Re: [Amc-list] It's scrubbing, sanding, (and the trunk has flow-through ventilation)

[farna@xxxxxxx]

If you don't have a welder a little epoxy (such as JB Weld) works fine. You need to get rid of the rusty edges or it will come back. You can cut them off down to good metal then prime and paint (primer isn't water proof -- must use paint!) or use a "rust conversion" primer. Note that the conversion primers are very hard and must be sanded before using epoxy over them. Use a rough sandpaper, 50 or 80 grit (or somewhere in between... 100 should be good enough though). Also make sure you seal the back side of any repair good. I've used spray rubberized undercoating. 

Instead of a piece of metal you can also use fiberglass if you're comfortable working with it. Seals everything up and doesn't rust! I've made fiberglass patches over rusty metal without removing all the rust and not had them rust again. No oxygen, no oxidation. The patch has to be sealed on BOTH sides though, obviously! I'd definitely use fiberglass on the floors of a driver car. If the holes are more than quarter size lay screen wire over the floor, rivet or screw in place, fiberglass 2-3 layers over. Undercoat good. Floors will be as solid as steel, and can always be cut out later if desired. Floors are covered with carpet so the repair is not noticeable unless you crawl under and see the screws or rivets. They can be ground off after the glass has set. Once undercoated the repair is all but undetectable under the car. Most of the floor can be rebuilt with fiberglass if you're good with it. Spread excess resin over the floor to strengthen and seal the metal. 

I'd take care of the seals first. Patch the windshield seals with black RTV until you can replace them. The trunk seal and door seals are probably gone too. Peter Stathes can fix you up there (www.amcrambler.com). The trunk seal leaking most likely caused the trunk rust. Of course being garaged helps a lot! 

It's up to you -- taking care of the minor cosmetics may be the best choice for now. The car is garaged so further damage from hidden areas will be slowed, and the car will look better. I tend to take care of the more serious stuff first then the lesser damage later.

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Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 17:07:08 -0400
From: "Bruce Griffis" <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>

The trunk has flow-through ventilation on the left side. Several small
holes, one area much bigger. I don't know how to weld, so am
considering cutting out a section and bonding a patch panel in with
adhesive. I think I'll toss that over in my mind once or twice, and
see where to get a patch panel for the trunk floor.

Anyway, it's time to rethink this. If the trunk has perforation, then
there might be some in the floorboards, too. When under the car, I
didn't see any rust through at all. It looked great! But it might be
working from the inside out.

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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