[Vwdiesel] caddy floor rusted

Mon May 13 21:05:19 PDT 2013

  I've never seen a rusted strut tower here.  Water settles to the low point and that's below the seats.  It can come in the back window, through the doors if the plastic's missing or damaged, windshield, radio antenna wire, etc.  It's all going to end up the same place.  My Rabbit had a puddle on the rear seat floor when I checked it this Winter.  :-P
  Noting funky about headliners tucked into the windshield opening.  MB even did that.  Not much other way to do it.  The seal isn't made so much at that joint anyway.  It needs to be made at the outer edge of the rubber and against the glass, not at the metal.  If the seal is at the metal then it's going to rust and minimally wick in via the headliner but the liner isn't going to cause any leaks on its own.

  Metal will rust to a flash and usually stop there unless encouraged more by local environment.  Paint will seal it but if moisture leaks in then paint will hold it and make rust worse.  Thus is the case with your undercoating.  If it's adhered well, then you're fine and it's sealed up.  If it's loose then it can hold moisture and make major rust.  In those cases yes, grind or scrape and POR-15 is probably your best bet.  Great thing is it brushes on and flows out to look like you'd sprayed it!  Don't spray it.  Nasty stuff and a respirator is a MUST even when outside in a breeze!  BTDT.
    Loren

-----Original Message-----
From: stan finch <damac2004 at sbcglobal.net>
To: vwdiesel <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Mon, May 13, 2013 1:42 pm
Subject: [Vwdiesel] caddy floor rusted

I just got an 82 and feel sorry for those that have to deal with rust, etc.  I'm 
in the bay area and all the original undercoating is still on mine.  I wonder if 
the trucks had a specific problem like the mk1's and the front windshields as 
ar as leaks?  My truck was kept in a garage for years and it was moist under 
he drivers seat as well.  I took things apart and found all the undercoating 
eperated from the metal, still no rust only on that side :)
I have been reading about how the headliners are tucked into windshield seals 
nd was wondering if that plays a part in the old cars leaking?  When I rip my 
ruck and 79 rabbit apart I really do not want to use their system of tucking 
he headliner/vinyl and gluing it like that  :(
Also I read so much about strut towers and other key stud areas rusting through 
nd that scares me.  What is the answer?  Grind all of the original undercoating 
off, repair rusted areas and cover with por 15?

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ent: Mon, May 13, 2013 12:00:16 PM
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oday's Topics:
   1. Caddy floor rusted (Dave and Holly)
  2. Re: Caddy floor rusted (lbaird119 at aol.com)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
ate: Sun, 12 May 2013 18:58:06 -0400
rom: Dave and Holly <dhanew at yahoo.com>
o: "vwdiesel at vwfans.com" <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
ubject: [Vwdiesel] Caddy floor rusted
essage-ID: <26C66ADB-012D-4414-8619-5E8CA8FDF63C at yahoo.com>
ontent-Type: text/plain;    charset=us-ascii
I have a 1982 Caddy that I quit driving a few years ago because it needed a 
ifferent or rebuilt injection pump.  I finally got where I can get a new pump 
nd I opened up the truck and climbed in and found the drivers seat sagged down 
owards the back. I checked and found the carpet behind the drivers seat wet. I 
ut away the carpet and found the floor badly rusted. I live in Michigan and the 
engine ran great, except for the leaking injection pump, and the truck has quite 
a lot of rust on the lower sides of the truck body between the front and back 
ires. Can this floor be repaired? I am not even sure if the whole truck is 
orth repairing. Is there somebody that sells the floor that can be welded in or 
have any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Dave
------------------------------
Message: 2
ate: Mon, 13 May 2013 01:09:18 -0400 (EDT)
rom: lbaird119 at aol.com
o: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
ubject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Caddy floor rusted
essage-ID: <8D01DAF27EFAFD4-26F8-E903 at webmail-vd003.sysops.aol.com>
ontent-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

 Well, pretty much anything can be made.  Look at the panel below the battery 
n a 914, it has a double curve on one edge to hold the engine to body rubber, 
here's a  step angle, side angles and maybe a curve.  I made the whole thing in 
a couple evenings with a torch, pliers, vise and  hammer.  Later, when replacing 
some of the rusted suspension I was amazed at how good of condition it was in, 
hinking it needed replacing, forgetting I'd made one.  Looked factory.
 Floors don't have to be purty so take the time and know how to bend and weld 
nd you can do it.  Wrecking yards will cut out stuff like that for you as well 
o less fabricating and welding.  There was a place in Germany but I sort of 
hink they don't have that old of metal anymore.  Might source one out of South 
frica...
   Loren

-----Original Message-----
rom: Dave and Holly <dhanew at yahoo.com>
o: vwdiesel <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
ent: Sun, May 12, 2013 3:58 pm
ubject: [Vwdiesel] Caddy floor rusted

 have a 1982 Caddy that I quit driving a few years ago because it needed a 
fferent or rebuilt injection pump.  I finally got where I can get a new pump 
d I opened up the truck and climbed in and found the drivers seat sagged down 
wards the back. I checked and found the carpet behind the drivers seat wet. I 
t away the carpet and found the floor badly rusted. I live in Michigan and the 
gine ran great, except for the leaking injection pump, and the truck has quite 
ot of rust on the lower sides of the truck body between the front and back 
res. Can this floor be repaired? I am not even sure if the whole truck is 
rth repairing. Is there somebody that sells the floor that can be welded in or 
ve any other suggestions?
hanks,
ave
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nd of Vwdiesel Digest, Vol 115, Issue 8
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