Bodywork advice needed please

[Guest]

I have just spotted the slightest signs of rust appearing in the panel below the windscreen in my '79 SC. There are two pin-head sized spots a few mms from the rubber and it is obviously rusting (slowly) from within. Is it feasible/possible to access the inside of this panel to spray some inhibitor or waxoyl and if not is it practical to drill a small hole in an unobtrusive place to allow waxoyl (or whatever) into the recess via a tube. I hadn't planned on having bodywork done yet and would like to stop it getting worse. Advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

 

[Bazgillie]

If you remove the guard at the back of the luggage compartment held by a few 6m bolts you should be able to get to the underneath of this area and see how bad it is, might need a mirror for a good view. There are repair panels for this area on the SC not dear but a lot of labour to do the job screen out and wing off.
Baz

 

[Guest]

Thanks Baz, much appreciated. I know that someday it will require repair/replacement but hope to delay the work by getting some rust inhibitor in there, followed by cavity sealant. It doesn't go out in the wet much anyaway.
Thank again
Ian

 

[bones]

If this is any help to you Ian I've had a few tiny bubbles in that very area which have never got worse. Sometimes these bubbles are simply paint reactions Ihope that is the case for you. However if you see them around door jams and rear screen seals, action will definitely be required.

 

[engleflick]

ORIGINAL: bones

However if you see them around door jams and rear screen seals, action will definitely be required.

Oh well, I have small bubbles coming around the rear screen on mine - & the winscreen panel, & the front wings, & the tops of the doors [:'(]

(its not quite as bad as it sounds - I hope!)

 

[bones]

I'll have a look at that sometime if you want Dan, I just treat problems on an individual basis and spread the cost over the years . So long as problems aren't damaging the integrity of the structure, paint bubbles can wait.

 

[engleflick]

I don't think any of the rust issues on my car are structural - just bl**dy anoying and difficult to repair myself I would really like to get the car tidyed - but I don't really want to go to the expence of a full restoration (neither will my wife!) as I have experienced my father doing what began as a light restoration an old Jaguar - an I know what it really cost[]

I would like to get it looking good even if eventually it comes back, I have absolutly no intention of ever selling my car so maybe in another twenty years I might be able to afford a restoration.

Incidently I was looking at the pictures of your engine rebuild bones, nothing short of spectacular - having seen the car at Brands, the engine looked very clean, but it amazing what you have done that you can't see - a real credit to you. I would like to do the same to mine, but its that money & time thing again.

 

[bones]

It wasn't that difficult to do the work on my car Dan but a garage with plenty of good tools is a prerequisite otherwise it would cost a fortune in man hours for a workshop to do what I did. Being able to inspect the cam lobes, adjust the valve timing and perform miriad jobs you can't do with the engine in the car was very satisfying. One major area of concern I have for these older cars is the danger of fire. I had to replace most of the wiring loom from the engine to the gearbox and the tunnel because of chaffing and brittle hard old wiring ready to cause problems at any second. The fire extinguisher in my car is there for a purpose and I'd recommend everyone to carry one in the car if it's twenty years old or more.

 

[engleflick]

I haven't got a fire extingusher yet, but have thought for a while it would be a good idea. I removed the soundproofing from above the engine as it was dangling down in to the bay, and even though my heat exchangers are shot I didn't want it getting that hot!

Where did you get a 'chrome' fire extingusher from, all the ones I have seen are red?

 

[Guest]

Love the white faced dials in there Bones.
Do they look as good up close i.e swiss watch detailing(bit extreme I know but you get the idea) If so I'd like to know where you got them from and also would you happen to know if I could directly overlay on my Km.p.h/ LHD speedo or is the gearing/calibration different relative to needle position?
Again,nice interior[]
Ian

 

[bones]

Thanks for the positive comments Ian, the white dials I bought from Prestige Parts about ten years ago, they are no longer available but the quality is good. Here is a pic. To the best of my knowledge you can't put MPH faces directly over the KPH facess you have to recalibrate.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for that Bones
Didn't think it would be as straight forward as I first thought,oh well looks like I'll have to take a hammer to the piggy bank again! Poor piggy,or should that be Porker bank?
Ian[&:]