Drain hole locations

[Stevehose]

I recently acquired a coupe that had been heavily undercoated by the original owner. It's been kept dry most of its life thus far and is remarkably rust-free. While inspecting the inner rear wheel arch and rocker area after removing the rear window assembly I noticed the drain hole is covered by the undercoating material. Do you recommend poking through these holes to allow drainage? I am not planning on driving in the rain but you never know. If so, does anyone know the location and number of all the drain holes in the coupe (panels, doors, floors, etc - no sunroof on mine)? Any drain holes I should create? I then plan to blast waxoil or the like up into as many cavities as possible. Thanks.

 

[JhwShark]

I would make sure you have the drain holes open for draining. Some rust in some coupes is caused by blocked drains.

Sunroof cars have drains down the inner A pillar terminating out directly beneath the pillar at/in front of the door joint. Also, drain out the C pillar similarly.

Also, you know of the engine compartment rear drain holes in the side left and right gusset.
Jon

 

[JohnHein]

I counted 5 of them when I got under my recently purchased coupe:

two under the front floor boards
two under the rear floor boards
one in the spare tire well

Mine also has a heavy undercoat, see the pics on the link below that I have been passing around to paint & body guys:

http://picasaweb.google.com/113520759960331397114/2800CSFenderRust#

One very reputable shop indicated that the drains looked "soft" and were probably rusty under the undercoat. I guess you have to get it off to find out. But there is that dilemma of having to take your car apart to determine what it's true status is.

Remember, Rust Never Sleeps

 

[Stevehose]

Exactly where does the engine compartment drain - into the fenders and out some hole in the bottom? Don't the doors have drain holes, plus the area that I found under the rear windows? So that would be 3 drain holes for rain on each side - one in front fender, one in door, one in rear rocker under rear window - is there another one in the front or middle of rocker somewhere else? Where is rain supposed to drain out of if it gets in the trunk, or does it just end up in the spare wheel cavity? Tomorrow I'll post pics of the hole i found under the rear window. I think at this point I am leaning towards opening these holes up through the undercoatng so that any water from above can drain (like if it gets past a window seal), but making sure the metal is treated. Any additional advice is welcomed. Thanks.

I would make sure you have the drain holes open for draining. Some rust in some coupes is caused by blocked drains.

Sunroof cars have drains down the inner A pillar terminating out directly beneath the pillar at/in front of the door joint. Also, drain out the C pillar similarly.

Also, you know of the engine compartment rear drain holes in the side left and right gusset.
Jon

 

[Stevehose]

For those drains you could probably lift your carpets and sound proofing to see? I checked mine and they look ok from the top but i guess you never really know. You guys have a few coupes in Houston, do you know if any are left in New Orleans? I had Malaga '73 25 years ago, along with someone with a blue 2800cs, but i think I am the only one with a cs here now...

I counted 5 of them when I got under my recently purchased coupe:

two under the front floor boards
two under the rear floor boards
one in the spare tire well

Mine also has a heavy undercoat, see the pics on the link below that I have been passing around to paint & body guys:

http://picasaweb.google.com/113520759960331397114/2800CSFenderRust#

One very reputable shop indicated that the drains looked "soft" and were probably rusty under the undercoat. I guess you have to get it off to find out. But there is that dilemma of having to take your car apart to determine what it's true status is.

Remember, Rust Never Sleeps

 

[Sven]

Steve -

Doors - there should be two weep holes at the bottom of the door. You may be able to see the slope built into the lower portion of the door frame that runs to each hole, to find and clear out the weep holes.

Rockers - with the decorative panel off you can easily see the (3?) weep hole locations. I have used a small screw driver and vacuum cleaner to clear these. There could potentially be a lot of debris/rust flakes inside to keep these clogged.

I have welded my four floor and trunk drain holes closed. I think they let more water in from underneath than out from above.

The C pillar has a hose that drains into the rocker just in front of the rear wheel well (on a car with a sunroof). Perhaps yours drains out the trunk behind the rear wheel well? If not this could let water in to the rockers even when just washing the car.

Engine compartment - There are just the two drains at the top of the firewall (to drain the compartment between the window and firewall). There are short hoses with a pinched end you can get that extend the drain a bit lower.

 

[Stevehose]

Thanks Sven, that's what I am worried about - simple water accumulation from just washing it or a passing rain shower. Does the trunk have a weep hole or is the spare tire well for that :-D

Steve -

Doors - there should be two weep holes at the bottom of the door. You may be able to see the slope built into the lower portion of the door frame that runs to each hole, to find and clear out the weep holes.

Rockers - with the decorative panel off you can easily see the (3?) weep hole locations. I have used a small screw driver and vacuum cleaner to clear these. There could potentially be a lot of debris/rust flakes inside to keep these clogged.

