Date:         Fri, 6 Jun 2003 03:55:11 -0400
Reply-To:     ian Butler <ian@BLUEMOON.HPLX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         ian Butler <ian@BLUEMOON.HPLX.NET>
Subject:      Floorpan rust
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

A surprise at every corner as I strip down my syncro to clean it out!

Over the past month or two I've been gradually pulling the interior of my
van (seven-passenger) out, cleaning each bit of upholstery meticulously,
washing long-forgotten surfaces, etc.  I also got a chance to look at my
leaky rear heater.  I knew it had been leaking, of course, but kept it
closed to prevent any serious puddles.

Well!  Tonight I finally pulled the carpet out, and carefully dislodged all
the pieces of sculpted squishymat to reveal: puddles, rust bubbles, and
holes.  Ack!  To add insult to injury, the puddles are green -- the PO not
only didn't ever fix the rear heater, but was using the Bad Kind of coolant.

I managed to clean up the sandpapery, rusty undersides of the mats, and I'm
going to thoroughly clean up the entire floor tomorrow.  (It's a bit smelly
after sitting in stagnant antifreeze for untold years.)  I'm not entirely
sure how to fix the holes and other rust damage, though.  It looks like I'm
in for many long evenings with a Dremel and POR-15, and some sort of body
filler.  Any recommendations?

Most of the damage is pictured here:

http://bluemoon.hplx.net/~ian/bus/rust/P6050154.JPG

ian Butler / ian@bluemoon.hplx.net
'88 Scirocco 16v, '87 Syncro GL