TR2/3/3A boot drain troughs 59 tr3

[Kevork Erer]

has anyone fabricated and installed boot drain troughs that the lid sits on mine are rusted and would love to make new strips and replace, any picks and tips would really be appreciated thanks. Kevork

 

[CJD]

There is a difference in pre and post 60k seals, what number is your car?

 

[Kevork Erer]

Hi John thanks for reply TS36996L looks like there is two troughs side by side one for seal to sit in and a trough for the water to drain and previous owner has done shabby repairs in pieces full of holes and rust. I have body off on cart doing some ripairs and learning along the way I may be too anel for this kind of work

 

[CJD]

You have the early seal. The good news is that it is simpler than the later seal. The there is no kit or replacement part for the seal channel, though. Do you have minimal proficiency with a welder? It is a matter of removing the rusted out portion and fabricating the new rails from 18 gage steel, and welding them back in.

 

[Kevork Erer]

well I am getting better at gas meg welding, new 18g is no problem cleaning the paint and seam seal and who knows what else off existing metal is the challenge if its not perfectly clean seems to leave dark burn spots around my welds hard to clean off. so drill out the spot welds from tub miter cut at corners and remove make new out of 18g and spot weld back on with slight arch same as the tub anything else you can think of I would appreciate thank you?

 

[DavidApp]

To get the slight arch in your new piece you may want to check out the HF shrinker and stretcher. They seem to work well.

David

 

[sp53]

Can you salvage a small section to use as a pattern and have some of the channel made up with a nipple for the water drain. The pieces should be only a couple of inches wide, but the channel would be a challenge to fab up at home because of the small bends. it would probably cost a couple of hours at a sheet metal shop, but i think it would be worth it

steve

 

[Kevork Erer]

Can you salvage a small section to use as a pattern and have some of the channel made up with a nipple for the water drain. The pieces should be only a couple of inches wide, but the channel would be a challenge to fab up at home because of the small bends. it would probably cost a couple of hours at a sheet metal shop, but i think it would be worth it

steve

Only the side channels need replacing top and rear with drain holes are still rust free and in good shape channel is made of two pieces I have a 36" break should be able to manufacture in my shop the 2 main challenges will be to maintain the slight arch as I drill out the spot welds and arch the new piece. I think I will make a template of arch out of mdf first. Thanks for the idea on doing it in pieces at a sheet metal shop Steve, I may be going there yet but I have to try first.

Kevork