I just traded my 53 F100 for a running 56 Holiday super 88 with a rebuilt 4bbl duel exhaust 324. The inside of the motor is the cleanest part of the whole car but after I take care of a few things it will be my daily driver when I don't feel like driving my 69 D100 SWB.

I live just East of Seattle and the car is outside so the main concern right now are the leaks around the windshield and the cowl area. The top of the windshield where it stops curving is leaking pretty good on both sides. I had to remove the front section of carpet and put 2 buckets in there to catch the water. I will be replacing the windshield gasket as soon as I find one but I am wondering what the other main leak points are. I know in Dodge darts the wiper pivot seals are a main leak that is cheap ($14) and easy to replace. What about on my Olds?

This is what it is doing right now, I hate this state....

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As a fellow northwestener I feel you pain I am just north of Seattle. I sincerely hope it is just a gasket issue and not a rust through issue. I have not heard this issue from other 56 owners on the forum. Hope someone can chime in to help you out. In the meantime i hope you can get some time of cover on your 56. Maybe one of those tent like structures that are portable. good luck

 

I know it isn't rust, the gasket is all dried out and cracked in places. The car spent 3+ years in a dry warehouse in Canada so everything dried up and cracked. I need to find a source for all new weather striping for the whole car.

I do need a new hood VERY bad for this car so if you know someone locally that has one for sale let me know. I'm also looking for some 324 "goodies"

 

360scamp, first welcome. You can get windshield rubber from Steele Rubber Products 800-544-8665 they should have every thing for your car. If its rubber they have it. Don't know about wiper rubber pivots, mines never leaked there, but mines a convert and I don't get out much when it rains. Haven't heard any one complain about that one.
What 324 parts are you in need of? I have most of a complete engine some where in a equipment shed if it hasn't been moved or lost in the last 10 years.
Still lost in the fifties ...Tedd

 

Right now I am looking for a pair of aluminum valve covers and a aluminum 4bbl intake for a 324. I have a factory iron 4bbl but I would like an Eddy or Offy. I could use a hood more than the engine parts though.

 

I just ordered a new windshield gasket from Steele Rubber Products ($175 after shipping) but I think that there is another leak on the firewall some where.

 

Check the drains on the bottom of the two vent covers in the engine compartment. If clogged could be letting water in through fresh air vents. Also check around wiper motor and wiper transmissions. If they are leaking around those parts don't seal with silicon use plumbers putty which is what they used back then and will not dry up and shrink.