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OrangeMango Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2015 Posts: 114 Location: Sacramento, California
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 7:00 pm Post subject: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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Hello all,
Im in California and the storms were really bad beginning of this month, well today i decided to take a look at my beetle to see if I can get her running again. Did a few things and finally got to pit the battery in when i see a big puddle on the driver side. My cars in the drive way to the front is dry but its a deep puddle in the back. I believe my pop out windows un-popped and water came in from there, its happened before but it hasnt rained like this in a long time so ive never had water in the car like this. Is there a drain plug hole anywhere I can pop or should I just drill a hole for the water to drain out?
https://imgur.com/a/IO25mp3 _________________ 1972 Super Beetle stock 1600 DP
1967 Karmann Ghia stock 1500 SP |
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jeffrey8164 Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 3819 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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No such thing as a drain plug.
Please don't drill a hole in it. It will only become a place where water can find its way in. Vacuum it out, put a fan on it and dry it out. Then find and fix the leak. _________________ Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1) |
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67rustavenger Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 9772 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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EDIT:
Never mind. My suggestion has already been presented. _________________ I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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OrangeMango Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2015 Posts: 114 Location: Sacramento, California
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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jeffrey8164 wrote: |
No such thing as a drain plug.
Please don't drill a hole in it. It will only become a place where water can find its way in. Vacuum it out, put a fan on it and dry it out. Then find and fix the leak. |
What if i drill a hole and plug it with a bolt afterwards? Im trying to borrow a shop vac now but thinking a drain plug might not be a bad idea if it happens again.
99% sure its the window, idk why they pop open so theyre not sealed shut. _________________ 1972 Super Beetle stock 1600 DP
1967 Karmann Ghia stock 1500 SP |
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Big Bull Shooter Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2018 Posts: 460 Location: Canadian Rockies
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 7:25 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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How about a cup to scoop some out and then a big sponge? _________________ Where would this hobby be if no one shipped parts.
crukab
Feb. 11, 2021
Smokey says.... only you can prevent Bug fires!
zerotofifty
May 16, 2023 |
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OrangeMango Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2015 Posts: 114 Location: Sacramento, California
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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Big Bull Shooter wrote: |
How about a cup to scoop some out and then a big sponge? |
😂 I wanna laugh but also cry it would work _________________ 1972 Super Beetle stock 1600 DP
1967 Karmann Ghia stock 1500 SP |
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67rustavenger Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 9772 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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OrangeMango wrote: |
jeffrey8164 wrote: |
No such thing as a drain plug.
Please don't drill a hole in it. It will only become a place where water can find its way in. Vacuum it out, put a fan on it and dry it out. Then find and fix the leak. |
What if i drill a hole and plug it with a bolt afterwards? Im trying to borrow a shop vac now but thinking a drain plug might not be a bad idea if it happens again.
99% sure its the window, idk why they pop open so theyre not sealed shut. |
If you're really set on the drain plug idea.
Go to your local Porsche dealer and order a 1970-1976 914 chassis drain.
They still carry them. It's a German direct delivery part.
The last time I ordered a couple of them. It took about three weeks for the plugs to arrive at the dealer. The drain cost around $3.50ea. _________________ I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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OldSchoolVW's Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2020 Posts: 701 Location: San Diego
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2023 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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67rustavenger wrote: |
If you're really set on the drain plug idea.
Go to your local Porsche dealer and order a 1970-1976 914 chassis drain.
They still carry them. It's a German direct delivery part.
The last time I ordered a couple of them. It took about three weeks for the plugs to arrive at the dealer. The drain cost around $3.50ea. |
Or you could see if you could find grommet plugs or caplugs like these at an auto parts store:
https://www.amazon.com/CAPLUGS-Assorted-Flush-Moun...&psc=1
Having said that, I too would discourage drilling a drain hole. Remove the standing water the best you can using any of the aforementioned suggestions and dry out anything still wet/damp with a heat gun or hair dryer. If the pop-out windows are not providing a reliable seal, invest in a car cover or tarp until you can get those window seals replaced or latches working properly (or, if necessary, replaced).
Rust is the worst ... but mold is a close second. _________________ Tom
"Following distance is proportional to IQ."
