Date: Thu, 9 Apr 2009 17:49:24 -0400
Reply-To: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@UMICH.EDU>
Subject: Re: seam rust under dash and near antenna
In-Reply-To: <1b1c168b0904091125gc3cc5feuae52774e62aebdee@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
Greg
it looks like your windshield frame is rotting out under the seal also.
this is a common problem. even rust free west coast vans that i have
parted out have rust and often holes under the seal when you pull the
windshield out. the quickest way to retard rust, which is iron oxide FeO3
is to stop the oxygen from being able to get to the metal. grease or oil
will stop oxygen from getting to the metal. this is how the crown rust
treatment works.
i would pump the seams full of an oil product but do not use motor oil
as it is designed to absorb water. also stay away from WD-40. auto
trans fluid or a variety of off the self rust prevention products like
crown, boeshield, etc should work. bar and chain oil is also good since
it is made with a tackifier which prevents the oil from running down a
surface. when you put it on your chain saw you kind of want it to stay
put.
http://www.type2.com/library/body/baroil.htm
also i would peel back the windshield seal from the outside of the van and
fill the under side with petroleum jelly. ideally you would use silicon
grease but it is generally not readily available at least not that i know
of. some people are going to say that it will cause the seal to swell but
i have never had that problem. in general the seals have already shrunk
from years of UV exposure so can tolerate a bit of swelling if that were
even to occur.
jonathan
On Thu, 9 Apr 2009, Greg S wrote:
> Hi list,
> I have my dash off to replace the blower motor and I found some seam rust on
> the antenna side. I think this seam rust may be the cause of the rust hole I
> have outside just under the antenna but I'm not sure. Does anyone have a
> quick and dirty way to stop this seam rust and fix the hole on the outside.
> I don't have the time or resources to replace sheet metal and I would just
> like to get the van on the road for the spring as soon as possible. The
> mechanicals of this van seem to be in good shape and the underside is pretty
> much rust free but I am thinking that the best I will be able to do with the
> body is slow the rust down to get a few years out of her.
> Pics here:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/15712715@N00/sets/72157616553212350/
> I would appreciate any advice.
>
> Thanks
> Greg S.
> 87' Vanagon Wolfsburg
>
>
>
