Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
85 D150 water leak (body) #2747191
02/27/20 08:22 PM
02/27/20 08:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
V
volaredon Offline OP
top fuel
volaredon  Offline OP
top fuel
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
I just bought this truck, has less than 100K miles, /6,727 (yes I know a 904 from a 727) and really pretty clean. Yellow numbers from factory still very visible on frame, solid cab, including floor pans, ONLY rust is over the rear wheel wells and even that is slight. Could use a pass. door not because of rust but it's beat up/ faster and easier to plop a door on than all the time it would take to straighten, dented and creased way up high.... PO could hardly see, it seems no garage door jam is wide enough for this guy..... the truck has definitely sat quite a bit over its 35 years. Outside, without moving an inch, for at least 3-4 years since I have known of the truck. PO said it had sat in a barn for 10+ years before he got it 4-5 years ago. (so he says)

anyways when I looked at it before I decided to buy it, the carpet was damp between the door and end of seat on driver side, below the dimmer switch. I didn't think much about it at the time because the door weatherstrips are shot.

well now that it's home, and I am digging into it to evaluate "just what I got myself into" it's rained and snowed a few times. I still have it on a trailer in the driveway, while I searched for an exhaust manifold for it. (the reason it has been sitting before I got it) well last weekend I noticed the driver side of the carpet was quite soaked. pass side isn't. I took the threshold off, and the screws holding the carpet down just forward of the seat edge.(surprisingly came right out, didn't break, weren't corroded at all...… and no, I don't think the old guy PO has ever touched them. all these screws are factory hardware.


so, in looking for the source of the leak, I noticed that with the carpet out of the way, a greenish stain (mossy color) at the floor pan/firewall/A pillar seam. I took out the E brake pedal and the cowl vent in the kick panel (this is a factory non AC truck) and it has rained and snowed some more, since. Hood has ~1-1/2" of partly melted, packed down heavy snow on it right now. Well today, I looked. Minimal wetness in that firewall to A pillar seam (on inside of the cab) but it was "wet". Nobody has been near this truck since the weekend when I pulled that Ebrake pedal and cowl vent panel. (it was in mid 50s and sunny last weekend) The wetness starts about 2/3 of the way up the firewall, just right on the original seam sealer.
Dry above that point.

I did notice that when I opened up the cowl vent on the passenger side, that it is full of pine needles in front of the heater core, that I can see. I've had older vehicles before, where the cowl would fill with leaves, etc I haven't had the wipers and cowl panel off this truck yet.

Now (finally) my questions... why would it be wet, "there"? and why would it start where it does? I don't believe this has been a problem for very long, there is no mold on the jute padding, the floor is extremely solid and in great shape, paint is intact (Ive seen wet cabs before, where the sheet metal goes bare when they have been wet, often)

With the shape the rest of this truck is in, I'm really hoping there is no terminal rust damage somewhere to cause this wetness..... who knows what about these cabs?

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: volaredon] #2747201
02/27/20 08:50 PM
02/27/20 08:50 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 684
Maine
J
jerseybud Offline
mopar
jerseybud  Offline
mopar
J

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 684
Maine
4 options:
1. leaking thru the seam sealer where the a pillar meets the roof, down the a pillar and out the seam just inside of the door switch
2. corner of the cowl where the cowl cracks. major seam there that never was sealed very well until the 88 up trucks and even then it cracked.
3. that vent you mentioned because the factory used open cell foam that degrades rapidly and doesnt seal against water.
4. firewall seam, which is magnified if the cowl cavern where the wiper assembly is is full of leaves.

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: jerseybud] #2747206
02/27/20 09:27 PM
02/27/20 09:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,389
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
N
NITROUSN Offline
I Live Here
NITROUSN  Offline
I Live Here
N

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,389
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
I would remove the wipers and cowl grille. If its full of needles it can not drain properly. That is where I would start.

