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1274
Number: 1273
From: Marquis Grove <infosyssec@y...>
Date: Fri Sep 20, 2002 10:23 am
Subject: Re: [ASC McLaren ] Re: Leaks
Body:
Yes, the water run channel for the top cover panel came as a bit of a surprise.
But a few quick
nips of the chisel and I was able to fairly easily pry out the chunks of bondo
they had placed in
the channel to cover up the welds. The one 'nice' thing about the rust
forming underneath the
bondo is that it had basically separated the bondo from the metal - making the
removal of the
bondo pretty easy.
The metal in that area was basically solid. The rust mostly consisted of
staining and surface
rust that had gained entry to the metal through cracks in the bondo that cover
the channel. My
assumption is that the McLaren must suffer some ( albeit minor ) body flexing
in this area to have
brought about the hairline cracks in the bondo. So I put a wire brush on the
end of my power
drill and took the channel all back to shiny metal. Then I coated the entire
channel in that rust
eating compound that basically turns any remaining rust to a neutralized
material and
seals/prevents rust from reforming there in the future.
The part that I feared was getting the new layer of bondo back into the channel
so that it looked
as nice as it once originally did. By total accident I stumbled on the answer.
Since the channel
is basically curved, rounded and smooth edged I figured I would try using a
SPONGE to apply the
bondo to the freshly prepared channel.... it worked like a charm. The sponge
took the shape of
the channel, smooth curves and all and gave me a great result first time up !
Fortunately I did not encounter any rust occuring in the other custom welds
that occur on the
water channels at the left and right side of the trunk lid. There also were
no hairline cracking
occuring there, so I assume that because the body has less flex in that area it
appeared to have
held up over the years.
One thing I did do differently in the water channel was to make use of the
special bondo designed
for bumpers and flexible body parts ( as compared to the rock hard bondo for
fenders and hoods ).
My assumption is that if there is minor flexing being felt in this area the
'flexibile bondo'
would be better able to take the microscopic movements without cracking. This
flexible body
bondo is something that was not available back in 88 when they originally built
these cars. It is
a more recent product designed when flexible body plastic started appearing on
the newer cars. It
works like a charm !
Marq--- asc709 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 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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>
> __________________________________________________
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