'63 Beetle Sedan
'69 Beetle Sunroof
'70 Beetle Sedan
'73 Type 3 Fastback |
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3853 Location: San Jose, CA
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BMFBMF Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2020 Posts: 358 Location: Swtzerland
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2023 12:56 am Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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Hi folks, I noticed from the information given in some of the links that the later Beetles had a front drain hole, along with the usual one in the back of the tunnel. can anyone take a picture to show me exactly where that front one is? Thanks! _________________ -----Slava Ukraini-----
1971 Stock South African Beetle 1300 : My mom's european "Thin Chick" spec. Completely stock with torsion bar front, swingaxle rear, smooth hubs, single MC, 40 mm shoes, 31PICT3 carb and 5 bolt drums all round, currently Running a 1976 SF:AS engine with the original SF:AD engine overhauled in a box, waiting to go back in one day. |
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3853 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2023 10:02 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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BMFBMF wrote: |
Hi folks, I noticed from the information given in some of the links that the later Beetles had a front drain hole, along with the usual one in the back of the tunnel. can anyone take a picture to show me exactly where that front one is? Thanks! |
If you go to this link below, they're selling pans and there are 5 images for the product description, check out the 4th image, it shows a Super Beetle pan bottom-side, tilted up on edge. The front hole is at the very tip of the front end, in the center of I guess what I would call a cross-beam section or something, that boxed section that supports the control arms...
https://www.flatoutcustoms.com/product/VWBeetle13031302floorpan/5
It's not viewing properly on my phone through their website, it crops the edges off, as if it only displays in portrait format, but I found the pic on google images where it displays full width in landscape. _________________ My name's Steve and it's pronounced "Bust 'em" (cuz people think I'm Tom) 😏 |
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BMFBMF Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2020 Posts: 358 Location: Swtzerland
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 12:38 am Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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Thanks for the link Busstoom, unfortunately the picture is cropped like that, its not your phone 😉😒.
Cusser just posted (by happenstance) a picture of his drain hole (haha that sounds dirty) present on the later supers . Im wondering if I should drill a hole there.....
_________________ -----Slava Ukraini-----
1971 Stock South African Beetle 1300 : My mom's european "Thin Chick" spec. Completely stock with torsion bar front, swingaxle rear, smooth hubs, single MC, 40 mm shoes, 31PICT3 carb and 5 bolt drums all round, currently Running a 1976 SF:AS engine with the original SF:AD engine overhauled in a box, waiting to go back in one day. |
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Busstom Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2014 Posts: 3853 Location: San Jose, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 10:56 am Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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Hi BMF, that's interesting.
Here's the pic I was referring to, you can see that this new hole is in a different location. Maybe it's a tooling hole, maybe it's a later drain hole location, I don't know.
Also, I think I understand what is going on with these remanufactured floor pans; it sounds like the original hole gets removed in the modification process (that's an assumption), I copied some of the steps from this supplier's process to show how a new frame head/crossmember is used, and how the old hole might get covered up by new parts.
Photo courtesy of FlatOut Customs https://www.flatoutcustoms.com/product/remanufactu...egory_id=5
Reprinted from https://www.flatoutcustoms.com/product/remanufactu...egory_id=5 (some steps omitted)
- Remove old 1303 frame head.
- Remove front center spine closing plate.
- Add reinforcement plate to center where the frame head over laps.
- ...
- Align new 1303 frame head using a special jig and using measurements at key Datum points.
- Seam weld the 1303 frame head onto the center spine.
- Spot weld and seam weld the napoleons hat on the 1303 frame head.
- Seam weld the reinforcement plate to the frame head.
I will say this, VW put those drains in there for a good reason. This is what can happen if oil starts leaking into that tunnel. I'm in the midst of a pan-off to drain and clean this mess from my tunnel right now.
_________________ My name's Steve and it's pronounced "Bust 'em" (cuz people think I'm Tom) 😏 |
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vwoldbug Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2009 Posts: 1214 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2023 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: Floor Pan Drain Plug? |
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If you drill holes on both sides get two nipples like the one on the rear of the tunnel. If you don't fix the leak right away they should drain water and keep bugs out. |
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