I have welded my four floor and trunk drain holes closed. I think they let more water in from underneath than out from above.

The C pillar has a hose that drains into the rocker just in front of the rear wheel well (on a car with a sunroof). Perhaps yours drains out the trunk behind the rear wheel well? If not this could let water in to the rockers even when just washing the car.

Engine compartment - There are just the two drains at the top of the firewall (to drain the compartment between the window and firewall). There are short hoses with a pinched end you can get that extend the drain a bit lower.

 

[Sven]

Just the hole at the bottom center of the spare tire well. It has a rubber plug filling the round hole. The hole has a notch that extends beyond the diameter (and hence beyond the plug) to allow the water out (in theory). Often the spare tire well develops significant rust around the perimeter (where the side rubber of the tire rest) and at this center hole.

Some photos are attached: Trunk area with patched tire well. I will probably drill out a new weep hole at the center. The door shots show the sloped areas and fairly large weep holes. You should be able to see these from underneath. 'C' pillar drain and hose (runs into rear portion of rocker). Welded in floor panel holes in main cabin.

 

[blumax]

If you have a relatively dry bodied E-9--stop running a hose over the top of the car thus allowing major streams to flow into inner door, quarter areas and underhood through the hood vents. All of these areas will pool, collect, combine with silt accumulated to form mud packs and quietly set the rusting process from within to shorten its life.

I'm fortunate to live in a very low rainfall part of the US however finally learned the above from my early years of mistreatment of the BLUMAX by washing it as any other car in its earlier years--and by so doing triggered the damage I describe--since repaired and now--rarely use of any water to keep it clean.

So, if you are truly concerned with maintaining and enjoying a Coupe while living in a wet climate such as New Orleans suggest taking the following care---
1) avoid any use of a car wash
2) if washing your car don't run a hose over the top of your car and avoid or minimize use in rainy weather.
3) If dirty--clean with minimal water--use wet sponge to clean upper parts of the car and absolute minimum of fine spray of lower (below top of doors and quarter areas) body area.
4) Just remember enclosed moisture is the certain enemy of the inner structure of these cars and the less you expose same to introduced moisture the longer its useful life and your enjoyment of same.

 

[Stevehose]

Thanks for your input and I will heed that advice, in fact, I haven't washed it yet since acquiring it! It will never see a car wash, I plan on carefully washing it, Zaino'ing it, then just wiping it down from time to time in the future. I just want to make sure that if water does somehow get in as you describe, I can minimize/eliminate pooling from blocked/undercoated drains. I just put pics of it on my profile taken at the lakefront in New Orleans. Cheers.

If you have a relatively dry bodied E-9--stop running a hose over the top of the car thus allowing major streams to flow into inner door, quarter areas and underhood through the hood vents. All of these areas will pool, collect, combine with silt accumulated to form mud packs and quietly set the rusting process from within to shorten its life.

I'm fortunate to live in a very low rainfall part of the US however finally learned the above from my early years of mistreatment of the BLUMAX by washing it as any other car in its earlier years--and by so doing triggered the damage I describe--since repaired and now--rarely use of any water to keep it clean.

So, if you are truly concerned with maintaining and enjoying a Coupe while living in a wet climate such as New Orleans suggest taking the following care---
1) avoid any use of a car wash
2) if washing your car don't run a hose over the top of your car and avoid or minimize use in rainy weather.
3) If dirty--clean with minimal water--use wet sponge to clean upper parts of the car and absolute minimum of fine spray of lower (below top of doors and quarter areas) body area.
4) Just remember enclosed moisture is the certain enemy of the inner structure of these cars and the less you expose same to introduced moisture the longer its useful life and your enjoyment of same.

 

[61porsche]

Condesation in High Humidity Areas

Guys- once or twice a year clean out your trunk/ spare tire/ gas tank area. The temperature difference of filling up gas in cold months with realtively warm gas from underground tanks can cause condensation....
and the rest we all know. With the covers, mats, etc you should take them out and let everything bake in the sun.

Garages and concrete floors- moisture can come up through concrete here in the south. There are times in concrete structures that they literally rain- like heavy dew. Just be mindful of the fact that it occurs even after vapor barriers, etc.

Washing- after you've done it- drive it. Even if just for a short ride to get the excess out of hidden areas. ( Back of the bumpers, etc.) Before you put it back away in the garage.

Please don't assume that because you didn't put a hose on it that moisture can't form.

 

[blumax]

Just be sure if/when the levees let go you quickly find higher ground.

 

[Stevehose]

My garage is Katrina-tested safe and dry!

Just be sure if/when the levees let go you quickly find higher ground.