Rust Free Roadster, and other fables......

[Guest]

There is no such thing as a rust free Triumph (or any LBC for that matter). My current TR6 took me two years to find. I was looking for the most rust-free example I could find. My big mistake was not taking the body off the frame and doing it right (well, in hindsight the really wasn't an option) so I did the next best thing and did a body on frame restoration. Now, while taking my floorboards out, I really have gotten down to the nitty-gritty of the interior metal and think I have caught it before it was too late. The rust monster had started to work. The areas around the B-posts have had moisture hiding under the glued-on vinyl and carpet. For the life of me, I still cannot understand how one can leave their carpet in under the seats. The TR6 was designed to have the seats bolted down over the carpet. A recipe for disaster. I have since cut new carpet to slide in under the seat and around the floor mounts. Everything comes out on the floor. Anyway, having removed my entire interior kit, I am in the process of rustproofing the entire area, even inside the B-posts. Will paint the whole thing black. One good reason to have a resto-mod, don't have to worry about being correct.

Point is, it might behoove many of you to consider removing your interiors over the winter and doing a closeup inspection of all sheet metal. It might scare you what you find.

 

[Brosky]

Bill, that is exactly why I took the pictures of what I found under the carpet. I was very lucky, in that we've owned the car since new, it's had no interior leaks and I had more areas of thinned or worn off paint than any real rust. The was some surface rust starting under the heel and foot areas on the drivers side where the carpet would naturally get some moisture, but the rust cleaned right off. I had mine sealed and painted with POR 15 and then had it all put back together. Fortunately, I had no rust inside of any of the pillars or interior pan areas.

But I'm still going to get the car on a lift and get my frame scrubbed and painted before spring. I'm hoping that I'm just as lucky under there.

 

[frankenstang57]

My first Spit was 100% rust free. Believe it or not... It did have some hail damage and a slightly bent frame. I wish I still had it. The JP Spit on the other hand, sat since about '89 in a field near here with no top on it. Made for a real nice rain/snow/leaf catcher. At least the cattle left it alone. Probably was really clean too(floorpan that is) when the kid(same age as me /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif ) "parted it out." Oh well, makes for a good story! And yes,there is such a thing in the "high desert!"

 

[SCguy]

Bill,

I hope you're taking pictures. I'd love to see what you've been doing and what you've found.

 

[tomshobby]

Bill, I thought the rust was free on all LBC's!

 

[kc_doyle]

Actually my 67 Spit was rust free. Wish I still had it..

 

[BOXoROCKS]

Hello from Michigan, up here we complain about the opressive heat, and relentless sunshine.

 

[Bugeye58]

Hello from Michigan, up here we complain about the opressive heat, and relentless sunshine.

And right now, I've got the car running to melt some of that stuff from the glass. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
Jeff

 

[tdskip]

Hello from Michigan, up here we complain about the oppressive heat, and relentless sunshine.

LOL.

For what it is worth California cars rust too. I have proof!

 

[YankeeTR]

I used to live in the UP where we shoveled sunshine all winter....

 

[jerrybny]

I'll second that motion. I would also love to see your progress Bill.

 

[jimbar]

Huh, I live near Seattle and am shoveling more than my share of sunshine this year!

 

[TheAssociate]

I agree Bill. I always remove the carpet from under the seats. After I prettied up the floors in my Spit(I will replace complete floorboard properly later - just welded new pieces in for now)I left carpet out. It seems to be the perfect place for water to sit if it ever comes in the window. Then again I have a "jeep-like" aproach to British cars - they must be strong and useful - if they aren't then they aren't fun to me!

Adam H.
____________________________________________________________
1973 Triumph Spitfire.

 

[TheAssociate]

Meant to attach file as well!


Adam H.
____________________________________________________________
1973 Triumph Spitfire.

 

[gjh2007]

I slit the carpets under the seats so they could be slid out around the runners. You couldn't even tell they were cut. This was way back in '77 when my 1st TR 250 was only 9 yrs old!

