fixing body rust on an SVX...
 

Well, I must be the only person with an SVX that has body rust. :-( I just picked up an SVX from the PA area over the weekend, and when I got home and started washing the car, I found some body rust in the crease line on both the doors! So now I'm wondering how I should deal with it. The two options that readily come to mind are to either replace the doors (probably horribly expensive) or try to repair the damaged areas. Any thoughts from people?

I have rust too.

Which crease are you talking about? Where the lower panel attaches to the door?

The best way to fix rust (surface only, not holes) is to sandblast the area until all rust is gone, tap it down slightly with a pick hammer, coat it well with epoxy primer, fill divits with filler or good primer if mild enough, then seal it with another coat of epoxy, then paint.

Post a close up of the spots and I can tell you what the best way to deal with it is.

Doug

Yes, its in the crease area where the lower panel contacts contacts the door. On both doors there is a section about 1.5 inches in length where the paint is bubbling up in the crease. I'll post some pictures in my locker this evening. (Digital cameras are great!) Thanks!

Re: fixing body rust on an SVX...
 

You're not the only one, but pretty close. I have a little bit of rust on the right quarter panel. The paint is just bubbling up. But I know that the previous owner had a few accidents, so that's likely what compromised the rustproofing.

A few pictures are now in my personal locker. Thanks!

That's really weird. I would bet that theres quite a bit more rust under that cladding.

Mike

Glad to see you got the car OK. How was your stay in Pittsburgh? Sorry I couldnt meet up with you.

Mike

I thought Pittsburgh was a great place. I got a quick tour from my friend's parents who live out there, and I was very impressed with the variety of restaurants, shopping, and architecture in the town. On the drive back to WA, I listened to "The Killer Angels" in book on CD format. If I'd had more time and thought about the fact that I would be listening to it, I would have made a detour to check out Gettysburg before heading home.

Pittsburgh is a really neat place to live. It's a very artsy, clean city with fabulous dining and shopping (as you mentioned).

Gettysburg is a really great place to tour. Especially at this time of year. Lots of interesting history there.

Mike

That's really weird. But I suspect that the car has been repainted - if I remember correctly, Laguna Blue wasn't a metallic color.

Anybody?

It is a metallic color... it's actually called 'laguna pearl'

Mike

Okay. Maybe the laguna blues I've seen were all just really dirty. :D

If its been repainted, they stripped off everything before doing it; there's no evidence of the paint stopping at the rubber trim. And its the same color blue everywhere including in the door jam, on hinges, etc.