OK guys I got a digital camera a few months back. So I thought I'd post a few picts of my 1966 Jetstar 88. Sorry I don't have a better side view. The second picture shows where I sectioned the quarter panel. I couldn't find a 66 quarter. So I bought one from a 65 2dr hardtop. That's why I had to section it. Still need to finish the lower rear part of the outer wheel well.

Before the quarter I repaired the rust around the rear window. Had to cut out the rusty stuff and fab new. These two jobs were done at the local comm. college.

The rainy season is coming. And I still think I'll get water in the trunk. Not from the rear window. And I replaced the trunk weatherstripping, so not from there. It's either from the seam where the quarter panel meets the panel above the trunk lid. Or from the taillight housing to body gaskets.

When I'm done with the body repairs I plan to repaint it the same Aztec Bronze. I still need to find a right front fender. But with the luck I'm having finding one, I may have to salvage the front area from a rusty one.

Don

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Good work there! Keep it up, I think you will find the tail light housing gaskets are leaking. I have seen them leak in other cars before.

 

Thanks Dan. Guess I better plan on replacing the gaskets. I've got a feeling at some point I'll be in the trunk w/ a flashlight. Looking for the last little leaks. (With a friend on the outside w/ a key) Don

 

make sure that person is a good friend.

 

More often than not, It's the tail light. If you have eliminated the possibility of the back glass being the problem. And even without the rubber trunk seal you wouldn't get too much water in the trunk. It's kind of hard for the water to go down through the crack of the trunk lid & then back up over the lip where the rubber attaches. 99% of the water runs down the side channels & ends up going right down behind... you guessed it, the tail light. I don't think your 66 has gaskets that would allow water into the trunk(most old cars don't) It should only have 6 small holes that the studs go through to bolt the light to the rear panel. Before bolting the taillight on, make O-rings out of butyl tape & put them around the holes that those studs go through. (butyl tape is what the windshield & back glass are installed with, you can get a roll at AutoZone for about 10 bucks.)

 

Now that's timing, I was just discussing this with co-workers this week. As an update, when I reinstalled the back window I used urethane caulk like the newer cars use. Big mistake, it leaked. Last week I took it back out and used butyl tape, no leaks from the window now. I used the urethane because the window needs to come out again this summer for primer, paint & trim studs. Thought the urethane would be OK short term, live and learn I guess.

I have a spare set of taillights I snagged from ebay. I'll have to look at them again, but thought they had the white styrofoam like gasket material. I'll check it out. Butyl would be easy!

Don

 

When you install those windows for good, lay them in with butyl tape & then seal around the outside edge with urethane. Butyl tape alone tends to shift, leak, or in a worst case scenario, come completely loose. Urethane alone will give a much stronger bond, but will not set the glass up high enough so that the molding fits snugly. So the correct method is to use both.