Date:         Sat, 29 Mar 2003 09:58:22 EST
Reply-To:     Trvlr2001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Carpenter <Trvlr2001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      A word to the wise on seam rust;
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi All,
Of course the wise need no words; They already have it pretty much figured
out!
I`m doing a complete, inside out paint job, and, I've got my cabinets out,
and the rust in the side panel, just behind the drivers door, in my 85 is
worse than I had thought!
The reinforcement bar is almost rusted through,
and worst of all I've see a "little" rust on the outside seam...
That's kinda like having a little xxxx in your xxxx, you know it can be a
"hole" lot worse!
And it is. There is a 1/2 inch flange, inside, on the bottom of the body
panel, and believe me the rust starts from the inside and slowly works its
way out!
Worst of all there is absolutely no way to get to it to clean it up, short of
removing the panel, or some part there of.
So what do you do? I want to put on a grade 10 paint job, and no matter what
I do that rust is going to be in there. Even if I sand, scrape and sand
blast, Its only cosmetic! And will eventually show its bubbly head in my new
paint job!
To All; There are hundreds of post archived about preventing seam rust, and
only precious few about repair, and this is why!
I noticed that there are two (elongated) rubber plugs at the bottom of this
panel.
I urge everyone to remove them and put in a rust preventive, such as rust
check, or what ever, at least once every year! This can be done, it looks
like with an 18 inch, gently curved 3/16" tube on the end of the rust
preventive spray can. You only have to do about 3' along the bottom of the
panel. Just above and below the seem. This will prevent an already good paint
gob from going bad and save the body as well.
Also, keep the gaskets good & sealed on the Westys. This is what caused the
reinforcement bar, and a 4 inch line of rust all of the way through the body
to appear on my bus.
I thought it was just a scratch that had rusted? Much worse, all of the way
through.
Is there any one in the Utah area with a donor bus, that can spare this
panel? Give me a p-mail! :)
I guess that's the way I gotta go.
best of luck,
John C.
SLC, UT