Corrosion prevention.

[DJ.]

I would like your opinions on what I should do

 

I have read about grot traps and when I built my Seven 3 years ago I sprayed dinitrol every where I could and covered over the traps by the foot wells. The powder coating and chassis looks in good order, but when I hit some standing water a couple of months ago, the car got a good soaking and red rusty water appeared in the foot wells.

 

So, I am considering removing the interior panels, spraying inside the side skins and injecting dinitrol into the chassis tubes.

 

However, this is a major job and I keep thinking, am I being paranoid. After all there are many Sevens out there with open grot traps and they don't seem to need a reskin for going on 20 years!

 

Also does anyone know if it is possible to remove the side impact protection from inside a metric chassis Seven, because if it isn't I'm probably wasting my time anyway.

 

Thanks for your advice

 

Duncan

[Jason Plato]

I wouldn't worry, the chassis tube s generally rust from the inside out via all the rivet holes. of you drill some chassis tubes they may be full of water especially the lower body tubes .

[Martin J]

It seems a bit drastic drilling out all those rivets Duncan.

Do you ever put the car away when it's still wet, perhaps after washing it? Mine often gets put away dirty sometimes even filthy 😳 if I don't have the time or the weather isn't right to thoroughly dry it out.

Better to put away a dry dirty car than a wet clean as they start to corrode in a cold damp garage. I know you have an air chamber but I suppose the sea air doesn't help.

I also spray WD40 liberally about.

[DJ.]

Thanks Dave, I think I might remove a few of the rivets in the lower tubes and see what comes out.

 

It seems a bit drastic drilling out all those rivets Duncan.

 

I know Martin, it isn't a job I fancy doing!

My car doesn't get washed as much as it should, but when it does go into the garage wet, I leave the Airchamber door open and the fans on until it dries out.

 

Best to just keep on enjoying driving it I think

[Jason Plato]

the lower tubes on the rear basket under the rear wing is a good place for water gathering too