Drain outlet from cabin air intake

[John Larkin]

1949 Aprilia Berlina:  There is a rain water drain outlet from the cabin ventilation intake in front of the windscreen; I'm trying to unblock it.  I have managed to get a stiff wire to go down the drain outlet pipe to a distance of about 70-80cm, but no further.  I sprayed WD40 into the drain in an attempt to soften up whatever is blocking it, but none has appeared out anywhere.  Does anybody know where the drain outlet emerges? 

John.

[tzf60]

Hi John,
The pipe turns through two 90 degree bends before ending up on the passenger side between the bulkhead and the lower (removable - with engine bay stripped) bulkhead cover. At least that's the case on my car.
 
Regards,
Tim

[John Larkin]

Thanks Tim.  I'll poke around and see what I can find.
John.

[Dave Gee]

  On my car 37/38 it runs in side the car and exits throu the floor next to the clutch pedal


  Dave

[tzf60]

That's very interesting, Dave. By fitting the pipe inside the cabin, it is very accessible. The way it was fitted to my 1939 model, it would have been next to impossible to access. When the drain pipe on my car rusted out, it would have required amazing dexterity to complete a repair.
 
Tim

[John Larkin]

Tim,
Your photo helped me find the drain pipe.  I can now try unblocking it from its nether end.
Thanks!
John.

[SanRemo78]

If you've got the top end handy can you use a compressor to blow it through? I had a similar problem with an Alfa 159 sunroof, when the pipe blocked the interior flooded. Really flooded. I managed to unblock them from the wheel arch end (Convoluted routing precluded passing anything down it's length) but I was told that Autolusso just blow them through with an airline.
Guy

[tzf60]

Hi John,
If you managed to get 70-80cm down the pipe, you may be very close to the end of the pipe, in which case Guy's suggestion might work.
 
My pipe rotted right at the resevoir, so joining a new pipe will be tricky, as there is no pipe left! I'll use copper next time 
 
Tim

[John Larkin]

I tried blowing out the blockage with compressed air, but it seems to be well-clogged up.  I'm pouring WD40 down the drain tube daily, so hopefully it will loosen up soon.

John.

[John Larkin]

WD40 slowly wept from the bottom of the drain pipe over several days, but the blockage remained.  I put acetone down the pipe hoping to wash through any greasy/oily gunge.  After a second treatment with acetone and lots of poking with a stiff steel wire all the muck came out! These little victories are very pleasing. 

[SanRemo78]

I see they just dug up a chariot in Pompeii! Did your archaeological investigations reveal anything remotely as interesting?

[John Larkin]

There was a note from a leftie Lancia production line worker with the the message:"Quindi hai finalmente eliminato il blocco!"