Headlight Bucket Drain hole

[William Miller]

I'm restoring my 83 cab.
Been a long time since I took it apart and I did replace my fenders.
Anyway I sorta remember a grommet or drain tube running from the drain hole in the bottom of the headlight bucket.

Am I crazy or is there supposed to be something there.
I've look at all my books and on PP for a clue, but I haven't seen anything.

Is there supposed to be anything? What keeps water and dirt from the wheels out of the bucket?
Thanks!

[Andras]

Hi Bill,

There should be a drain hole in the bottom of the bucket, with a funny rubber drain "tube" attached to it. This "tube" is round where it attaches to the bucket, and then become flat, sort of like a kazoo.

The flat portion allows water to drain out of the bucket, and keeps water from coming in from below. Actually a neat solution, but I'm sure that these "tubes" get unattach3ed over time, and lost forever. My car still has them.

[William Miller]

Thanks Andras!
Since you confirmed that I'm not crazy, here are some pictures of what I found at the hardware store:

From Below:

Since I don't think Wayne sells them I found them for $1.80 each.
Can anyone guess what it is?

[Andras]

Hi Bill,

The first photo shows the way my still-stock drain "nipple" looks inside the bucket.

But the lower picture is not the same, since mine has the "kazoo" look, flat after it exits from the bucket. Your solution will work also, since water can't travel up, against gravity (unless window blown).

If from a hardware store, your rubber piece might be..........

[Andras]

Hi Bill,

The first photo looks exactly like my still-stock drain tube as it appears from inside the bucket.

The lower photo looks different than my "stock" kazoo, since the stock ones are flat, and are probably no longer available. If you got these from a hardware store, then they are...........?

[William Miller]

Somebody's got to make a guess first.
Hint: you find them on almost every power tool.

[Paulporsche]

It looks like what you have there is the sleeve that keeps the power cord from flexing too much as it exits/enters the body of the tool. Good substitution.

[William Miller]

We have a WINNER!!!!

They were in the same bin as the rubber grommets.
Now I have a concern:
These will let water out, but the lip on the inside of the bucket is about 1/16-1/8" thick. So the water has to puddle that high before it will drain.
In other words There's probably gonna be some water in the bucket all the time. Rust?
Maybe the heat from the light will make it evaporate?

[911pcars]

My suggestion is to immediately remove those rubber drain tubes. They look like a neat exit point but will soon clog with pebbles, leaves and dirt. Water will be trapped and the rusting begins soon thereafter. Ask me how I (and others) know?

How often do you remove the headlights to clean these drains?

Sherwood

[jstobo]

You can buy these from Stoddard. Don't know the part number but call them. They have them in stock. I think about $3-$4 apiece.

[Paulporsche]

Is the hole @ the absolute lowest point in the bucket?

Is the grommet tube held in place w/ a flange that "snaps" into place capturing the metal? If so perhaps a slit in the rubber to remove a part of the flange to admit the water will do it. Maybe some rust paint around the edge of the hole would help keep the metal sealed. I think that while the lights are on thay would help keep the interior dry but once you have turned the lights off...

I don't know about what Sherwood said, but the kazoo shape sounds like it would keep debris out better.

Since the factory part is easily available, why not just use that after all, as was said. Or is no drain tube even better? I guess if debris can get in the drain tube hole than it can get into the drain hole about as easly. Once again, it sounds like the factory may have it right.

Interesting little thread. I'll have to go and check and see if my car even has these!

[William Miller]

What I had installs like a gromet and it appears to be the lowest part of the bucket.

Maybe a poll question?

I'd like to see what the original part looks like. Anyone got a picture?
I replaced my front fenders. The left had been replaced before because of a fender bender. I think the right was original, very little rust. The left was rusted out above the headlight bucket and just in front of the door and along the edge where it bolts to trunk edge.
These are all areas where mud got trapped.
The buckets themselves were pretty clean although the seales beam brackets had a good amount of rust.

This car has about 256,000 miles and was driven by the PO year round.
I believe a lot of the rust was due to a bad used replacement fender when he got in the fender bender. I think some of the other had to do with a poor job of sealing stuff when they installed it.

[Early_S_Man]

The drain tube is 141.941.147 ... and is used in the turn signal assemblies as well!

[Evans, Marv]

I think the fact that it extends down farther is alright & will prevent anything from making it's way up. I can see from the second picture there isn't a lip under the headlight bucket. I think it would be OK to cut a groove in the upper lip, with the bottom of the cut level with the metal of the headlight bucket. I'd also paint the hole edges with something like POR-15 & maybe put a little little silicone sealer under the lip.

[notmytarga]

I replaced mine during my restoration by calling Tom at Pelican - they ARE available. My invoice reads:

C-631-259-02 $2.25 "Headlight or Taillight Drain Tube 911"

The nozzles are also the drains for the rear light assemblies and similar to, but different from, the drains for the front well in the trunk. They all serve as a drain and a valve to prevent road water from retrograde flow.

[pwd72s]

It's no big deal to pull your lights, clean the buckets, make sure these drain tubes are open.... a nice way to spend an extra few minutes "stroking" your car.

[William Miller]

Thanks guy's.
I found something in a bag of stuff last night that I think was for the rear taillights. It looked sorta like a tire valve.
The part that goes on the inside is much taller (Hold more water) than what I bought.
Since they are supposed to be the same I'll take a closer look. For some reason it seemed too small.
Marv, There actually is a grove on the bottom side which will prevent my tube from going back into the bucket. I like your idea about cutting a slot. I think if I do it will still stay in place. The car has fresh paint and I had him paint the inside of the wheel wells so it's sealed pretty well. It had the factor paint on it before (different color) with no rust at those spots. So it's at least as good as original.

[steve911]

Bill--
In my search for the elusive rear fog light wiring this past weekend (didn't find any sign of it on my '85), I had my left rear taillight apart. The drains for the taillights should have a square opening, allowing water to drain down & out of the lens housing, unimpeded.

In looking again at the piece you installed in your front bucket, you might want to consider cutting a small bit of the lip away to aid in water drainage. (Visualize a driveway 'cut' into a curb) - just a thought.

As for the rear taillight drains, pPersonally, I'm not quite sure why they are there in the first place, since the gasket between the lenses and the housing seals out all moisture on my '85.

Also, its important to use adhesive to bond the seal to the housing, NOT the lens to the seal.

[William Miller]

I looked up the part # C-631-259-02
It's spec for 87-89
I also saw humidity absorbant.
I guess porsche at least attempted a solution.
I wonder if it worked?
I wonder how often the maintenance schedule tells you to change your absorbant pad......