Should I be concerned?

blackglasspirate · Samba Member Joined: June 24, 2006 Posts: 1632

So, I was working on a small section of rust that broke out when a certain incident caused some paint to flake off ( http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2124926#2124926 ) and I decided to check around the body and make sure there wasn't anything that would turn into a big surprise later when I saw this.

It's on one of the seams and looks as thought the paint cracked and there are very small spots of slight discoloration. It's not much, but I wanted everyone's opinion and what I should do to prevent it from turning into a problem down the road.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Thanks for the suggestions.
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'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

BavarianWrench · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject:

Always be concerned just don't worry. It's hard to tell but your van may have been painted and the seem improperly prepped or it is just showing the first signs of dry cracking seem sealer. This area left untreated will develop into trouble.

tikibus · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:58 pm Post subject:

There is a possible entry to make this seam rust possible.

1) The undercoating, seam sealer, factory applied wax has failed in the wheel well.
visual id's: cracked seam sealer, outward puckering of sealer. Really hard to see due to a ton of sealer is stuffed into a tight corner.

Solution: with a angle grinder with a coarse wire bench grinder wheel ( 4" to 4 1/2"sizes) remove sealer. Very nasty and you'll be covered with it.
Or do a small exploration with a Dremel Alumium Oxide cone tipped grinder and inspect metal. The Rabbit Hole is there, just where is it is the PITA.

This is for those who have signs of the second mating exterior skin seal illustrated in the photos:

Interior metal has been compromised by: Failed Window seal or repeatd condensation from fridge use and or high humidity making the Fiberglass retain moisture which will wick H20.

visual id's: with a aid of a small mirror place next to the sink drain plug and with some acrobatics check Fiberglass. Stained with red rust...

Your catching it at a very early stage. Thanks for posting the images. The real unnerving part is that where the jack holding bracket sits below many welded joints that are hidden by the outer skin. The Rabbit Hole is there, how far to go down?

From my Hell thy name is rust, you've caught it in time.

BW,
There is more to it than that. If it is showing signs of this, there is a problem. Think of it this way...
Water is an electrolyte, once metal has been chemically altered to red rust the problem grows expotenially. the more H20 retained in the Ferrious Oxide, the problem grows.
_________________
Happy Trails!
Mark
______________
Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC

ChesterKV · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:04 pm Post subject:

If you're in California....no worries. I've had dings with exposed metal totally rust over and after nearly 10 years, a small bit of sanding exposed virgin metal. If you're anywhere else that sees more ambient moisture.....check it out quickly.
_________________
1984 Wolfsburg 7-passenger stock sunroof
1992 Subaru Legacy EJ22 boxer motor installed.... van is now sold.... currently playing with a 1987 Toyota MR2 with 1.6 liter twin-cam motor. Better than the Subaru boxers....... I'm impressed. Well, okay, in an "apples and oranges" kind of way. Smile

blackglasspirate · Samba Member Joined: June 24, 2006 Posts: 1632

Thanks guys for the input.

I'm not in California, but I'm also not in the rust belt. Rust isn't really an issue where I am(Nashville).

But I'm going to investigate it further, I hope I can take care of it before it gets out of hand. Except, when it comes to angle grinders and such, I would probably end up killing myself in a freak accident.
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

tikibus · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject:

Dang wrote a post and my Machine ate it.

Here is the Happy Pill version:

Jack up Lft side and remove tire. Wash/ flood area with water suspect to corrosion. Air dry and then with a flat head screw driver press in areas of the seam sealer. If H2O is squished out, sealer gone.

Neo, what to take, the Blue or Red Pill? Dang I took both and I don't where I am...
_________________
Happy Trails!
Mark
______________
Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC

blackglasspirate · Samba Member Joined: June 24, 2006 Posts: 1632

Thanks tikibus for your help, I appreciate it.
I have some other work I'll be doing to the van this weekend, so I'll add that little test to the list and see what happens. Hopefully this won't turn out to be a major problem or something that I can't do myself.
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee


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