Rust Never Sleeps

[El Matador]

Couldn't resist the opportunity to throw a Neil Young reference in there...  

Anyway, these are pictures of my '86 wagon.  The area in focus is the rearward portion of the driver side rocker, and extending just above it to the spot between the rear door and wheel opening.  Just over a year ago, there was only a 1" x 2" area of surface rust and no perforation at all.  Then about a year ago I got to inspecting the area and managed to poke my finger through in one spot, creating a nickel-sized hole.  I thought to myself that I should finally start doing something about this... but of course never got around to it.

Fast forward to last week, when I started really poking around, resulting in this...




Note how you can see daylight clear through.  The worst part is that I haven't even taken the plastic off yet to see all of the damage.  This isn't the only rust area on the car, but is the worst... I hope.

The cumulative effects of 25 southern Alberta winters.

[shanebo]

OUCH!! Thats a harsh blow when ya find stuff like that. I really got alot of respect for you guys up north and on the coast. Im kinda out of the rust belt here in colorado but Its still a full time job keeping rust off these things...I cant even imagine throwing humidity and all those harsh winters and road salt into the mix!!

[priya]

I had rust in the same area on my SX/4 but not as bad.  I thought it would be too hard to form a patch panel for that area so I found an eagle with that part solid, cut it out, and pieced it into the rusty area on the SX/4 - worked out pretty well.

[El Matador]

For the time being at least, I don't plan to patch this at all.  The plan is to trim the rust back to good metal, seal and paint the surrounding area, and put the plastic flares back on.  At least the spread of rust will be halted... in theory anyway.

Right now I just don't have the time, or skills for that matter, to do a complete repair.

[amc78concord]

  Looks like rust... 

I don't like rust...

[JayRamb]

That rust. I have a little repairing to do on my car this summer and next fall.

[Whuntmore]

ohhh, crap, that's not a good area to be dealing with.  all those corners and stuff.  Ugh.  You need to bring it down to Pat's and we'll weld it up for ya. 

You'll have to do some grinding though, some grinding maybe, alot of grinding, but hey, you rust will be gone...  All ya gotta do is grinding.... he he he.

[wagoneerhauler]

You'll have to do some grinding though, some grinding maybe, alot of grinding, but hey, you rust will be gone...  All ya gotta do is grinding.... he he he.

Ha ha.  Better watch him El Matador, sounds like he wants you to grind the whole car away.  

[Whuntmore]

Well, our welding is ok, but we have big welds... we kinda run alot of rods/wire and we kinda leave big beads... so the welds are strong, but hey, they're gonna require grinding... just a bit though...

I just hope you're good with a grinder!!

he he he he  you're gonna need to be!

[Whuntmore]

Heyyy, at least it will pass safety.  C'mon, Pat and I will do a good job.  Not to worry...

[maddog]

yeah just don't let pat drive it through a mud hole as it may not run right again.

[Whuntmore]

yeah just don't let pat drive it through a mud hole as it may not run right again.

LOLOL, for sure!

[Whuntmore]

Just an update to this post, Dean and I went back to Pick n Pull to take more off that eagle wagon they have sitting there.

We're out and Dean takes a look at that hole... Well it's worse then he first thought.  it's thru the rocker.  Rust was falling onto the ground.

Dean really needs to deal with that rust before winter comes.  Pat and I have offered to help him fix his rust issues, He just needs to find the time to bring it down.  Here's hoping he gets a weekend pass.

[El Matador]

We're out and Dean takes a look at that hole... Well it's worse then he first thought.  it's thru the rocker.  Rust was falling onto the ground.

I always knew it was right through, you can see daylight in the pictures above... but every time I touch it I can break off more chunks.  Time to remove the plastic and get down to business.

[Mechanic]

I warn you now my man, your not going to be pleased when you remove the plastic. Remember when I did the shockes for you a year or two back? And told you to definitely NOT Take it off of insurance? Were going to have to do some complete end to end rocker repair on that thing plus that structural area in the door. It might be down for a bit more than a weekend...... Or maybe more than two...... Remember my repairs I did on my SX/4??........ Yeah........