The floor and carpet on the front of my 56 seem damp and wet, smells musky. I've checked the rubbers on the split windscreen and seem to be tight against the glass. Does the split section suffer from leaks? Gotta take the carpets out now and wash them and refresh them, the floor underneath is wet so will dry it and air it.
The screen rubbers can and do leak. YOu need to have someone run water from a hose pipe/watering can on the outside of the screen whist you sit inside and try to see where water is getting in. It could also be getting past door seals or indeed through the floor if there are any holes in the floor.
You might find that it only leaks when being driven, due to pressure forcing water from the footwell/side or from vibration pumping water through the windscreen rubber. If it is the screen rubber you will see the water running down the dashboard.
You might also find that it only leaks when parked! because the water puddles at the bottom of the screen or runs down inside the wing in a different way!
Unlikely, but you might just find that the carpet is wet from feet getting in and out...
Like Marky says take the carpets and any insulation out until you find the cause of the leak. Water leaks can be notoriously difficult to pinpoint so be prepared...
1956 Morris Minor Series II
1959 MGA 1600 Roadster
1966 Jaguar Mk2 3.8 MOD
On mine the central part doesn't leak.. it's in the corners where the water collects and forms a liitle pool. However you would be able to see it running down the dash. Just use some mastic if this is the case instead of replacing the rubber (as long as it's not perished). Also you want to check the quarterlights.
my splitty used to leak at both corners,cured it eventually by pumping black silicon sealant under the rubbers on the INSIDE.You can lift up the rubber and push the tip of the tube in and just push loads of sealant in as you go round Did mine all the way round and as the rubber flattens it pushes a bead of sealant out,I let it harden then cut it of level with the rubber,Cant see it ,only problem is that the water is obviously still getting under the rubber from the outside so you need to be sure that the metal frame is well protected from rust, mine has had the screen out and I put loads of anti rust primer and paint on the edges of the frame before re fitting so I'm happy,But no more water in the footwells for about three years now.
Was fiddling about with the wiper linkage today on my split-screen and had the glove boxes out. I too have had water coming into the footwell but, like everyone else's, the screen leaks.... thought nothing of it until I had the glove box out and found water (a LOT of it) coming in through the hole where the bonnet hinge attaches to the scuttle! So, you might want to check this too. New rubber gasket should see it right.
Now if only that pesky wiper motor wasn't in the way of the fixings...
I have put rubber mats on top of the carpet, and if it rains lots I use a couple of plastic trays! You can see the water drip from below the screen, mine drips onto the trafficator switch, then onto my knee!
It did also leak through where the wipers go through and the bonnet hinges, I sealed this with "Dum Dum" and it hasn't leaked there since!
My 1956 Series 11 Traveller! Bought when I was 17 (1985)....sold 6 years (1991) later......bought back 9 years after that! (2000) With 6 different owners in the middle, what a lucky boy I am!
Have you checked the wiper embellishers mine both leaked on the rubber seal it was running through on to the glove boxes and round on to the footwell I replaced them and put some silicone inbetween them also.