Extended cab fold down seat wells

[moretsky99]

I'm re-doing the interior cab of my 96 extended cab ranger. I used Naval Jelly to remove some of the mild rust. Afterwards I washed the interior with my garden hose.

I noticed that the wheel wells did not drain. I had to go in and mop up with a rag. Can anyone tell me about the construction of these wells?
Seems there's a foam piece in the bottom, for what, to sop up water?
Is there a drain in there that I missed?
I'm tempted to fill this useless hole in with an epoxy to keep water out.
Has anyone had issues with these wells?

Thanks,
Allen

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

There are no drains in the extended cab seat wells, just the foam that will sop up water and promote rust that Ford likes to use. There’s no good way to put a drain in there the way it’s shaped either. I’m not sure epoxy is the right answer. I’ve been experimenting with urethane for keeping water out of rust prone areas with mixed results.

Unless you have a water leak in the cab, they shouldn’t really be a problem. My 92 rotted out on the drivers side but it rotted from the outside in (from all the years of road salt being blasted against there).

 

[moretsky99]

There are no drains in the extended cab seat wells, just the foam that will sop up water and promote rust that Ford likes to use. There’s no good way to put a drain in there the way it’s shaped either. I’m not sure epoxy is the right answer. I’ve been experimenting with urethane for keeping water out of rust prone areas with mixed results.

Unless you have a water leak in the cab, they shouldn’t really be a problem. My 92 rotted out on the drivers side but it rotted from the outside in (from all the years of road salt being blasted against there).

Thanks. Odd design with the foam to make things worse.

 

[Terrys87]

I have a first gen extended cab and it has like a foam bag. I thought it was just for rattle protection. I too dont like the design and looking for something else better.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Thanks. Odd design with the foam to make things worse.

It was probably intended for sound deadening or something. Ford is notorious for putting foam in the rear wheel arches on pickups which caused the typical wheel arch rot. Not one of their better ideas.