thing wheelhouse body plugs - crosspost with topica

VW's aircooled mini SUV. Great for riding in the country, or cruising the beach.
germansupplyscott
Posts: 887
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2001 12:01 am

thing wheelhouse body plugs - crosspost with topica

Post by germansupplyscott »

thingsters,

in the front wheelhouses of the thing, there are 2 holes, one on each
side of the wheel opening. if you look at this photo, one of the holes
is clearly visible:

Image

does anyohe know how these holes get filled?

scott lyons
a.k.a. punkinfair
germansupplyscott
Posts: 887
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2001 12:01 am

Post by germansupplyscott »

rich,

just another thing hole...yes, i see what you mean. i should have been more specific, it is the hole in the lower right foreground of the photo, the other holes visible in the photo are not causing any problems. i can't remember what i did when i stripped the car, but my old shell definitely had some sort of plugs in those holes. maybe i have an obsession with filling in holes, i may have to see someone about this. believe it or not i have purchased almost all of the rubber plugs new from the dealer, and they are not even expensive

maybe lastsafari pedro will know for sure.

as for the suspension work, thanks for the compliment. my wife painted most of it, actually, the car is for her. getting closer to being done every day.

scott lyons
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Bob Ingman
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Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2001 12:01 am

Post by Bob Ingman »

Scott the POR 15 is something we have in common. I did the same thing. EVERYTHING top and bottom of pan and all items connected to it front and rear. I did not wish to have to do that job twice so went wild with the POR 15. Even did the fender wells and over the trans underside of body. Everything that is not gray is POR-15.I even did the interior up to the bottom of the doors on the body. The upper interior is matched to the Gun Metal Gray of the exterior. Where I live it is an absolute neccessity to weatherproof all metal. Hope the Pelican link helped you. Best of luck. Bob Ingman
nthang

Post by nthang »

Coincidentally, yesterday I noticed a rusty spot (6 inches long) on top of the rocker panel in the pocket for the driver's side door, below the door hinges. It could be from the inside of the driver's door rusting from leaving the car outside for the past couple of weeks. But, I was wondering if any of the many holes in the thing (besides the obvious ones in the door bottoms) were designed as vent holes or weep holes. Filling them, as I did, would create trapped water in the body or frame. Anyone know about the design intent of the holes? Maybe some need to be left open to breath and weep water out. Thanks.
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Bob Ingman
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Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2001 12:01 am

Post by Bob Ingman »

Once you notice rust it is not long before it begins to appear all over. Never make the mistake of thinking the car is rusting in that one spot only. Its just the first spot to come through.
It typically will begin as a blister in the paint then turn to tiny holes the size of BBs . Then became dime sized then quarter size then touch each other in a long jagged line of rusted rockers.
The next area is the rear wheel wells over the tires. The metal is extremely thin there and catches the moisture and mud thrown up by the tires.
I firmly believe that a complete dismantling of the car is number one priority in fixing up an old thing or any restoration project. All sheet metal replaced and repaired and everything painted and POR 15 coated. There is just no other way to care for the matter of rust." Painting everything without disassembly is useless because its the unreachable areas between body and pan that need attention". Should I repeat that last sentence? Spending all kinds of time and money on a car that is rusting inside is foolish. Get it solid then work up from there. Painting over a surface that is rusting from the inside will not delay anything. It is still going to rust its way through to the new paint. Its a joke to see people using POR 15 on the car and never really getting to where it needs to be. Where it will actually do some good. Between body and pan. First remove the rust then prevent its return. All the time and money spent on accessories are wasted unless the car is solid! Big wheels, seats ,gauges, steering wheels,big engines,you name it .They are all useless on a car that is rusting from the inside out.
Best of luck. Bob Ingman
nthang

Post by nthang »

Yawn.
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Michael Basso
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Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2003 12:01 am

Post by Michael Basso »

the piss poor design of the thing allowed for water to actually drain throught the rockers. what usually happens is the plugs on the bottom of the rockers get clogged with crud, hence, rust of rockers,
first thing i do when i get a thing, is pull those plugs on bottom out, if i had a welder, i would weld those little triangular holes shut, or fill them with epoxy or something.
heres another spot to keep your eye on,
at the bottom of the shock tower of your front axle beam is also a drain hole, one on each side, when these get filled up then yer beam rusts out too.
yucka!~
clean them out and while your under there, grease your beam till good new grease comes out the torsion seals.
hope this helps.
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