What to do about heavy rust around the outriggers

[Jamie N]

Ooooh! scary stuff Steve!, well I wish you the best of luck, but no matter what's found lurking I am
sure a man with your capabilities will be able rectify it with sangfroid in abundance.

[Steve A]

Well as yesterday was actually dry for once I took full advantage to check my outriggers, and as you can see I wasn't disappointed

All the brown stuff is just old wax thats dried out.



Very little corrosion found, when I removed the old sound deadening foam it was still damp from two weeks ago !



Front drivers jacking point



No corrosion here



This was the closest I found to real corrosion, still all very solid.



These were taken with my new £20 endoscope



Rear jacking point.



Taken behind the one of the rear jacking points, you can see where the car been treated in the past.



The old heavy sound deadening foam will be replaced with light closed cell foam, what little corrosion I did find will get the POR 15 treatment
and the outriggers will get a fresh waxoyling .

If you haven't checked yours yet get out there and do it and put your mind at rest

[Tuga2112]

and i was thinking i was lucky with mine being minor

[daveiow]

Steve- could you post details of your endoscope please.
I have a few things I need to examine, as well as looking at the outriggers
Thanks David

[Steve A]

Steve- could you post details of your endoscope please.
I have a few things I need to examine, as well as looking at the outriggers
Thanks David

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Endoscope-Insp ... +endoscope

Have fun

[Steve A]

Carried out the unenviable task of waxoyling my outriggers
I consider myself lucky that they are in such good condition so I should keep them that way.



As you can see I went for the "carpet bombing" method





I didn't thin it I prefer to apply it neat which made it all the more difficult

[Tuga2112]

I have now addressed the situation in both my cars based on the suggestions above.

for those interested. pictures in the project threads.
yellow car
blue car

I also put new soundproofing just like Neal's post. so, its another issue resolved x2 in here

[epipete]

This has been a cracking thread, it's a fine example of the benifits of the LEC insomuch that at the start was all doom and, gloom and yet by sharing thoughts and advice, at the end no one now considers this a 'Car Killer'.

Brilliant

[vincereynard]

Maybe not a "Car Killer" but serious food for thought to someone thinking a buying a car!

[Tuga2112]

Maybe not a "Car Killer" but serious food for thought to someone thinking a buying a car!

it would be something good to check... HOWEVER
even tho i fixed it in both my cars. i would be reluctant to showing it to you as a prospective buyer just for the sheer amoutn of work required to put the carpets back. (also partially reason why i documented the task in the forum, so no need to take the car apart)

i would be surprised if someone was willing to let you have a look unless they were selling the car for "top dollar"

[vincereynard]

i would be surprised if someone was willing to let you have a look unless they were selling the car for "top dollar"

Exactly my point. So it could be very much a lottery.

[Fredjohn]

Not totally. You can drop an endoscopic type camera down the B post without removing anything.

You could also get the seller to jack the car up one corner at a time using the jacking points below the A and B posts. The S2 only jacks at the front so would also be a good test!

[Tuga2112]

You could also get the seller to jack the car up one corner at a time using the jacking points below the A and B posts. The S2 only jacks at the front so would also be a good test!

how is that a sign of the condition of the outriggers ?

[vincereynard]

Not totally. You can drop an endoscopic type camera down the B post without removing anything.

You could also get the seller to jack the car up one corner at a time using the jacking points below the A and B posts. The S2 only jacks at the front so would also be a good test!

As in the jack keeping going but the car does not move?

[Tuga2112]

As in the jack keeping going but the car does not move?

that would be a sign to not buy it at all, unless you were interested in a "real" project.
but im wondering if the flex of the chassis is what we are looking for, or something else ?

[dapinky]

Jacking up will only really show you when the corrosion has taken a good hold.

If there is a crunchy noise from the jacking point, then the integrity has already gone and (fairly) major surgery will be required to re-build it... all achievable from inside the car, but it needs good access to the jacking point by chopping a fair bit of the outrigger away.......... but, if it's that bad, then you need to chop away a fair bit anyway.

Either way, it can be done by a competent home mechanic with a MIG welder and basic tools - would probably cost a fair bit to farm the job out as a lot needs removing before you start - ideally taking the door off as well as stripping the interior.

[vincereynard]

Talking from a point of total ignorance

I would have thought that the first step, when the structure is solid, would be to seal the gap between and the floor. Assuming there is one - it looks like it from the images. Either with a suitable mastic and / or expanding foam from the inside. Get a long tube for the can and lay a bead sufficient to get it expanded up to the base of the big holes.

Then coat the whole floor with rubberised stone chip stuff. Seal the whole area so you could carry a spare goldfish in the passenger side should you feel inclined but none would get into the inner structure.

As someone who attempted to make a Herald Convertible watertight - am I talking toss?? As yet no idea

Vince

[Tuga2112]

Seal the whole area so you could carry a spare goldfish in the passenger side should you feel inclined but none would get into the inner structure.

in a extreme "goldfish scenario" you have the fusebox in that area...

what ive done and from my discussions with other owners is to drill holes in the floor and swap the sound insulation so that the water can get out without stauying long enough in an area to cause more rust.

obviously this is after a good treatment of the affected areas (in my case the hammerite and welding)

[vincereynard]

Usefully the herald provided its own drain holes. I did consider putting rubber strips on the outside so it was effectively (well nearly) a one way arrangement.
You could be posh and mould the holes into rear facing scoops!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401276188151

[Tuga2112]

Usefully the herald provided its own drain holes. I did consider putting rubber strips on the outside so it was effectively (well nearly) a one way arrangement.
You could be posh and mould the holes into rear facing scoops!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/401276188151

The Elan has some rubber plugs, I'm not sure their purpose, but if intended for drain, the location is.. unhelpful...
I was hoping you linked some glue/bolt/screw in scoops. It's not a bad idea at all in order to allow bigger holes.
But I'm going for the extra posh approach and getting some decent seals from Jamie. A root cause solution is worth doing when you intend to keep the car long term