1251
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1253
Number: 1252
From: Marquis Grove <infosyssec@y...>
Date: Wed Sep 18, 2002 11:29 pm
Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] Leaks
Body:
Hi Nick
Well... having done quite a bit of work recently on my 88 McLaren
convertible... I can suggest at
least a number of places where there could be potential leaks that would get
into the trunk.
The first two center around the rear spoiler.
There is a rubber seal ( more like a black plastic ribbon squeezed between the
spoiler and the
trunk ) that 'supposedly' attempts to seal where the spoiler sits on the trunk
lid. The idea
'was' that water running off the trunk would not get past this 'seal' and would
instead be
directed to either flow off to the right or left side of the spoiler and drain
harmlesslessly
away.
The problem is that
a) the seal may have dried or cracked or
b) maybe yours doesn't have the rubber seal or
c) the trunk lid may have distorted and left an opening between the spoiler and
the trunk
d) one of the 4 bolts that attach the spoiler to the trunk lid have broken and
thus not tightly
holding the spoiler down against the seal and the trunk.
Well, no matter what... IF WATER is able to go between the spoiler and the
trunk lid it will have
five potential paths to enter your trunk
a) the four bolts that hold the spoiler down have no rubber to ensure a 100%
watertight seal
where the four holes were cut to allow the bolt from the spoiler to attach to
the trunk lid
b) and the biggest hole of all - where the spoiler mounted tail light is
located, there is a huge
gaping hold cut into the trunk lid that would put up NO resistance at all to
water that had
infiltrated under the spoiler.
On most Mustangs with the trunk ( the coupes and the convertibles ) there is a
potential rust out
spot located directly above the left and right tail lights, where the water has
been channeled to
pour 'harmlessly' out the back of the car. At the spot directly above the two
tail lights, in the
corner there is a weld joining the fender to the rear trunk plate... this is
located at the very
left and right of the trunk when you are looking down at the tail lights. If
this 'weld' goes,
separates or becomes rusty it will provide a direct path into the trunk for the
water that is
cascading off the trunk area of the car.
Another spot where I found the potential for a McLaren to leak in the trunk
area has to do with
the custom body work that was executed by the McLaren folks in the channel that
the fiberglass
cover rest on. While working on my car I had noticed a number of cracks in the
bodyfiller that
the McLaren folks had placed in that channel to smooth out its edges and to
cover up the welding
that had occurred there. So I took the opportunity to chisel it all out and
redo it. Well low
and behold those hairline cracks had allowed water to make it down to the metal
welds. The welds
in turn had taken to rusting a bit. So theoretically since that channel has
the potential to
retain water ( until it evaporates - since it doesn't fully drain off from
there ) it could be
possible that water might have the opportunity to seep in at that point.
I guess a more blatantly obvious area where water might make it into the trunk
would exist with a
defective rubber trunk seal that is either
a) not there
b) damaged and missing chunks
c) deformed
d) not properly seated on the upright lips that it is normally mounted on to.
Another potential weak spot on the McLaren ( and the Mustangs in general ) rest
with the inner
wheel wells. If rust has penetrated those areas, water would have an easy
access point into the
trunk, where it would gravitate to the spare wheel storage area and work to
rust that area out.
So as you can see, there are quite a few little spots where water could work
its way into the
bottom of your trunk. Ain't life grand ;)
Marq--- tasmaniac1 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> Any convertible owners experience leaks from the hide away top cover
> into the trunk? I just found a major problem. Recently I had to
> replace the fuel pump dropped the gas tank (replaced tank too
> because tray inside was sliding around) and discovered the trunk pan
> was rotting through. Today brought it to an autobody shop lifted up
> the spare and saw parts of the new gas tank. What a bummer. Now I
> have to go over both rear quarters see were leak is starting,
> replace trunk, undercoat, and repaint. I am going to have drain
> holes made so this wont happen again.
>
> -Nick
>
> __________________________________________________
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