Its No Wonder These Rust Out
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Its No Wonder These Rust Out
I have been getting a little rust weepage around the bottom of my bumperettes. It was a little trickle that would show up on the chin spoiler and right around where it bolts into the bottom of the bumperette. I have the front grill work and front supports out for other reasons so I took off the bumperettes. Looking at the bottom there was quite a rusty buildup. Looking at it you can see how the water would pool up and sit there and just rust. Well GM did not provide any drain holes there so I made my own drains. As you can see from the pictures I drilled a small hole and then took a small Dremel bit and brought it down to the bottom and smoothed it out. Quite a bit of rust came out. Now I don't usually drive in the rain and seldom wash the car, maybe 4 or 5 times a year and this rust has accumulated like this in a few years. The car is always garaged so this was just from a few washes. I can see how these would rust out on a DD or one driven in the snow. A cheap fix and it might prevent some rusted out or weeping rust bumperettes.
Here you can see how the water pooled up and sat there
Here is one of the holes I drilled and Dremeled. I did the other the same way.
Here you can see how the water pooled up and sat there
Here is one of the holes I drilled and Dremeled. I did the other the same way.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
GM and their brilliant lack of drain holes... 
The too-small drain holes in my T/A pockets were full of crap when I pulled the arms. I spent a whole afternoon just poking the accumulated debris out so that the pockets wouldn't rust.
The too-small drain holes in my T/A pockets were full of crap when I pulled the arms. I spent a whole afternoon just poking the accumulated debris out so that the pockets wouldn't rust.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I have always heard that rust cannot form in standing water, and it's the moisture rich environments that rust likes. The holes would be great for draining water, but the remaining moisture might still turn into rust.
I think once the rust is removed from the bumperette, I would use a thick coating of wax or something similar that would guard against the moisture.
I think once the rust is removed from the bumperette, I would use a thick coating of wax or something similar that would guard against the moisture.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
I didn't find any rust spots from pooled water in my rear bumperettes but when I pulled them off I sanded away any minor surface rust and put a nice coat of POR-15 on the inside. Might not be what the General ordered but this vette has to last me 75 years.
Good idea with the drain holes though.
Good idea with the drain holes though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Gordonm... your drain hole is a great idea...
One thing I do with all new or re-chromed bumpers I install is paint the inside of the bumper very well with a good zinc primer. Brush it on generously! I typically use a light gray or silver colored primer and you will be very hard pressed to see it. I've found over the years that many bumpers will rust from the inside out, primarily because it is so difficult to maintain the back side. I have never had one that I painted on the back side rust on me yet.
Good luck and thank you for the tip... GUSTO
One thing I do with all new or re-chromed bumpers I install is paint the inside of the bumper very well with a good zinc primer. Brush it on generously! I typically use a light gray or silver colored primer and you will be very hard pressed to see it. I've found over the years that many bumpers will rust from the inside out, primarily because it is so difficult to maintain the back side. I have never had one that I painted on the back side rust on me yet.
Good luck and thank you for the tip... GUSTO
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