I had a similar experience with my uncle's old MG. He tried the plastic liner route too, but same issue—water kept getting trapped underneath and it actually made the rust worse over time. Eventually, he went with a slightly different approach: he applied a thick coat of rust-proofing paint on the floor pans first, then drilled a couple tiny drainage holes like you did. I was skeptical at first (drilling holes in a classic car floor seemed kinda counterintuitive), but honestly, it worked wonders. We took that MG on several long road trips afterward, even through some pretty heavy rainstorms, and the floors stayed surprisingly dry.
Guess it's all about finding that balance between originality and practicality when dealing with vintage rides. Every car seems to have its own unique quirks that require creative solutions... part of what makes owning them so rewarding, I suppose.
Interesting fix, but drilling holes would make me pretty nervous—especially if you're driving through wet conditions regularly. I'd probably lean more towards regularly checking seals and weatherstripping... less invasive, and keeps the original structure intact. But hey, whatever works, right?
Yeah, drilling holes always makes me a bit uneasy too, especially on older cars. I've found that keeping a small towel handy to quickly dry off any moisture buildup helps a lot. Also, silicone spray on the weatherstripping every few months can really extend its life and effectiveness. It's a simple routine, but it keeps things dry without altering the original structure. But like you said, if it works for someone else, more power to 'em...
Yeah, drilling definitely gives me pause too... I remember helping my uncle with his old Mustang once—we went back and forth forever about drilling or not. Your silicone trick sounds pretty smart though, might have to pass that along to him.
I've gotta ask—what exactly was the hesitation about drilling? Was it concern over rust, structural integrity, or just the idea of permanently altering the original parts? I've been there myself with my old Camaro... ended up biting the bullet and drilling for a bracket mount. No regrets yet, but silicone sealing definitely sounds like a smarter move in hindsight. Curious if anyone's had issues down the road with silicone holding up long-term on extended trips?
