Getting Wet...

[Kingster]

Regardless of weather I will be going to Stoneleigh in the Westy - and also will be going to the Alps in late May.

 

So it is inevitable that in my aeroscreened car I will get wet.

 

I come from a bike background, so no real issues with this (other than it's no fun!) but the only areas I really don't want water to pour in is under the scuttle (electrics) and in the driver's footwell (slippy pedal syndrome).

 

So far my only rainy venture has been a two hour drive through showers, so not a lot - but I could face a deluge on the continent and want to be prepared.

 

How prone are our cars to water ingress in the aforementioned areas (or any other that might cause issues)?

 

If they are, where do I need to apply the silicone/rubber seal strip/whatever?

[AdamR]

the driver's footwell (slippy pedal syndrome).

 

Skateboard griptape... I have a large roll I can chop a few bits off if you'd like

 

If you have fibreglass seats get some holes drilled in the bottom, also one in each corner of your floor pan. It's easier to let water out than stop it getting in!

[Kingster]

Skateboard tape - good call!

 

I have JK's but with the padding - so not sure how to get around that?

 

Floor has a couple of holes already - seats didn't fit into factory ones.

[KugaWestie]

Skateboard griptape... I have a large roll I can chop a few bits off if you'd like

 

 

Thats a good idea - it also means you could remove the rubbers from the pedals, one of mine occasionaly comes off!

[AdamR]

Oh yes, those rubber things are horrendous!

 

Guess your JKs have the 'fancy' padding Chris, not just the adhesive foam? One hole in each corner of each floor pan works best I find, the water always finds somewhere to drain out of then.

[Kingster]

Yeah, got the fancy-pants padding - so soggy bottom is the order of the day I guess!

 

I'll get the drill out tomorrow - and if I don't manage to grab some of that tape locally, I'll grab a wee bit off you at Stoneleigh if you are there?

[Terry Everall]

The half height side screens ( I have carbon fibre ones) keep off a hell of a lot of water from the front wheel in heavy rain or standing water

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

The JK padding is vinyl wrapped neoprene - I asked and had it demonstrated up at their unit - a piece of it was dropped in a full sink then passed to me, other than the surface water to shake off, nothing absorbed at all.

Grip tape is fantastic on the floor, but be advised it eats the heels of your foot ware, so choose shoes/trainers correspondingly.

[Kingster]

Cheers Dave - my problem with the padding is water pooling rather than absorbing, but I guess a towel will help!

 

I've got some non-slip rubberised matting stuff for the floor, will try the grip tape on the pedals though.

[Kingster]

So - anyone find the water getting in under the scuttle and into pedal area or electrics much?

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

I have had water in behind my scuttle before and around my pedals.

 

The water had no effect on my electrics and the only thing that hacked me off about the pedal area was having a wet foot.

 

I had no issues with my feet slipping off the pedals.

[tex]

its not a big issue - make sure the switches are reasonably the water resistant type ones. the metal toggle switches can have rubber hoods fitted to them real cheap.

pedal box area is usually where water gets in from engine bay... do you best to fill in/block off access to water blast. its not easy without lots of work.

 

as said - half doors are so much better - the seat may not be much of a problem at all. i did 3 days round scotland last year in ****** wet weather and i only noticed the rain when i stopped... lol well ok - it was coming off the front wheels in huge plumes... half doors well sealed really helped.

maybe you could buy just one fibreglass seat for the trip - take the others out till home. then you can drill the fibreglass one. put some tape over the holes as the hole edges and bums - not a good mix.

with regards electrics - depends on where you have vulnerable contacts id guess. iv never had issues yet [touch wood] with rain causing probs.maybe some thin rubber black seal one the gap between the ally dash panel and the scuttle. that should take care of most vulnerable point.

take an old towel like a beer towel tied to the handbrake lever to wipe visor.

freezer bags are good for mobile fones - twist the bag end and you should be able to have the charger plugged in and into ciggy socket for sat nav. use bread tag to seal up bag. try get the twisted bit at bottom of fone so water cant get in. the bag allows use still as the heat of your fingers still gets to the screen. i use tom tom go on android.. has multiple point route planning - bout 40 quid licence... great stuff.

ideally best seat is fully fibreglass. you could put a bag over the seat. combined with a one piece waterproof. carrier bags on you shoes and hands... pmsl

[tex]

the only real place you dont want water is

 

ecu

or scooping it up in the air intake through a flood

[TAFKARM]

I drive my aeroscreened, V8 bonneted, none siliconed scuttle in all weathers and have never had any issues, you'll be fine.

A hole in your seat stops your testicles getting wet though.

[Kingster]

Cheers chaps.

Happy with the seats as they are so not a problem if it pools a bit.

Main concern was feet slipping on pedals rather than getting wet as I can wear sealskinz for that.

I figured the electrics would be ok just wanted to know if it was something to be aware of.