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Number: 1262
From: "jdawg" <jdawg@e...>
Date: Thu Sep 19, 2002  2:42 pm
Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] Leaks

Body:
just a quick question for you. when did they start making the
convertible cover out of fiberglass?? or are you mistaken? mine is
metal! get out your magnet. let me know!
jdawg
p.s. the only place i have been able to locate rust is above the
taillights in the outter corners of both taillights....bummer

- In ascmclaren@y..., Marquis Grove <infosyssec@y...> wrote:
> 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@y...> 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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