TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:46 am

Hope someone can point me in a direction.

74 std. New trunk/hood seals, new fresh air box overhaul, very good fit.

There should not be any air leaking through but yet there is.

I taped the entire hood after all the other fixes and still air coming through the dash grill. Annoying.

I have plugged all the holes in the trunk that I can see. Seems more air on the left side (drivers side) then right. It comes right through the dash grill. It is quite a bit of air.

Any ideas where it might be coming from. Pretty sure not the hood now?

Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:55 am

Speaker grill? do you have a speaker in place or something blocking it? ditto for the hole where the old fuel gauge (60s-) would've gone. Despite losing the gauge the dash was still pressed with this hole there. I replaced my seals and such like you said a while ago and i still notice air coming through. If you have a good trunk seal i dunno what else can be done. What about the tunnel hole cover at the front apron, is it on there? good fit?

Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:58 am

original speaker in place but should not have any air coming in from the trunk.

Tunnel Holes have plates on them and good fit.

Everything looks tight, but it's coming in somewhere.

Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:58 am

How about around the tank?
Air hose from the heater channel?
Spare tire area?

Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:03 am

The trunk area is not air tight. There are drain holes in the spare tire well, above the gas tank (air box drain), inside the bottom of the A-pillar, etc. You need to seal the dash to reduce the amount of air coming through. So, install the speaker, or fill in the hole from the back with something solid.

I used to have a cassette stereo in my dash, and the amount of air coming through the cassette slot was huge.

Tue Apr 24, 2012 2:37 pm

Ah that brings back memories of flat windscreen bug ownership.

As Qdog said above you need to draft proof the dash not the trunk
In my 71 super I didn't use the stock speaker or radio for that matter and cut out a piece of vinyl that sat behind the grilles on both sides, that stopped alot of draft.
Using the stock speaker make sure there is no gap around the speaker itself.
also make sure there is no gaps letting air in around the defrost vents, ashtray and glovebox.

Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:42 pm

:D the vinyl behind the grilles works wonders!! I used the stock mesh pieces for templates to cut black vinyl(you can use any coler you like),, then put it behind the mesh.. A wire cover also helps, A lot!

Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:11 am

that is correct the tire well is not air tight (huge drain on mine)
the stock dash pad , ever seen one?, most have not.
has rubber blocking the unused dash holes. check it out.

so put it back to stock.? or ? fix it.
NEXT UP (x2 above)
1: a speaker or blocking plate or gages like mine.
2: old fuel gauge hole (echo of past) mine had rubber there ,stock.
3: fitting, glove box .
4: radio blocked ?or fit right. (use mastic putty (called monkey poop) on the sides. I moved my radio, its blocked.
5: the tank has a gasket, missing on mine, now a new tank and new gasket.
6: the heater channels can move air too. (closing all vents can stop that)
7: my older car has hood vent, it too had a bad gasket and valves. fixed.
8: inspection and service ports in spare well , mine has 4.
9: last the hood (frunk) seal , some are junk the good ones have this special fitting seal in top left /right corners, many fail here, even new.
use top brand seals , few are.

id not block the spare tire drain.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:51 am

Another place to look is the inspection plates in the tire well. When South Wind gas heaters are installed, since they do not use recirc air, the dealer would remove one of these plates. I have one missing for my heater.

There are an awul lot of little holes in the trunk. Around the brake lines, the drains that are mentioned, and if the tank seal isn't good, air leaks around there under pressure.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 10:48 am

Thanks for the tips.

I did get a plastic piece from Hood seal guy here on TheSamba. Great Seal by the way.

It did take some of the draft off my hands while driving.

I plugged every hole inside, shoved towels down the heater tube access in the trunk. put lights inside the trunk closed the garage to check for leaks that way. No light no visible leaks but it does offer a breeze.

My 72 with it's worn out seals does not even have a slight breeze when driving so either I'm lucky on that one our I have another issues on this one.

But taking out the stock heater and putting the plastic plate in sure helped the hands.

Thanks.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:17 pm

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5500353-Cold-air-coming-for-dash-vents-no-fresh-air-box

Got this from another fourm some while back, might help you, lots to go through but could help

Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:15 am

fill it up with water and see where it leaks out

lolol jkz i couldn't think of anything you seemed pretty thorough especially with that tape

Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:42 am

Fredellus wrote: fill it up with water and see where it leaks out

lolol jkz i couldn't think of anything you seemed pretty thorough especially with that tape not to far off.. the next step would be to smoke test it 8)

Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:57 am

Fredeullus,

Funny you mentioned to fill it up. My Biz partner came over as I was so frustrated and after a ride and retape we were staring at the open trunk and he said, "Let's just fill it up with water".

We laughed and then looked at the SCUBA equipment in the garage. Made us laugh harder.

I don't smoke, but will get started, probably need alot for the smoke test.

Actually a good idea.

No farther on this. I'm out of ideas, unless there is some sort of seal down by the heater tubes at the bottom that I can't see.