Sunroof drain tubes & lower quarter panel question...

[67 Sunroof]

Okay, starting to get down into the dirty stuff here. I pulled my sunroof out and would like to replace the 4 drain tubes. 1st off, where do I find the hoses and/or fittings so I can replace them-these look kinda brittle.
Also, the tubes seem to drain down into the front quarter panel down where the defroster vent tubes come up from. If this is true, it seems like a silly place for the water to drain without anywhere to go!!?? I just did the drivers side lower door hinge and quarter panel replacement-pic below:

The passenger side quarter panel is sealed at the bottom!? Where does the water drain to?
Second question:
The drivers side I just repaired has no piece to close off the bottom where the front of the heater tube meets the hose that runs up to the defroster vents. I'm talking about the VERY bottom that faces the ground. It was suggested that I leave it OPEN so there will be air ventilation there and dry out that area. What should I do? Sorry I don't have a picture of the lower part I am describing!

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

Pretty much one of the stupidest sunroof drain systems EVER...
Its why metal sliders rot out 3 times faster than hard tops.

The front drain tubes simply are placed into the bowels of the "Bermuda Triangle" by the defrost tube.
IF water enters the drain system it simply drips into the cavity.

The lower (bottom) portion of outer the front quarter skin "should" have an open area for water to drip from..
Its the same for hardtops too in case any water enters the window seal.

Reroute them now to save your car..
Extend and move the rears away from the heater channels and rockers TOO!

Read these....!!!!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6342955
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=158249
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=555329
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=292176

_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[67 Sunroof]

Yep, that's the EXACT place I was talking about. Wasn't sure if anyone would know where I was describing.
So that's probably why this looks like this!

I didn't close up any of that hole-I left a hole 1"x2". Should I close it up a bit more?
I fit the PVC over the lip and used 50yr silicone around the joint. Then I used jb weld's water putty around the bottom of the fitting. Lastly, I sprayed it with primer/paint.

I'm seriously thinking of running the drain tubes into the small hole that is above the front wheels at the top of the fenders mounting area. There's a small hole there that I could run the tubes into so it would drain out the inner fender well.
What do you think?

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

Not sure what you are describing using the PVC and such?

The lower quarter needs to be open some. The size isnt important as long as it breathes and aesthetic to you.

READ those links.. they have good advice for front rerouting.
I also move the rears to exit through the floor rather than on the running board/rocker.
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[67 Sunroof]

PVC piping about 1' long run from the heater channel up to the defroster "y" tube. It fits around the hole perfectly and seems like it will hold up well. I was going to close the hole up some but a classic car buddy of mine said leave it alone-it needs air in there to breathe and dry out IF you have water in there.
Another "issue" I've seen is where the water runs down the rear "lip" it runs into the nook just below the vents and just sits in that corner with nowhere to go!? Another silly thing IMO. Here's a pic of where I am talking about: it's the lower right hand corner that water collects in it. Any advice in this area? I'm doing the bodywork now and would rather address it now than later.

[jzjames]

I think that area at the bottom of the drip rail/ rear cowl is where condensation on the inner roof of the car might collect, and run down to that spot. You are right, there is no good drain there, but I think it is only condensation that caused it. Keep in mind, its the result of almost 50 years.

What kind of body work you would do to restore it? Good qestion, it would take a very clever metalworker to do it right. (i.e. cutting out the small piece of bad sheetmetal, shape and replace with welding).

[67 Sunroof]

Yeah, I think I will leave it as is. Clean it up and roll with it. Actually, I can now see where rain gets in the vents and drips down onto the bottom and the bottom is designed to let the water run down as you can see the bottom area. I think it will be alright
Thanks for the help!

[Merlin]

Get yourself some generic connectors and some air hose from your local supply store and run the front drain hoses into the spare wheel well and out.
_________________
the3rdrock.com - …musings, discoveries and postulating, by a restless itinerant in search of enlightenment.

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

Or clear vinyl tubing from the hardware... most have it in various sizes in bulk.


