More to do.

"Long-Voyager" (long-voyager) 05/07/2018 at 12:47 • Filed to: body work, Mopar, Rally van, wrenching

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Thanks to Wisconsin’s overuse of spray salt this winter, my rust free van now has 2 gaping holes in the rockers:

Thankfully they are only under the doors, so I’ll be cutting it out, welding in new steel, then applying bedliner on the bottom section.

Yay for more projects.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 12:52

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Eh...pretty sure that was there already, just working its way from the inside out. You don’t get a hole in your sheet metal from a single winter.

Wacko > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 12:55

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it’s a Dodge-Chrysler, came like that from the factory.

Tristan > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 12:55

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I grew up in Minnesota... I’m still tickled that I can drive a totally rust-free 17 year old Chevy year-round without a care in the world here in Oregon.

Long-Voyager > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 05/07/2018 at 12:58

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I repainted it 3 yrs ago, there was no rust on it then. It may have been working for the last couple winters, but it became this in 1 winter.

Long-Voyager > Tristan 05/07/2018 at 12:59

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It’s 24 yrs old with 225k ish on the body, so I’m not really complaining. Just ticks me off that it was still pristine before this winter.

Long-Voyager > Wacko 05/07/2018 at 13:00

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24 yrs and 225k miles says otherwise............

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 13:02

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I’d bet that it’s was being eaten away from the inside and the fresh paint was on a thin piece of metal and over the last few years the paint was the only thing left...then the paint finally gave this winter up revealing the hole.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 13:03

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Do you get it undercoated? I get my Accent undercoated yearly with that waxy stuff!

Tristan > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 13:03

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It’s probably been rotting from the inside out for a while. My ‘95 Cherokee was “rust free” in my mind until it showed a couple of bubbles on the rocker panels. Once I started prodding around I realized my floors were gonzo, too, and the rocker panels were basically comprised of paint.

Wacko > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 13:07

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that repaint hiding the rust validates my point.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Tristan 05/07/2018 at 13:11

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Yup...my ‘93 F150 is the same way...looked pristine a 4 years ago. Cancer every where now which becomes only more extensive any time I attempt to patch anything.

Mercedes Streeter > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 13:15

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Thanks for reminding me why my two older smarts will never ever drive in the winter. The salt is so aggressive I have to treat my 2012 smart’s subframe and towing hitch after every winter. I’m probably the only smart owner in the Midwest with a 4+ year old towing hitch that isn’t made out of rust.

Tristan > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 05/07/2018 at 13:26

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As the former owner of a ‘93 Lightning that died in a terrible accident, this makes me sad.

I’ve rebuilt a couple of rust belt trucks. It’s pretty easy. Remove the bed, front fenders, doors and possibly the hood. and recycle them. Then, spend forever tracking down no-rusty or less-rusty replacements while you weld in new cab corners, rockers and floors!

On second thought, a one way plane ticket to California isn’t too expensive, and road trips are fun!

WilliamsSW > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 13:35

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I’m a little further south (Chicago) but it seems like we didn’t get much snow this winter, so the trucks doubled down (plus) whenever there was a threat of snow, just to make sure they used up their budget.

I recall numerous times feeling like I was driving on a gravel road, the shit was so damn thick.

I guess that gives you something more to do (not that you needed it with the projects you have!!)...

RacinBob > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 13:37

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I agree with the “it rusted from the inside” crowd. This frustrates me in that they have been making Unibodies construction vehicles for 50 years and some companies still can’t prevent internal rust through.... There is a post 2004 rusted out chevy truck at work like that and I just shake my head.

I think part of it is the companies figure that 70% of vehicles built do not live in salt country. And also by the time it rusts out at 10 years, the original owner has long traded in on a new shiny model. As such, I figure they act as “why provide rust prevention methods for customers that will never see a benefit”?

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Tristan 05/07/2018 at 13:47

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Yea, I don’t want to deal with rust belt vehicles ever again if i can help it. I’d like to purchase any future vehicles from out west.

Long-Voyager > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 05/07/2018 at 16:17

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It’s possible, doesn’t make it any less maddening.

Long-Voyager > RacinBob 05/07/2018 at 16:21

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Hey it is 24 years old with 225k on the clock, it’s still very little rust for the year. I’ve seen many 3-5 yo vehicles with 3x as much rot.

I agree they likely figure why make it last when it can rot in 5-10yrs and force the owner to buy a new vehicle.

Long-Voyager > WilliamsSW 05/07/2018 at 16:22

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They did that quite a few times around here too. Along with dumping liquid salt on a weekly basis.

Long-Voyager > Wacko 05/07/2018 at 16:23

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That repaint was due to paint peel, not rust.

Point moot.

Long-Voyager > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/07/2018 at 16:25

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I do not. Although the majority of the underside still has the factory undercoating........

Wacko > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 16:45

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RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 16:49

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Damn, I imagine the factory undercoating wouldn’t be that thick though maybe?

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 17:07

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Definitely sucks, my 93 f150 has gone from looking very clean to visible cancer all over in 4 years

RacinBob > Long-Voyager 05/07/2018 at 19:24

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Yep. it’s a frustrating game kind that is like what the German makers play. BMW/Mercedes etc figure the people buy their cars for only 3 years leases. Then they factory certified lease them for another 3 and after that who cares!

Good strategy except when you see $100,000 BMW’s selling for less than similar aged Accords after 10 years. It’s gotta be a drag in the brand when high school kids and neardo wells driving clapped out old S class’s.

Long-Voyager > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/08/2018 at 06:54

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Kept meticulously clean.