TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:07 pm

So I'm rummaging through my cabinet, okay mostly looking at how the curtain is tacked up so I can see if I need to take out the cabinet to get to it....and hello whats this? Rust? I sure didn't invite you!

It looks like someone has repaired that in the past. Screwing a piece of metal on it? I looked at it from underneath and there's a square piece with that weird screw on it. I didn't take a picture of that though, I got put off cause some guy was looking at me weird. I can take a pic of it if requested though.

Oh well, guess I gotta deal with that at the same time I deal with my leaky back window that is also getting rusty. What should I do with it in the meantime? Slather some POR 15 on it?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:45 pm

skid wrote:
It looks like someone has repaired that in the past. Screwing a piece of metal on it? I looked at it from underneath and there's a square piece with that weird screw on it. I didn't take a picture of that though, I got put off cause some guy was looking at me weird. I can take a pic of it if requested though.

Oh well, guess I gotta deal with that at the same time I deal with my leaky back window that is also getting rusty. What should I do with it in the meantime? Slather some POR 15 on it?

That screw in the picture covers the hole for the seat belt attachment.

Personally I would sand down the rust and put some rustoleum over it.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:48 pm

That would be the seat belt anchor if your Kombi wasn't a Westfalia. Once the rust is between the layers the only permanent option is to remove it, luckily you don't have to replicate the mount and a piece of flat metal will do.

PM me if you want to discuss welding it up while the cabinet is out.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:54 pm

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger Skid, (The Lone Mountie?) my '71 Westy has the same issue and I'll bet others do as well.Good luck with the repair! 8)

Sat Mar 20, 2010 3:52 pm

Thanks for the reassurance guys, I kind of was like "what!!!!" when I saw it. I know its not the worst thing in the world either, so yeah.

Thanks for the offer Busdaddy I'll definitely PM you if my friends fall through!

Sat Mar 20, 2010 4:40 pm

It's not that bad to repair. You can drill / chisel the plate off from underneath then weld a new panel into it. I don't know about the states, but the regulation here is something like 15cm of metal in every achievable direction when welding near a seat belt anchor point. Plug weld the plate to the new panel, drill pilot hole and you're away...