Not detrimental and fixable to some.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/mudkicker715/2011-02-05145537.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/mudkicker715/2011-02-05145609.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/mudkicker715/2011-02-05145638.jpg)
Just happened to see a similar sedan for sale so thought I would share what I seen as the leaf spring hanger is only bolted to 2 x 16 gauge sheet metal. Mine is currently in reconstruction.
For referance outside of the bad bad area
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/mudkicker715/2011-02-05160537.jpg)
the good thing is you can patch it up, and hide it.
Wow dang, same spot where my Concord rotted out as well. I had my buddies weld a new steel plate in there, right to the structure of the unibody frame... Worked out just fine.
A little picking andpoking at the side that Visually looked good.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc55/mudkicker715/2011-02-06133611.jpg)
I was just in that area of mine a few hours ago..It looked real clean..there was a tar like substace slathered all over..Preyy sure it is the "factor rust protection" stuff amc used. However looking at your pics Im wondering where water got in at. My guess would be from arount the tail lights or the rear hatch gasket..Either way if you find out Id love to know, cause if it happened to yours theres a good chance it will happen to mine. Murphys law.
Wore out luggage rack well nuts leaked. Hatch seal is doubled up from a previous owner. Taillight area is fine. Not exactly sure it rusted from inside or outside. Anyway yup saw all kinds offactory "tar".
Another thing the car I saw pictures of that cconcerned me was a sedan. So no wellnuts to leak.
Have you had any critters/mice?
Evidence of a critter. A nest no carcass.
I think that these cars rust so much in this area because of metal flex. The rear spring hanger area must not have been designed quite heavy enough. I think most of the moisture to cause the rust starts from underneath.
Exactly part of my first post. Cept you elabborated where I hate typing. I saw little to no metal there original. Now those air shocks take the weight off that wimpy area. And put it to a more structured area. Trust me I took the shocks to max and saw the shackle hanger drop down into place.
Btw its coming along she will sore again.
just found the exact same issues in my wagon. i am not feeling very excited right now.
It was fairly easilyrepaired and put together awhile back
if you don't mind, i have a couple of questions for you: do you recall what gauge steel you used? did you replicate the pinch seem in the wheel well? any advice would be appreciated. thanks
16 gauge except where the spring mounts were I forgot that one. Possibly 1/!6 maybe 1/8. Replicated very little. Did what was easy for me.
Wow...I wish my SX/4 hatch wasn't so tough to open without the battery (and engine) in the car, checking for that rust would be a great low-impact thing to do on my car. I've got enough rust on there I saw this post and now I'm all worried that there's even more hiding!
16 gauge is 1/16" or .060, use 3/32" which is .090, 1/8" .125 is tough to work with.
Quote from: Obscurity on April 05, 2011, 01:04:05 AM
Wow...I wish my SX/4 hatch wasn't so tough to open without the battery (and engine) in the car, checking for that rust would be a great low-impact thing to do on my car. I've got enough rust on there I saw this post and now I'm all worried that there's even more hiding!
is there no manual way to open the trunk?? i was under the impression you could always use the key....
Quote from: runs.like on April 07, 2011, 10:30:19 PM
Quote from: Obscurity on April 05, 2011, 01:04:05 AM
Wow...I wish my SX/4 hatch wasn't so tough to open without the battery (and engine) in the car, checking for that rust would be a great low-impact thing to do on my car. I've got enough rust on there I saw this post and now I'm all worried that there's even more hiding!
is there no manual way to open the trunk?? i was under the impression you could always use the key....
It can be done. I've done it to a wagon anyway.
I think that being so far away from heat and airflow in the winter and spring hurts the back of the cars, especially trunks. Moisture trapped back there just lays because there's nothing to dry it out.
Plus a full gas tank stays really cold in the morning. I've gotten under the Eagle early in the morning and the gas tank is soaked with dew.
Just one small drip from the trunk, hatch, or a window and that water will stay there for weeks.