[loggerhead]

I normally avoid driving my '76 Trans Am in the rain at all costs! However, I totaled my
daily driver the other day and was forced to take the T/A to work! It rained on the way home. Twenty-four hours later, I go out to the garage and notice my quarter
panels still dripping on the floor (Just behind the rear wheels)! Now some of you more
savy types may already be aware of this, but there is a plug (approx. 1-inch in diameter
and stamped out of sheet metal) just on the inside of the panel close to the lowest point. It has a strap insert that protrudes behind the panel (like ears). I removed the
plug by prying up the center of the strap with a slot screw driver. I then found that the cavity was filled with caked mud and water!!!!!!!!! I cleaned this out with a water hose and moved from the left side over to the right and repeated the same procedure.
The right side had no mud, but water came gushing out, and there were small pieces (caps and straps from someone's previous air shock setup) that came out of the hole! This convinced me that this area was open to the trunk. I have very good weather stripping around the deck lid so I don't know how the water got in. Even if the weather stripping was leaking, there should be water in the middle of the trunk floor. There was not. I posted this for two reasons. Both to see if there are any ideas about how the water gets in and also to
let everyone know that they might want to check this area!!! Thanks for any input!!!

David

[bluebandit]

When I bought my TA back in 78 it too would get water in the trunk area, sometimes lots of it. Took it back to the dealer and first time they didnt find anything wrong. Next rain came and I took it back again with water in the trunk. They had a tech get in the trunk while they sprayed it down with a hose really good all along the rear window and trunk opening, they found no water getting in from there. What finally fixed mine was when they applied a secong coat of undercoating to the rear area of the car. Apparently the water was coming from the tires and spraying up thru the wheel wells or some other opening and getting into the trunk.

[HWYSTR455]

I've seen that too, outter wheel house to quarter panel mating not sealing right. Seam sealer would fix that. Also you could check the tail lens to body gasket as well. The rear deck flare endcaps also have a dumb-dumb seal under the nut, makes sure that hasn't been over tightened, which squeezes the putty out.

[ericwy]

My 77 had water leaking under the rear window on the passenger side.