Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak
| [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak [message #157974] |
Wed, 25 January 2012 13:35  |
enate98690
Messages: 23
Registered: January 2012
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Junior Member |
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Hi,
Gulp, after a recent rainstorm - one of the first in Nor. Cal. this year - I discovered my (fairly) newly purchased '73 GMC has a leak in what appears to be the cockpit area. The roof light gaskets appear to be water-tight but I tightened the lights anyway.
As I know water problems are sometimes hard to locate, may I ask those who care to participate to rate the following for likelihood of leakage based on their experience (1 being most likely - 5 least likely). Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated too!
Thanks!
Keith Lee (SF)
Roof lights
Front windshield/front windshield gasket
Seam on roof separating the center from the front section
Roof A/C (it appears original)
Roof Vent (sealed with unknown expertise using Silicone sealant)
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| Re: [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak [message #157975 is a reply to message #157974] |
Wed, 25 January 2012 14:03  |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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On Jan 25, 2012, at 12:35 PM, enate98690@mypacks.net wrote:
> Hi,
> Gulp, after a recent rainstorm - one of the first in Nor. Cal. this year - I discovered my (fairly) newly purchased '73 GMC has a leak in what appears to be the cockpit area. The roof light gaskets appear to be water-tight but I tightened the lights anyway.
>
> As I know water problems are sometimes hard to locate, may I ask those who care to participate to rate the following for likelihood of leakage based on their experience (1 being most likely - 5 least likely). Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated too!
> Thanks!
> Keith Lee (SF)
>
> Roof lights
> Front windshield/front windshield gasket
> Seam on roof separating the center from the front section
> Roof A/C (it appears original)
> Roof Vent (sealed with unknown expertise using Silicone sealant)
>
I once had a leak in the sidewall between the large driver's side window and the window to the left of the driver. I assumed it was from the driver's side window and I sealed that well but the leak was still there. I finally removed the frontmost ceiling panel and the plastic over the driver's compartment and ran a hose over the whole roof. I found that it was leaking into a very fine crack in the seam separating the center from the front room section.
The water would run down the hidden part of the extrusions that were joined together and then drip out just about at the top level of the windows. It ruined the sidewall fiberboard covering so I
had to replace that. The hairline crack was so small that I couldn't really see it. I ran masking tape down both sides of the seam and then, ran a small bead of polyurethane sealant along the whole seam. I smoothed that down with my finger and then pulled the masking tape before it cured so that the tape wouldn't get stuck to it. I waited about a month and then painted over the polyurethane sealant.
For the roof lights, I have never had a leak there but some do. I replaced them with LED lights a few years ago and I sealed under them with some polyurethane sealant. I would suggest that you never use silicone sealant on the exterior of your GMC. First of all it doesn't hold paint. Secondly, the sunlight will break silicone down over long term and it will crack and leak.
The front windshield gasket will sometimes leak. You could run a bead of black polyurethane sealant over the top of the rubber windshield gasket.
I have found that the PL Polyurethane in a caulking tube which you can buy at Home Depot works very well. They have a few different colors. They also have tubes marked for Siding and Windows, or for Masonry or Foundations. It is really all the same so just go by color and don't worry about what the tube says the application is.
I also used this to seal the floor in the back wheel wells.If you have a crack there between the plywood floor panel and the plastic wheel well liners the tires will throw a lot of water up onto the floor boards. Anyone that has experienced a wet carpet outside of the bathroom area will usually find that this is due to a crack in the area of the wheel wells just above the floor.
For the roof air conditioner and for the roof vents I have found that the best sealant is butyl tape. This is a black rubber stretchy tape that you can buy at glass shops or window and door companies. It stays pliable and the tape that I put in years ago is still soft and I've never had a leak since using it. The tape comes in various widths and thicknesses. I use 3/4" wide and 1/8" thick.
Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
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| Re: [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak [message #158005 is a reply to message #157975] |
Wed, 25 January 2012 21:22 |
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For the roof lights, I have never had a leak there but some do. I replaced them with LED lights a few years ago and I sealed under them with some polyurethane sealant. I would suggest that you never use silicone sealant on the exterior of your GMC. First of all it doesn't hold paint. Secondly, the sunlight will break silicone down over long term and it will crack and leak.
Emery, I'm wondering why you didn't use butyl on the roof lights? I'm replacing mine soon and thought I would use butyl.
geo groth '73 260 Sequoia
Carson City Nevada 89703
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| Re: [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak [message #158023 is a reply to message #157974] |
Wed, 25 January 2012 22:45 |
RadioActiveGMC
Messages: 1020
Registered: November 2010
Location: Hot AZ desert
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Windshield on my 73 leaks. I'll have to fix it. But in AZ it rains so little I haven't even had windshield blades for 1.5 years. Maybe I have to get around to that!!!! lol
But anyway, top of the windshield leaks.
