Pretreating death foam

[BMFBMF]

All this talk on the other thread about the rear window vents have made me wonder about my 71.
Car lived in a dry salt-free place and so has very little rest, but I wonder if I should preemptively zap inside the death foam cavity with cavity spray from both the inside and from the outside vents?

Can't hurt right?
_________________
-----Slava Ukraini-----
1971 Stock South African Beetle 1300 : My mom's european "Thin Chick" spec. Completely stock with torsion bar front, swingaxle rear, smooth hubs, single MC, 40 mm shoes, 31PICT3 carb and 5 bolt drums all round, currently Running a 1976 SF:AS engine with the original SF:AD engine overhauled in a box, waiting to go back in one day.

[H2OSB]

I'm with you. I bought my car in Mojave, where it lived a pampered life out of the Sun's destructive gaze. My death foam is, thus far, healthy and intact. I often wonder if I should preemptively deal with it

H2OSB
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[baldessariclan]

I think the main thing to worry about is water being able to get in along sheet metal seams of the vent area, and/or along edges of the rear window. If both those areas are adequately sealed, water shouldn’t be able to get in and then seep/wick below into the space between the foam and sheet metal.
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1971 Standard Beetle — fairly stock / driver

baldessariclan -- often in error, never in doubt...

[AZ guy]

As the guy who started the rear windows posts, would you quit making more things for me to think about/do.
I've got enough on my hands already.

Meanwhile, what is it I should spray in there?

[jinx758]

Maybe start by pulling the rear side panels & shine a light in there, hoping the foam isn't totally obstructing the metal.

Ospho stuff would need to be neutralized.

A quality paint that encapsulates would be best.
Perhaps shoot Eastwood an email.

Good luck ... stay safe

jinx
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It's not unlike the same difference ...

My Craigslist rescued 100 footer :
1971 Standard Bug
1776cc dual port
034 distributor
38mm EGAS Carburetor

[67rustavenger]

Didn't VW start using the death foam beginning in 1973?
If so, why is this an issue on a 71 in Europe?
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[Tom K.]

I would leave it alone. The foam is *not* the problem. The rust occurs when a rubber seal under the vent cavity is poorly installed or fails. I would remove the vent cover from the outside and slobber some sealer along the bottom channel of the cavity.
_________________
'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[baldessariclan]

[beetlenut]

Sounds good in theory, but the foam is bonded to either side of the inner and outer metal. If you're hoping the foam absorbs the ospho or encapsulator, doubt it would absorb enough to stop all the rust. Condensation is the chief way water gets in there.

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[vamram]

[empi3]

Looks like Aug '65 making it the 1966 model year.

From "Progressive Refinements"

Steven
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1970 Beetle
1956 Ragtop Beetle
1968 Ghia

[dopeboat]

IMO if your car has the foam, you should get it out of there. Sure, you could squeeze some sealant into where the crescent vent seals sit, but you’re kicking a potentially very expensive and annoying can down the road. I just completed my death foam repair and I certainly wish somebody had caught it sooner. Best case scenario, you open up those sides (from INSIDE the vehicle), and once the foam is out of the way, there’s some lovely painted metal staring back at you. Worst case scenario, it’s swiss cheese that a previous owner has filled in with JB weld and painted over. Either way it’s better than waiting for it to rot from the inside out, which as I understand it, is inevitable. Does anybody have a car with death foam that has opened the area up and found it completely unaffected?
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'77 FI Bahama Blue Type 1

[Multi69s]

My 69 had the death foam that I removed. However, there is one down side to removing it. If you have dual carbs, it is a perfect sound channel into the interior. I pulled the wiring loom out and cleaned all of the foam out, then sealed it with a good paint, and sprayed polyurethane foam in its place (its water proof).
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73 Squareback - 2L, T4, Automatic W/ AC
Gone, but many fond memories 69 Baja Bug 2010 - 5 Rib Bus Transaxle
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AC in Squareback https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=

[vamram]

As I understand it, water proof foam won't necessarily solve the problem since moisture between the foam and the metal is where the rust happens.
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[Tom K.]

I opened up that cavity and found zero rust. And now I regret having done it (engine noise in cabin got louder). The seal along the bottom of the vent cavity was installed properly on my car and has kept the moisture out. Here is my process.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=738766&highlight=death+foam+tom+k
_________________
'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[viiking]

My unmolested Euro Feb 68 still had the pillows inside and no-rust.
_________________
1968 1500 RHD Lotus White Beetle since birth. In the hospital for major surgery
1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[BMFBMF]

Thanks for the input guys.
_________________
-----Slava Ukraini-----
1971 Stock South African Beetle 1300 : My mom's european "Thin Chick" spec. Completely stock with torsion bar front, swingaxle rear, smooth hubs, single MC, 40 mm shoes, 31PICT3 carb and 5 bolt drums all round, currently Running a 1976 SF:AS engine with the original SF:AD engine overhauled in a box, waiting to go back in one day.

[Multi69s]

[dopeboat]

[vamram]