I wouldn't even think about putting underfelt back in, I'm just doing some aluminized HVAC wrap lying on the floor & gearbox tunnel.


p.s don't think just British cars leak; I bought a brand new Jetta GLI back in '86, everytime it would rain I'd have an inch of water on the rear floor, took two trips back to the dealer to fix. I bet they didn't even pull up the rugs!

My wife's '89 Volvo also leaked on the pass side.

My '71 Saab 99 had really nice loop pile wool carpets that snapped out from the factory.

 

[jessebogan]

Over the years I have had the biggest problems with trim shops gluing in the carpets. What are they thinking???!? From E types to bugeyes, the first thing they want to do is to glue the carpets in. I used to supply snap kits when we sent a car out for interior work, and even then some idiots glued in the carpets, and fitted the snaps for decoration. I finally found a good shop that listened, and had no more trouble after that, but it was a struggle.What could be more british car like than drying the carpets on the fence after a rainy day....

 

[YankeeTR]

There is no such thing as a rust free Triumph (or any LBC for that matter). My current TR6 took me two years to find. I was looking for the most rust-free example I could find. My big mistake was not taking the body off the frame and doing it right (well, in hindsight the really wasn't an option) so I did the next best thing and did a body on frame restoration. Now, while taking my floorboards out, I really have gotten down to the nitty-gritty of the interior metal and think I have caught it before it was too late. The rust monster had started to work. The areas around the B-posts have had moisture hiding under the glued-on vinyl and carpet. For the life of me, I still cannot understand how one can leave their carpet in under the seats. The TR6 was designed to have the seats bolted down over the carpet. A recipe for disaster. I have since cut new carpet to slide in under the seat and around the floor mounts. Everything comes out on the floor. Anyway, having removed my entire interior kit, I am in the process of rustproofing the entire area, even inside the B-posts. Will paint the whole thing black. One good reason to have a resto-mod, don't have to worry about being correct.

Point is, it might behoove many of you to consider removing your interiors over the winter and doing a closeup inspection of all sheet metal. It might scare you what you find.

Hey, The PO said THIS TR was rust free....did I get took? That's the LAST time I buy a car with a Ziebart sticker on it...

 

[Guest]

The reason I cut out my floorboards was to fix the holes that I had created by leaving carpet down for 2 years + the fact that the bodyman had done a really poor job of prepping my interior. He concentrated more on the outside of the body and left the interior susceptible to rust. I have noted that wherever there was the original red lead primer, I was ok. Plus the middle of the floor where the seat bolt down was jury rigged by me to fix in new seats that were not stock. I wanted the original 4 floor bolts on each side from which I will now weld a custom bracket to adapt to my seats and still make them easily removable. The first floor took me 3 days to remove. The second one too me 3 hours. The best tools for cutting out floorboards (and leaving the perimeter still intact) was a nibbler and a die grinder cutoff wheel. I placed the old floor over the new one and cut out the pattern with a plasma cutter. The best tool for dressing up the edges and making adjustments was a really stout pair of sheet metal snips that I bought from a siding company. These babies cut the floors like butter. (It helps having a strong grip, like from 37 years of pulling teeth.) Again, the rust monster has only said hello to my seams around the floor. I can get down to solid metal easily. I will strip the interior from 2/3 up to the floor and reprime with the original Red Lead Primer. I have had bad luck with POR15 and related products. This stuff is like plastic and will lose its grip on the metal. Much of it comes off in sheets. Scary. I am a firm believer in really tough primer, paint, not plastic. I will attempt to post a running narrative with pictures in the next few days. Right now, my fingers are sore.

 

[kindofblue]

My car has no carpet in the interior. I just have TR logo rubber floor mats. Mine still has the original floorboards. There is a little rust at the toes of the driver's feet where it meets the cowl. That is all. I was debating whether to install the carpet kit before putting in the more comfy TR6 seats (currently has orginal worn leather originals), but I may leave the interior bare. I agree with the Jeep comment, luxury and English sports cars don't go well together.