.
_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[67 Sunroof]

Makes much more sense thank you!!!!

[moab762]

This is how I'm redoing my drain tubes. I hope this helps someone in the future. It's based on about 15 different drain tube threads on the forum. And my own analysis of my '67.

The rear's are already run down the outside roof channel to the top of the engine lid on each side. (As shown by the red dots in the right side of the top pic.) Just enough below the lip to drain right down the side of the engine bay and onto the ground. (See the second pic. The red dot is where the hose terminates. And drains down the side of the engine bay onto the ground.) Which is a huge improvement over running them down the rear quarter IMHO. It also uses much less hose. And it's a straight shot out of the car.

I'm running the rear tube to where the red dot is. I'm holding it in place with a zip tie mount and a zip tie. It drains right down the edge of the engine bay there. And onto the ground. Someone did this on my car prior to me. But it's about ten times easier to do than running them down into the rear quarter IMHO. And twice as effective.

The fronts I am running all the way out to the spare tire well. (As seen in the below pic.) So they can drain right out the hole in the bottom of the tire well. Right now they just drain into the bottom of the A pillar. And the water comes out the hole at the bottom of the A pillar. But I don't think it's a good idea to put water down there intentionally. Even if you have existing drain tubes terminating in your A pillars. I would highly suggest adding an extension and running them like the pic below. It's not shown in the pic but the tubing just continues all the way down into the bottom of the tire well.

I agree with the above poster that this Kynar http://www.mcmaster.com/#pvdf/=veozbt is pretty much the same tubing as is in there originally. If not alot better. It's rated to 195F and 180PSI. Which is plenty to deal with heat and cleaning them out with an air hose. I'm trying air hose in 3/8" first. (It has the same specs as Kynar if not better. http://www.mcmaster.com/#air-tool-hose/=veq2mt ) It's about a third to half the price. And has similar specs. It fits in the pillars etc. But I have not tried to fit it over the actual drain spouts on the sunroof. ID of the air hose is 3/8" and OD of the drain spouts is about 1/2" or so. It's going to take some stretching. So if it doesn't work I'm going to use the Kynar above. I thought about 1/2" ID air hose. But the OD of the air hose would not fit inside the pillar crimp points.

I steered clear of PVC hose. As it's specs are not as good. And in high heat they can collapse in on themselves some. Which I would think would promote blockages. The air hose and even the Kynar aren't that much more expensive. And with a full headliner on the line (if it ever leaks again) it's good insurance IMHO.

I'll post some actual pics of my install later in the week. When I get my car back. But I think (after reading just about every post on drain tubes and looking my '67 over closely) that this is the ideal materials and placement for drain tubes. And if you've got your headliner out. You might as well upgrade and/or replace them. Running them in these two locations is quite easy. Especially the rears. The fronts just push right down into the top of the pillar. There's actually enough room there for 2+ hoses. As I tested the air hose along side the existing hose.

I hope this helps someone in the future.

EDIT - Air hose won't work. It's wall thickness is to thick. Looking at Kynar now.

[RossRinSD]

I don't get much rain here in So-cal, though the heat might be a problem...

These are the sizes I used.

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I used the 1/2 inch to slide over the metal tubes in the sunroof pan, then the 3/8 tubing to fish over to an appropriate drain location.

Hose clamps or zipties would work to secure the tubing, I elected to use some Goop. Similar to Silicone or E6000

[moab762]

[planenut]

Considering the pitiful way VW designed the drain system, I can promise you I'd be finding a better way to drain the water completely overboard. Draining water in an enclosed steel area is completely stupid. The engineers must've thought the cars would be discarded after about 5 or 6 years.

[RossRinSD]

[moab762]

[Dake]

Do rag-tops have any drains?

[turbotype1]

[VW Man 53]

[buggeezer]

I read on this forum that a 1958 Beetle Ragtop has no water drain tubes. Is that correct? There are no tubes on this one I am restoring and to make some would be in the way of the headliner big time! Thanks for replies in advance!