dirt & salt traps on the type $$

[Steve's Mail]

DeWitt Harrison wrote:
No rust but I can imagine that on a particularly salt rich
part of the US road system, the undercoating could
be compromised in those spots by now. I haven't looked
up front yet but I bet I find the same. Next time you rotate
the tires, pop off those liners.


Being in the aforementioned "Salt Belt" (albeit in Canada) I noticed that my
newly acquired 5kTQ was a tad "bubbled" in the section of the fender where
it connects with the body of the car, in the area you suggest.  As you, I
found enough sand to fill a small sandbox.  One of the fenders was totally
perforated in spots - and the area around the bolt connecting the fender to
the body was totally gone.  As I was fixing the floor in one of the dekes
with POR-15 paint (I am not affiliated with them, but wish I was the
inventor - as do a lot of classic car folks), I coated the unbolted rusty
areas with POR paint, bridged the holes with some S-glass cloth soaked in
the paint, and then applied some POR putty while the paint was tacky - to
smooth out the repair.
Results: Great - harder than heck, but the touch-up paint/clear coat I
applied over the patches stripped off on one side after pressure washing the
car this winter.  Only time will tell if the rust repair stops the advance,
but many car restorers I have talked to swear by the stuff (and swear AT it
if you get it on your skin - it won't wash off after drying, just wears
off).
I'm looking out the window and another road salter just passed by - ugh.
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 5kTQ - POR on fenders/fuel accumulator/gas tank/hands (&^%&$)
1980 5k - no need for POR, yet.
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes - the '62 with a POR-coated floor
(rubber mat/tarboard/steel sandwiches do not work)