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1272
Number: 1271
From: asc709
Date: Fri Sep 20, 2002 10:06 am
Subject: Re: Leaks
Body:
Marq,
Sounds like the water run channel for the top cover panel work was
tedious. How did you go about this? I'm about to set on a a
complete repaint and resurrection this spring and was a bit worried
about a rust stain in this area. I still have to chisel away at it
to find the "sweet spot".
What about any of the custom welds below this in the rear quarter
panels? I found a rust spot there as welll , although that appears
to be a matter of strippingf away, just a little hard to get at.
Bob
--- 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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