. I think that will be the first thing I check. Relatively easy fix for something that hopefully isn't any worse. Given the condition of the rest of the seals and rubber on the truck (which isn't horrible, just old). I will post with what I find out.

Branden

Thanks for everyones input because these are probably some of the last places I would have looked hahaha