Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Brewster · Joined: 02 Sep 2022 Posts: 26

I've still not managed to get the Humber out of the weather yet so it's been sitting for weeks covered in rain. When I was having a feel about in the boot, I noticed the underside of the rear offside wing was soaking wet. There's an aerial on the wing which some kind person had snapped off in the past but I'd covered that up with the greasy tape (see previous message) so I didn't think it was getting in there.

Would anyone know how water ends up accumulating on the underside of the wing? Is it coming in the rear windscreen seal or something? Along the chrome strip on the top of the wing?

Operation Dry Humber is due to swing into action this weekend, Christmas not withstanding, so this will hopefully be resolved once I have it under cover.

Brewster · Joined: 02 Sep 2022 Posts: 26

Someone elsewhere has suggested condensation. Does that seem likely?

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6316 Location: Derby

I doubt it is condensation. Water gets in. You can try and find the point of entry but may never establish exactly where.

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

Is it in the boot, or a wet patch between the wing and the tyre, if the latter it could be a Tom Cat...........
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1974 Mk1 Escort.

Brewster · Joined: 02 Sep 2022 Posts: 26

It’s on the underside of the wing that you can feel from inside the boot, not within the wheel well.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

Shut yourself in the boot with a torch and get someone to apply a hose to the rear windscreen and all lower points. Or have them pour buckets of water if no hose.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

MVPeters · Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA

Brewster
Try trapping a 10/- note at various points between the trunk lid & the rubber seal. It should not be too easy to pull out. Adjust the catch or hinges.
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Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4757 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

I know we are talking about older cars and how to find faults in them, BUT I very much doubt that anyone has kept a 10/- note since 1970.
And of course there are now no paper notes in circulation and perhaps the plastic ones wouldn't perform the same as paper ones.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

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V8 V10

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6316 Location: Derby

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6316 Location: Derby

Talking about cars getting wet where they shouldn't, there is one symptom that no P38 owner wants to find and that is a wet carpet under the dash. It usually means that the 'O' rings have failed on the heater matrix pipes. It is generally regarded as the worst job on a Range Rover as the entire dash has to come out...and that is just for starters.

I have read how some owners have resorted to cutting away the plastic covers etc.,, Shocked

Brewster · Joined: 02 Sep 2022 Posts: 26

CWhaley1 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 61 Location: Derbyshire

Did you ever resolve this? I ask only as I have a Singer Gazelle (same family, which is why I clicked on the thread).

I too found water on the underside and outside of the (offside) rear wing. The underside of the boot lid was also wet.

I had installed a new boot seal which I know forms a very good seal around the boot -- absolutely no water gets in past this. The rear screen leaks ever so slightly and I wonder if this was the source of moisture.

I ended up buying an expensive car cover (£300!!) which I'm still reeling about. However, the car is bone dry even on the wettest days and it's clearly far better than the covers I had before. I also put silica gel beads in old socks hanging around the car.

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6316 Location: Derby

alastairq · Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1954 Location: East Yorkshire

Silica gel?
Might be worth saving those little sachets of the stuff, found in the packaging of most electrical goods these days?

Captain Tolley's Creeping crack cure [AKA penetrating sealant....if the bots allow this?} is useful for assisting window rubbers to make a seal against watter.....But it does have to be applied on a regular basis[IE, not once in a lifetime!]..Can also make a bit of a mess if overdone.
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

CWhaley1 · Joined: 13 Jul 2016 Posts: 61 Location: Derbyshire

Yes I bought 20kg of silica gel in a tub from eBay. Although little water go in the car past the seals anyway, it's stopped any fogging on the inside screen and any moisture kept off metals is a good thing!

I went for a Butyl screen seal. It remains permanently flexible and watertight -- just have to ensure the screen and existing rubber is absolutely free of dirt. Eventually I'll replace the seal around the rear screen, but time and cost is putting it off at the moment. I'll look into the creeping crack repair paste! Might be useful for areas where it's not so easy to apply a channel of sealant.

I remember magnesium strips at school, but only when we set them on fire to produce a bright light! Remember having it burnt onto my retina for weeks....