Date:         Thu, 16 Apr 1998 10:05:27 -0400
Reply-To:     "Michael J. Sullivan" <sullivan@OPENMARKET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Michael J. Sullivan" <sullivan@OPENMARKET.COM>
Organization: Open Market Inc.
Subject:      Re: Death to step rust!! AKA that problem with the footwells
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I just had my 87 van completely restored by a high-end body shop here in
Boston -- took six weeks to take everything apart, de-rust, prime,
paint, and put back together.

Like Chris, I thought about using clear Silicone to secure/seal various
things (mudflaps, insignia, etc.). My body shop guy gave me an appalled
look. He claims clear slicone is terrible for automobile exteriorss --
claims it actually encourages rust development due to its (relatively)
weak bond. Has had to "fix" tons of cars due to this. He strongly
suggested using RTV instead.

Who knows for sure? Well, I for one will give RTV a try. No more clear
slicone fer me.

MJS



Chrisw7971 wrote:

> Steve,
>
>       I have the same problem with my 87 Syncro.  It started when I noticed
> water spurting up from the right side footwell when I drove through big
> puddles.  this sparked me to peel back the unsecure rubber mat which revealed
> a bit of rust (not that much).  My main problem was and is that the rubber mat
> was not secureing down on the frame allowing water to spurt up from the road
> through the little holes .  I tore off the rubber mat with the intention of
> removeing the rust -- primer -- paint -- and reseal the rubber mat.  So i did
> the same with the other mat (left side) and there was more rust there.  So I
> did pretty much what you said you did (or are doing), I sanded down the area
> with 50 grade automotive sand pape and then used 400 grade, then I used napa
> rust remover/sealent.  It took 24 hours to dry.  Then the primer and then
> paint.   It looks good but I haven't put the mats back on because they are the
> main cause/problem I believe.  Being that the seals created by there
> attachments to the footwell are bad.  So I need to order some new mats.  When
> I get the mats I am going to smear silicone all over the bottoms and around
> the seal before I put them in the footwells.  Hopefully that will nip the rust
> problem in the butt.
> Chris Wright
> 87 Syncro GL



Michael J. Sullivan
Director of Catalog Design
Open Market Inc.

'87 GL Syncro Westfalia
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   work: http://www.openmarket.com
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