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: jerseybud] #2747224
02/27/20 10:12 PM
02/27/20 10:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
V
volaredon Offline OP
top fuel
volaredon  Offline OP
top fuel
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
Originally Posted by jerseybud
4 options:
1. leaking thru the seam sealer where the a pillar meets the roof, down the a pillar and out the seam just inside of the door switch
the wetness is underneath the dash, wayyyy forward of the door switch. in the very corner where the firewall meets the side panel (I thought that whole kickpanel area was considered part of the A pillar)

2. corner of the cowl where the cowl cracks. major seam there that never was sealed very well until the 88 up trucks and even then it cracked.

where exactly does this crack happen? How accessible would it be to MIG weld, maybe add a plate to bridge the crack? (I assume its out of sight where such a repair would not be seen when truck is all together?)

3. that vent you mentioned because the factory used open cell foam that degrades rapidly and doesnt seal against water.

the vent area itself is bone dry, green water stain is at very corner where side (A pillar?) meets floor pan on top of seam sealer. the wetness is further forward of the opening for the vent. "all the way back" (furthest forward to the truck, but "back" as far as can be reached and seen under the dash) just in the VERY corner...

4. firewall seam, which is magnified if the cowl cavern where the wiper assembly is is full of leaves.


OK I'll check that this weekend and see if it is full of leaves.... can I blow from the vent area inside the truck with an air hose and "blow" it out once the cowl panel under the wipers is removed?
Its been a while since I've been in that part of a D/W truck.... I remember one of my F bodies (Aspen/volare) being REAL plugged up in this area when I got it years ago)

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: volaredon] #2747236
02/27/20 10:42 PM
02/27/20 10:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,483
Freeport IL USA
The cowl area drains at both sides, at the side of the firewall. The front fenders cover the drain holes. If it is full of leaves or pine needles, you will probably have to dig most of the stuff out of the box until you can get to both sides. then you can use a still wire to poke open the cowl drains (they are at the rear corners). Once opened, you can flush the cowl clean with a water hose, but if its really nasty, you may have to open the drains a few times before you get it clean. Gene

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: poorboy] #2747245
02/27/20 11:03 PM
02/27/20 11:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,473
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
J
JDMopar Offline
master
JDMopar  Offline
master
J

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,473
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
I have an 88 D100 that gets wet in the same place. Thanks to those who have BTDT! Now, thanks to the OP and all that responded, I know where to look! bow

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: poorboy] #2747247
02/27/20 11:13 PM
02/27/20 11:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
V
volaredon Offline OP
top fuel
volaredon  Offline OP
top fuel
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
Originally Posted by poorboy
The cowl area drains at both sides, at the side of the firewall. The front fenders cover the drain holes. If it is full of leaves or pine needles, you will probably have to dig most of the stuff out of the box until you can get to both sides. then you can use a still wire to poke open the cowl drains (they are at the rear corners). Once opened, you can flush the cowl clean with a water hose, but if its really nasty, you may have to open the drains a few times before you get it clean. Gene


thanks. hopefully that's all it is.... I've been looking for a nice, solid D/W truck for a long time.... other than this issue, this one fits the part... I actually have some "ideas" for the leaning tower of power.... if they don't pan out, there's a 440 and a couple of smallblocks sitting in the garage..... the "bigger" newer body style Furd trucks "eco boost" is 3.7L..... so is the slant 6 that is in this truck.... I think I can wake it up plenty, at least to the point of the stock HP of the mid 80s 360s, that "could have came" in my truck./

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: JDMopar] #2747249
02/27/20 11:16 PM
02/27/20 11:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
V
volaredon Offline OP
top fuel
volaredon  Offline OP
top fuel
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
Originally Posted by JDMopar
I have an 88 D100 that gets wet in the same place. Thanks to those who have BTDT! Now, thanks to the OP and all that responded, I know where to look! bow


I had an 88 D100, by far was the WORST D series truck of all of them I had.... that TBI system SUCKED. 318, short bed, 2wd, got 8mpg all day long. worse than my 79 full time 4wd Ramcharger, worse than my 78 D300..... I put the most money into that one, yet had it the shortest length of time of them all....

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: volaredon] #2747300
02/28/20 09:31 AM
02/28/20 09:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,666
Buford, GA
I_bleed_MOPAR Offline
master
I_bleed_MOPAR  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,666
Buford, GA
'85 I bought years ago had the roof rusted out just behind the windshield. Not large holes (about 1/8th") but went almost side to side. Mainly bought it for parts so I didn't worry about it. Bought new in Georgia and here it's whole life.



