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Problems with rust?

paulwoodford

New Member
Hi guys

Do the V6s suffer from any particular rust problems at all? Perhaps most of them haven't done enough mileage to test this to destruction, but I wondered if there were any things to watch out for at all.

Once again, I apologise if there is already something on this, but after a quick scan of the knowledgebase and the forum I couldn't find my answer.

Thanks in advance :)

Paul
 
Negligible I'd imagine. Underside is 'sealed' from the elements by plastic covers. The body is mostly fibreglass (sills, wings, bumpers etc) and as most of them are cherished cars (certainly club cars will be) they will be regularly washed, polished, waxed etc and most will either be garaged or protected from the elements in some other way.

Not an issue I'd say. :)
 
Haven't come across any mentions of rust issues (yet). Brake disk corrosion, more on the rears is all I've been warned about.

Oh and a few instances of ABS rings corroded.
 
I have seen surface corrosion on suspension parts and paint flaking also corrosion of alloy air-con piping - none of that on my old car which was always garaged from new ...

Martin
 
got bubbles under the paintwork of my lightweight bonnet. Think it may be off a older 172 though.
anyone who saw the ph1 shell outside the Alpine factory has to admit that hidden rust problems will be a factor as these cars get older, the ph11 looks much better protected (which probably adds to its bloated weight and poorer performance [smilie=yay.gif] )
 
Rust surely depends on how something has been cared for. Regular washing/dry storing (which most vees will have had) will mean potential to rust would be the last thing on.my mind when purchasong a vee.

Also there's so little of the bodywork that is actually susceptible to rust its almost not worth worrying about.
 
taipan":12rl623t said:
Rust surely depends on how something has been cared for. Regular washing/dry storing (which most vees will have had) will mean potential to rust would be the last thing on.my mind when purchasong a vee.

Also there's so little of the bodywork that is actually susceptible to rust its almost not worth worrying about.

Sadly, you couldn't be more wrong. I have a good deal of experience of classic cars through to interesting modern cars, and rust is one of my biggest regrets in life LOL!

Some kind of rust is caused by poor maintenance or neglect; the sort that sees your average 12 year old family with bubbly arches. But, many cars have problems with key areas because of design flaws. For example let's take it back to the 1960s when the Austin/Morris/MG 11/1300 saloons used to rust from the bulkhead down to the sills - this was caused by a flaw that allowed water - by capiliary action - to go down the bonnet hinges into the scuttle panel, then down the double skin layer of the bulkhead.

Long-winded way of saying some rust is inherent in the design of a car, not caused by anything an owner can or can't do. And, sometimes the rust you need to watch for is the rust that's covered by body panels, and can't be treated, touched up, or even sometimes painted properly when built.

But, it's reassuring to hear so few reports of rust on these cars - LOL @ the rusty suspension; some brand new cars sitting in a showroom have rusty suspension and brake components from sitting in a distribution compound! :)

To a certain extent perhaps this could be traced to the standard base Clio; how much of the base chassis/bodyshell is used and are there any problems with those, in general?

Paul
 
img_1125.jpg
 
Is that the one referred to above? Interesting to see the bodyshell like that. Given how long it looks to have been outside open to the elements (and in primer!!) it's in remarkably good condition.

It really is a completely different shell to the standard Clio isn't it, wasn't sure how bolted on the special bits were. :)
 
yep. ignore the green moss and a lot of stuff that will power wash off, It was more the general rustproofing around the seams (especially around the rear arches) that looked suspect compared to the ph11 shell that was next to it.
 
I asked Scott (at SG) about rust and he said he'd started seeing some with rust issues under the back end of the sills and where the chassis rails come of the back of the main body. Not loads but on a few cars.
 
taipan":1avzyms6 said:
Does anyone know whether Vees were undersealed at the factory?

It is quite clear there is a certain amount of OEM seam sealing and also post-conversion bitumen/wax type underseal which looks sprayed on around the front and rear subframes.

When I bought my Vee I raised it up and removed all the covers underneath the car to check the extent of protection but was quite comfortable as my car always lived in the garage and was perfect when I sold it this year. Keep an eye on ancilliary pipe corrosion as these are exposed to some extent especially air-con plumbing ...

Martin
 
May do the same with mine Martin. I don't expect any horrors as it's a club car but you never know. Rather know now than put my foot through the floor one day :)
 
taipan":53zpt13s said:
May do the same with mine Martin. I don't expect any horrors as it's a club car but you never know. Rather know now than put my foot through the floor one day :)

I ABSOLUTELY HATE corrosion and will no longer buy a car with ANY hint of it, a bit of surface rust is bearable - I have had too many issues in the past with some of the design flaws mentioned above which have dogged some real 'modern classics' despite what can be done by 'reputable' restorers ... That is partly why, when I bought my Vee, I bought it nearly new also as garaged and kept it that way during my ownership as I saw owning my Vee as a responsibility to future owners who I hope can benefit from my ownership ethos ... It's not often you get to own a classic from new/as new ...

If I really saw myself owning another Vee in future, I wouldn't have sold my old one as it also becomes rarer for 'classic car' owners to have continuously have owned them from new/nearly new as the years go by - if that makes sense ... I would prefer to own a car I personally knew the history of from the beginning than not, though this is not always possible but is also a benefit of the public information on this forum ...

Martin
 
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