Is there a drain hole on a 33 quarter panel?

[Doctor's Ford]

Are there any drain hole on the quarter panel? If there is, how do I deal with the running board which covers the bottom of the quarter panel? Usually a drain hole will be at the most dependent (lowest) location which in this case will be covered by the running board (see photo). Do I have to drill a hole both on the bottom of the quarter panel AND across the running board? Thanks for your help. Manuel

[DavidG]

Only the coupes have a drain hole for water from the roll-up rear window opening and it is not in the quarter panel, but rather in the floor sill on the right side. The photo below is of a '32, but the idea is the same and the location of the hole is pretty much the same as shown in the second photo of a '33 coupe floor.

[Doctor's Ford]

But water will leak through the roll up quarter window down and accumulate where my photo shows (arrow). How do we deal with that?

[51 MERC-CT]

Whether there is supposed to be one there or not, and this is not a concour's vehicle, for your peace of mind, install one, doing what ever is necessary (including drilling thru the running board). A little self etching primer on the bare metal will cap off the operation.

[DavidG]

The original hole is pretty obvious in the photo of my '33 coupe shown above, right next to the strainer running from the top of the quarter panel down to the floor by the right wheelhouse.

[Doctor's Ford]

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Mine is a Tudor, may be different than coupe. DavidG says Tudor has no drain holes and he knows this vintage well. I just can't understand what will happen with water accumulating at the bottom of the panel.

[Terry,OH]

Note both of the photos Dave post appear to be rumble seat cars. If the drain hose were to run on the inside of the brace and the hole was further inside as shown in the 32 car, both would interfere with the trim panels. Maybe the car shown was not originally a rumble seat car?? In the second photo of the 33 with the hole further to the outside there is no interference. The photo below left is a coupe but it shows the area you question. In the photo the old piece of hose and the clamp would appear to be in the incorrect area. The photo below right is a 32 5-W drain with the hole in the floor toward the front of the brace.

[JSeery]

I'm confused, are we talking about the drain for the roll down rear window or a drain for the quarter window?

[Doctor's Ford]

Originally Posted by JSeery

I'm confused, are we talking about the drain for the roll down rear window or a drain for the quarter window?

My question is about drain hole for the quarter window on the sides of the car as shown on my photo in post# 1. I drew an arrow to show the lowest segment of the panel where water accumulates, just above the running board.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Doctor's Ford

My question is about drain hole for the quarter window on the sides of the car as shown on my photo in post# 1. I drew an arrow to show the lowest segment of the panel where water accumulates, just above the running board.

That's what I thought, most of the replays seemed to be referring to the roll-down rear window drain. That drain is much higher up than the quarter window well which is partway down the side of the frame.

[deuce lover]

Take the good advice of 51 MERC CT.I had a 32 tudor yrs ago and there were slotted holes in the entire length of the subrail of the body. 34's I believe are constructed the same..That is where I believe the moisture escaped.

[JSeery]

I just checked a 33 5w coupe body, it appears to have an opening in the same location Doc is referring to, just forward of the wheel well opening.

[DavidG]

Terry,

You're correct, the hose in the '32 would interfere with the trim panel, but note that it is well behind the riser and would be concealed by the rumble bottom cushion and note the photo below of an original trim panel where it is notched to clear the drain hose.

Both photos that I posted above are of rumble seat-equipped coupes; note the separate rumble seat bottom cushion riser on the '32 and the body portion of the lid hinges in both photos

With respect, the black and white photo that you posted is not of a '32 three-window, but rather of a '32 five-window coupe which has an entirely different floor from the back of the front seat rearward and it's drain hose hole is forward of the strainer, not rearward of it like in a three-window.

[JSeery]

I'm not up to speed on 33 sedans, but I didn’t think they had rolldown rear windows?

[johnboy34]

Well, you didn't seem to believe the pictures of my 34 doors. But, my 34 quarters didn't have any holes except a small one in the rear corner where the quarter is welded to the sub-rail ( like Terry's first pic above ), and a little slot type hole where the quarter meets the rocker on the bottom. The frame edge of the running board should have a little space on the length between the bolts to let water out. Not the best, probably why they rusted out! Put a hole there, I put a couple and a couple in the rocker, but not in the running board, the water will run off the board.

[JSeery]

John, that sounds like the same arrangement as a 33 5w (or very similar), I agree a larger drain hole might be better. Think I will inlarge mine.

[34 FORDOR]

I have a 34 Fordor, had similar problem with wind back 1/4 window. The water would run down the inner guard and wreck the upholstery and then down and into the rocker and cause rust. My fix was to make a sheet metal gutter with an outlet in the center with a rubber hose that exits out through a hole drilled in the inner guard above the wheel. Works real well. Something similar on a Tudor should work.

[Doctor's Ford]

Thanks for all your replies. Where exactly on this photo should I drill the hole? I call that spot the bottom of the quarter panel. May be I am using the wrong name for it?

[DavidG]

That's the correct name.

[johnboy34]

There should work, The little joint where the quarter meets the rocker, a few inches ahead of that is the slot I was talking about. I'm also planing a gutter type set up like 34fordor above, just a long string of rope caulking down the wheel tub under the window to guide the water to the quarter drains.