Tim


'71 Charger 383/727
'17 Challenger SXT (Wifeys car wink )
Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: I_bleed_MOPAR] #2747303
02/28/20 09:54 AM
02/28/20 09:54 AM

R
RWG75
Unregistered
RWG75
Unregistered
R



With the kick panel vent off just stuff the shop vac hose in there to suck up the leaves. On the passenger side open the recirc door and try to do the same thing on that side and in front of the heater core. You'd really have to have a pile of mulch in there for it to hold enough water to leak in to the cab. The wiper linkage area under the cowl really doesn't hold much - it all washes down in to the vent areas.

The side vent windows leak on just about every one of these trucks. Runs down the door and puddles just below the dimmer switch. They do repop glass seals but often doesn't help with the leak. A drip coming down the fire wall is often a rust hole in the cowl under the wiper linkage. It's less than easy but ya need to get your head under the dash in a heavy rain and find the highest wet spot then poke around under the hood / cowl on the other side. A garden hose will also work.

It's a Dodge, it leaks. It might just be easier to put a drain hole in the floor. When I did my cab floors I used aluminum diamond plate instead of sheet metal.

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: ] #2747366
02/28/20 01:01 PM
02/28/20 01:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
larrymopar360 Offline
Stud Muffin
larrymopar360  Offline
Stud Muffin

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
My '79 had water exactly as you described. So far, it seems my fix was as simple as some missing grommets on the firewall, main one being the one for the speedometer cable. I still see a little bit of water dripping down from driver's vent window in a heavy rain, as RWG75 mentions, but usually not even enough to reach the floor now. Mine would get wet all around dimmer switch and puddle all down the floor near exit/entry. Not any more. Before sealing the firewall I did pull cowl cover and get a vacuum and my hands in as much as I could to clean out any leaves, etc. but still had the leak. I check weather report whenever possible, and when heavy rains are forecasted, I have a HD tarp from Walmart, and I cover the cab, and use bungie cords to hold it down. Good for protecting it from rusting out.


Facts are stubborn things.
Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: larrymopar360] #2747395
02/28/20 02:34 PM
02/28/20 02:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
V
volaredon Offline OP
top fuel
volaredon  Offline OP
top fuel
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
I've seen the wing window leaks on these trucks before, no evidence of that on this one. I haven't tried to open them up yet.
Wetness is way forward of that. And where the entry point appears to be, it's a ways away from the wipers and such. Like I said it starts in the very driver side corner of the firewall, way back in there. And drips down from there to puddle. Below the dimmer switch, and just inboard of the threshold.

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: volaredon] #2747459
02/28/20 05:24 PM
02/28/20 05:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
larrymopar360 Offline
Stud Muffin
larrymopar360  Offline
Stud Muffin

Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 15,713
Central Florida
In my post I was suggesting I DON'T believe it's your vent windows. You might get a little there, but I believe your firewall could be the issue.


Facts are stubborn things.
Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: larrymopar360] #2747471
02/28/20 06:03 PM
02/28/20 06:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
You should take a good look at the area between the windshield and the roof from the outside.

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: stumpy] #2747473
02/28/20 06:08 PM
02/28/20 06:08 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
G
Guitar Jones Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Guitar Jones  Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
G

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
Originally Posted by stumpy
You should take a good look at the area between the windshield and the roof from the outside.

This, up under the gasket specifically.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: Guitar Jones] #2747492
02/28/20 06:58 PM
02/28/20 06:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
V
volaredon Offline OP
top fuel
volaredon  Offline OP
top fuel
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
ok will do.... I mainly looked above the windshield, above the drip rail for rust bubbles when I looked the truck over before I bought it.... have seen lots of issues there..... never really looked next to/around windshield gasket.... honestly didn't think about looking there..... supposed to be mid 50s again Sunday, that will give the snow from a couple days ago a chance to melt off and dry, so I can see things better... I did open drivers door and look where it's normally wet yesterday, and it wasn't.... The other day when I folded the carpet back to the hump, it was "drip drying" as it wasn't touching floor pan any more, water from carpet pooled just on driver side of hump, that was even dried up..... been cold at night (teens) and just above freezing during the day.... would have expected to see a little ice in there from the carpet dripping off, especially in the floor pan "stiffener ribs" but no.