***"Gettin There"-1973 23' Sequoia-
Michael, Onans smell, "Go solar/wind power!"
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| Re: [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak [message #158030 is a reply to message #157974] |
Wed, 25 January 2012 23:20 |
enate98690
Messages: 23
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Hi Emery,
Wow, thank you SO much for all that information! Really, REALLY very helpful. I especially like the idea of removing the roof panel and then going at it with a hose. Well, maybe a better way of putting it is to say, "I think that will be a very productive way of finding the leak"; however, I'm not sure the process of getting there will be all that fun ;)
But, you know, it might be a very good idea to remove that roof panel now (it doesn't look too difficult) before the rain starts again. Then, I can use "nature's hose" to figure out where that leak is before any significant damage is done.
Thanks again!
Keith Lee
-----Original Message-----
>From: Emery Stora <emerystora@mac.com>
>Sent: Jan 25, 2012 12:03 PM
>To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
>Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak
>
>
>On Jan 25, 2012, at 12:35 PM, enate98690@mypacks.net wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> Gulp, after a recent rainstorm - one of the first in Nor. Cal. this year - I discovered my (fairly) newly purchased '73 GMC has a leak in what appears to be the cockpit area. The roof light gaskets appear to be water-tight but I tightened the lights anyway.
>>
>> As I know water problems are sometimes hard to locate, may I ask those who care to participate to rate the following for likelihood of leakage based on their experience (1 being most likely - 5 least likely). Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated too!
>> Thanks!
>> Keith Lee (SF)
>>
>> Roof lights
>> Front windshield/front windshield gasket
>> Seam on roof separating the center from the front section
>> Roof A/C (it appears original)
>> Roof Vent (sealed with unknown expertise using Silicone sealant)
>>
>
>I once had a leak in the sidewall between the large driver's side window and the window to the left of the driver. I assumed it was from the driver's side window and I sealed that well but the leak was still there. I finally removed the frontmost ceiling panel and the plastic over the driver's compartment and ran a hose over the whole roof. I found that it was leaking into a very fine crack in the seam separating the center from the front room section.
>
>The water would run down the hidden part of the extrusions that were joined together and then drip out just about at the top level of the windows. It ruined the sidewall fiberboard covering so I
>had to replace that. The hairline crack was so small that I couldn't really see it. I ran masking tape down both sides of the seam and then, ran a small bead of polyurethane sealant along the whole seam. I smoothed that down with my finger and then pulled the masking tape before it cured so that the tape wouldn't get stuck to it. I waited about a month and then painted over the polyurethane sealant.
>
>For the roof lights, I have never had a leak there but some do. I replaced them with LED lights a few years ago and I sealed under them with some polyurethane sealant. I would suggest that you never use silicone sealant on the exterior of your GMC. First of all it doesn't hold paint. Secondly, the sunlight will break silicone down over long term and it will crack and leak.
>
>The front windshield gasket will sometimes leak. You could run a bead of black polyurethane sealant over the top of the rubber windshield gasket.
>I have found that the PL Polyurethane in a caulking tube which you can buy at Home Depot works very well. They have a few different colors. They also have tubes marked for Siding and Windows, or for Masonry or Foundations. It is really all the same so just go by color and don't worry about what the tube says the application is.
>I also used this to seal the floor in the back wheel wells.If you have a crack there between the plywood floor panel and the plastic wheel well liners the tires will throw a lot of water up onto the floor boards. Anyone that has experienced a wet carpet outside of the bathroom area will usually find that this is due to a crack in the area of the wheel wells just above the floor.
>
>For the roof air conditioner and for the roof vents I have found that the best sealant is butyl tape. This is a black rubber stretchy tape that you can buy at glass shops or window and door companies. It stays pliable and the tape that I put in years ago is still soft and I've never had a leak since using it. The tape comes in various widths and thicknesses. I use 3/4" wide and 1/8" thick.
>
>Emery Stora
>77 Kingsley
>Santa Fe, NM
>
>
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>Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak [message #158032 is a reply to message #158030] |
Wed, 25 January 2012 23:32 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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If you try to find the leak when it's raining you might not be
successful. With a hose you can just trickle the water starting by the
roof edge and then move up toward the crown of the roof. Just go up
perhaps four to six inches at a time while you keep checking inside.
If i had flooded the whole roof I would have never found the hairline
leak in the seam.
Emery Stora
On Jan 25, 2012, at 10:20 PM, enate98690@mypacks.net wrote:
> Hi Emery,
> Wow, thank you SO much for all that information! Really, REALLY
> very helpful. I especially like the idea of removing the roof panel
> and then going at it with a hose. Well, maybe a better way of
> putting it is to say, "I think that will be a very productive way of
> finding the leak"; however, I'm not sure the process of getting
> there will be all that fun ;)
>
> But, you know, it might be a very good idea to remove that roof
> panel now (it doesn't look too difficult) before the rain starts
> again. Then, I can use "nature's hose" to figure out where that
> leak is before any significant damage is done.
