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Number: 1263
From: "Ken Hughes" <kdhughes@a...>
Date: Thu Sep 19, 2002  3:01 pm
Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] Leaks

Body:
The actual toneau cover is metal, but the trim cover over that is
fiberglass.

Ken
----- Original Message -----
From: "jdawg" <jdawg@e...>
To: <ascmclaren@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2002 2:42 PM
Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] Leaks> 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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