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: volaredon] #2747609
02/29/20 12:52 AM
02/29/20 12:52 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122
Auburn WA
Dave_J Offline
master
Dave_J  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,122
Auburn WA
I have seen so many of these 1972 up truck cabs with a 3 inch long 1/8 inch wide crack in the firewall in the wiper linkage cowl area. I think its a weak area from the stamping that has rusted out. My son has this issue.

My 78 LRT has leaks at the windshield seam/gasket area and I think 1 wiper seal is leaking too. I have no floors anymore.


Retired, US ARMY 1973-1994
ASE mechanic, Electrical 1994-1997
Retired GTE/VERIZON/FRONTIER 1997-2015


Posting cheap tech help (CRAP) here since Nov 97, 1000's of posts, some may be good.

03 Suzuki Burgman 650(Burger King) Scooter
65 Formula S Cuda
78 Little Red Express Truck
98 Buick Regal (wifes car)
Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: Dave_J] #2747676
02/29/20 10:09 AM
02/29/20 10:09 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
V
volaredon Offline OP
top fuel
volaredon  Offline OP
top fuel
V

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,195
ILLINOIS
Originally Posted by Dave_J
I have seen so many of these 1972 up truck cabs with a 3 inch long 1/8 inch wide crack in the firewall in the wiper linkage cowl area. I think its a weak area from the stamping that has rusted out. My son has this issue.



of what you have seen is this in a spot where I could easily get my MIG stinger in there and fix the issue? Just thinking ahead.
Ive heard of this before, cracks in the firewall area but have yet to see one.... (I haven't had this issue yet, must just have been lucky/ so far)
haven't had a chance to check out this area on my truck yet though either.
My floor pans are like new so here's hoping that this isn't my issue.
good info anyways because I don't plan on this one being my :last" D/W series truck...

what causes these cowl/firewall cracks? I wouldn't think it would be cab/body flex, as they are full frame. If they were a unibody vehicle that cause would be more understandable.

In the case of THIS truck, I wouldn't think that its /6 would have enough power to "hurt itself"-- relating to body and frame flex....

Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: volaredon] #2747956
03/01/20 10:13 AM
03/01/20 10:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,802
Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar Offline
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
SattyNoCar  Offline
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,802
Between Houston & Galveston TX

In the case of THIS truck, I wouldn't think that its /6 would have enough power to "hurt itself"-- relating to body and frame flex....

It's not just the engine that plays into it. It's the roads you drive, the loads you carry. That steep driveway you pull into at an angle without giving it a second thought, could be flexing things quite a bit (just saying as an example).

I've had a '76 and an '84 that had frame issues. The '76's issues were brought on by mileage, the '84's issues were possibly caused by a (very) minor accident the truck had been in early in its life. In both cases the frames had zero rust and neither truck ever carried something really heavy (especially the '84).


John

The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
Re: 85 D150 water leak (body) [Re: volaredon] #2748006
03/01/20 01:16 PM
03/01/20 01:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,473
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
J
JDMopar Offline
master
JDMopar  Offline
master
J

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,473
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
Originally Posted by volaredon
Originally Posted by JDMopar
I have an 88 D100 that gets wet in the same place. Thanks to those who have BTDT! Now, thanks to the OP and all that responded, I know where to look! bow


I had an 88 D100, by far was the WORST D series truck of all of them I had.... that TBI system SUCKED. 318, short bed, 2wd, got 8mpg all day long. worse than my 79 full time 4wd Ramcharger, worse than my 78 D300..... I put the most money into that one, yet had it the shortest length of time of them all....


Yep! The TBI on mine sucks out loud also. It's just an old long bed, beater, firewood truck that rarely goes far from home. I've got a low mile 5.9 Magnum sitting in my garage with every piece of wiring from under the hood of its donor, including the computer and fuse box. As soon as I get time to sit down and figure out the wiring......the 318 TBI is going bye bye! I will save the roller block though! grin

Page 1 of 2 1 2






Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1