When it rains...

[Nunyas]

Do you get wet?

I have to ask, because today is the first day that I've driven my 'B in ~real~ rain since I've gotten it earlier this year. My parents had a CB 'B when I was a child and it leaked at the center of the windshield where the top met it. I had totally forgotten about the leaks until today, when i found that i not only had the leak at the windshield/top seam but I also have a leak that drips on my left leg through the firewall (i have a missing grommet), and when i get up to any kind of speed water blows in from behind me (my hardtop doesn't fit quite as well as I'd like).

So, I'm curious. How many of you drive your cars unconditionally (weather wise)? And how many of you have leaks? Also, what have you people done to minimize or completely remove the leaks?

 

[Steve_S]

You will never stay completely dry. The leaks can be minimized though. The center leak may be a matter of adjusting the clamps tighter or looser, or replacing the seal. Leaks through the firewall area can be a number of things but it isn't uncommon. Also look for water coming in through the heater vents below the dash. If this happens, you probably have a clogged air intake drain.

But with the unbelievable rain we had last night I don't think there's any way to stay dry in a MGB!

 

[Guest]

You can tell a MGB driver on a rainy day by his wet left leg. They say that they are called sports cars because you have to be a sport to drive one.
Seriously, I have had that trouble from time to time but my leg was getting wet from a windshield leak on the left side. The water was running down the side of the dash and along the bottom of it to right above my left leg and dripping on me. I got rid of it or slowed it down several times by puting silicon seal on the windshield gasket. Last year, I replaced the glass and gaskets and so far haven't had that problem in that spot. My vent leaks on the radio so I am going to have to take care of that now. The radio/CD player went out but came back after it dryed out.
Bob

 

[adam90009]

When I got my MGB there were actually puddles on the floor when it rained form leaks and now when I drive it(it's my daily driver) there are jsut a couple of small leaks. Mine leaks from the drivers side vent window seal, from a rust hole on the water channel for the hood down to the firewall to my feet and I used to have one from the botom edge of the windshield but I fixed that one. My trunk leaks from one of the male studs on the car. Is is just from simple places that have been neglected over the years and i will eventually take care of all of them. Most of the time it doesn't leak at all.

 

[Jim 67B]

If is doesn't leak it is not British. I hve stopped almost all of the windshield leaks. Still have one on my side in the lower corner. That is why there is GoreTex pants.

 

[aerog]

Last year I drove my B in some of the worst weather (including hurricanes) I've ever driven in, and had some (naturally) leaks that I hadn't had before. Heck, I'd never driven my B in the rain before that - the the experience prompted me to weatherproof it. I had a slight drip from the header-rail, and bad leaks from the windscreen posts and in front of the vent windows. It took an afternoon to fix - new weatherstripping on the header-rail and in front of the vent windows (be sure to not cut the stripping short, it should be compressed by the door at the bottom to make a good seal).

That left the windscreen leaks. I found that water was being forced to the sides of the windscreen at speed, then was further pushed down under the windscreen where it found some good sized leaks straight into the cockpit. One would assume you have good rubber seals under there to begin with, this just fills in the little holes the water ends up finding. I used a tube of flowable silicon sealant (not the regular stuff) and slowly injected under the windscreen corners where the posts are. Doing a little at a time so it would set up before the next "injection" let it flow and build up, filling the gaps.

I've driven in some heavy rain since then and have had no leaks - not counting the inevitable spritz you might get from the top/rear of the side windows.

By the way - you can forego the header-rail stripping temporarily by putting a layer of 3M vinyl tape over the joint between the top of the windscreen and the roof (don't use duct-tape). The wide vinyl tape comes in different colors and is available at Ace hardware.

 

[Stewart]

Mine always leaked on the left leg and no matter how hard I've tried over the years its never gone away.

Never had any problems driving it in the rain and did get caught down in Norco a while back in the rain and had a nice 50 mile drive back in the rain with out to many problems. Hopefully the rain will let up enough this week so I can head back down there and do the full brake job that I need to do and do some horse back riding as well.

As long and the heat works I'm fine driving in pretty much any weather in the B. I had the heater control break in the off position while going over the mountains in winter and I have never been so cold in my life and I've been through a few North Dakota winters. A few truly miserable hours in the B. No choice I was late and had to get there that day. Never again.