> Thanks again!
> Keith Lee
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Emery Stora <emerystora@mac.com>
>> Sent: Jan 25, 2012 12:03 PM
>> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
>> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak
>>
>>
>> On Jan 25, 2012, at 12:35 PM, enate98690@mypacks.net wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>> Gulp, after a recent rainstorm - one of the first in Nor. Cal.
>>> this year - I discovered my (fairly) newly purchased '73 GMC has a
>>> leak in what appears to be the cockpit area. The roof light
>>> gaskets appear to be water-tight but I tightened the lights anyway.
>>>
>>> As I know water problems are sometimes hard to locate, may I ask
>>> those who care to participate to rate the following for likelihood
>>> of leakage based on their experience (1 being most likely - 5
>>> least likely). Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated too!
>>> Thanks!
>>> Keith Lee (SF)
>>>
>>> Roof lights
>>> Front windshield/front windshield gasket
>>> Seam on roof separating the center from the front section
>>> Roof A/C (it appears original)
>>> Roof Vent (sealed with unknown expertise using Silicone sealant)
>>>
>>
>> I once had a leak in the sidewall between the large driver's side
>> window and the window to the left of the driver. I assumed it was
>> from the driver's side window and I sealed that well but the leak
>> was still there. I finally removed the frontmost ceiling panel and
>> the plastic over the driver's compartment and ran a hose over the
>> whole roof. I found that it was leaking into a very fine crack in
>> the seam separating the center from the front room section.
>>
>> The water would run down the hidden part of the extrusions that
>> were joined together and then drip out just about at the top level
>> of the windows. It ruined the sidewall fiberboard covering so I
>> had to replace that. The hairline crack was so small that I
>> couldn't really see it. I ran masking tape down both sides of the
>> seam and then, ran a small bead of polyurethane sealant along the
>> whole seam. I smoothed that down with my finger and then pulled
>> the masking tape before it cured so that the tape wouldn't get
>> stuck to it. I waited about a month and then painted over the
>> polyurethane sealant.
>>
>> For the roof lights, I have never had a leak there but some do. I
>> replaced them with LED lights a few years ago and I sealed under
>> them with some polyurethane sealant. I would suggest that you
>> never use silicone sealant on the exterior of your GMC. First of
>> all it doesn't hold paint. Secondly, the sunlight will break
>> silicone down over long term and it will crack and leak.
>>
>> The front windshield gasket will sometimes leak. You could run a
>> bead of black polyurethane sealant over the top of the rubber
>> windshield gasket.
>> I have found that the PL Polyurethane in a caulking tube which you
>> can buy at Home Depot works very well. They have a few different
>> colors. They also have tubes marked for Siding and Windows, or for
>> Masonry or Foundations. It is really all the same so just go by
>> color and don't worry about what the tube says the application is.
>> I also used this to seal the floor in the back wheel wells.If you
>> have a crack there between the plywood floor panel and the plastic
>> wheel well liners the tires will throw a lot of water up onto the
>> floor boards. Anyone that has experienced a wet carpet outside of
>> the bathroom area will usually find that this is due to a crack in
>> the area of the wheel wells just above the floor.
>>
>> For the roof air conditioner and for the roof vents I have found
>> that the best sealant is butyl tape. This is a black rubber
>> stretchy tape that you can buy at glass shops or window and door
>> companies. It stays pliable and the tape that I put in years ago is
>> still soft and I've never had a leak since using it. The tape
>> comes in various widths and thicknesses. I use 3/4" wide and 1/8"
>> thick.
>>
>> Emery Stora
>> 77 Kingsley
>> Santa Fe, NM
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Cockpit area leak [message #158034 is a reply to message #158005] |
Wed, 25 January 2012 23:39 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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On Jan 25, 2012, at 8:22 PM, George Groth <grggroth@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
>
>
> For the roof lights, I have never had a leak there but some do. I
> replaced them with LED lights a few years ago and I sealed under
> them with some polyurethane sealant. I would suggest that you never
> use silicone sealant on the exterior of your GMC. First of all it
> doesn't hold paint. Secondly, the sunlight will break silicone down
> over long term and it will crack and leak.
>
> Emery, I'm wondering why you didn't use butyl on the roof lights?
> I'm replacing mine soon and thought I would use butyl.
> --
> geo groth '73 260 Sequoia
> Carson City Nevada
Because the LED lights are totally sealed so I just wanted to fill the
holes around the wires. It was simple to due with the PL sealant.
Emery Stora
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