has anyone
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 340
Likes: 2
From: Port Washington WI
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
Surface rust on my '76, but no rot or holes (other than one 3" section on the radiator support which was repairable).
As already said, if they're not in the high snowy country, Cali cars are comparatively less rusty.
As already said, if they're not in the high snowy country, Cali cars are comparatively less rusty.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,940
Likes: 35
From: El Cajon California
Mine is a Calif car too, other than some surface rust she is clean, except under the radiator like yours. I wonder why?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
When I discovered the problem, I hammered and tapped all around the support, breaking away the rotted 3" cross piece from the lower portion. After determining that everything else was still solid, I cleaned it all off with solvent, then made a fillet from MarineTex, bolstered with several layers of biaxial fiberglass cloth and an additional layer of epoxy extending beyond the fillet. For 'CYA,' I added some fillets in the vertical portions which looked as though they may eventually begin to fail.
Although I believe the repair was effective, I consider this a temporary fix. At some point in the future, I'll replace the entire support.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
Mine was the same as Snoopyvet and funnily enough I was thinking the same thing when I washed the car. I believe that when the water drips down inside the body from around the headlights and front of the hood it pools by the bottom of the radiator support especially near the its corners. This coupled with no internal rust protection from the factory means they become rust prone.
Perhaps a drain hole strategically placed under the support would help? I blew fish oil through the inside of the support on my car to help keep the rust away.
Perhaps a drain hole strategically placed under the support would help? I blew fish oil through the inside of the support on my car to help keep the rust away.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,156
Likes: 273
From: Dunedin NZ.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 32
From: Bowtie, Pennsyltucky
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15,'21
Mine is still that fugly green color. No rust at all, luckily for me, because I didn't know a thing about Corvettes when I bought it twenty years ago, out of dry storage.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 557
Likes: 3
From: El Sobrante CA
I believe that when the water drips down inside the body from around the headlights and front of the hood it pools by the bottom of the radiator support
That makes a lot of sense. The unit seems especially vulnerable to moisture from that area.
I like the fish oil remedy. Probably helps with the engine's cholesterol level too, eh?
That makes a lot of sense. The unit seems especially vulnerable to moisture from that area.
I like the fish oil remedy. Probably helps with the engine's cholesterol level too, eh?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 769
Likes: 36
From: Goose Creek SC
Mine is a deep south car and has a pretty clean windshield frame, birdcage and frame. Having grown up outside Detroit and living many years in the Midwest (Detroit/ Cleveland/Chicago) before I moved to SC; I am very familiar with the rust issue on ALL cars that spent much time up there. Assuming they were driven year round. Right after we moved here in 2000 I took my Cherokee, that I had brought down here from Ohio, into a shop for some exhaust work. Guy puts it up on a hoist, see the rusty undercarriage, and says, "What the heck is that!? Has this car been sitting in a lake?" I say, Nope, its just from NE Ohio.