ok, here is my rust issue.
 

i miss-posted this on somebody elses thread, so here i go again. i have some minor rust issue behind that rubber bumper seal. it warped up about 13 years ago on my stepdad, and he didnt fix it. so now it is my problem. it acted like a scoop for rain, therefore causing my rust. i cant figure how anything comes apart! can someone point me in the right direction? i want to at least change the rubber seal, until i repaint the car later. thanks

cliff

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1073868573.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1073868606.jpg

the hood latch is adjustable.. there should/may be washers on the latch.. see if there is play when you press down on the hood in the closed position.. you may have to also change the old hood seal.

luckily my hood opens smoothly. i just really want to change the seal out. i think PP sells it for around 100bucks. my problem is that i have stared at it, and i cant even figure out how to start taking it apart.

changing the hood seal, i didnt even think about it. thanks ronin i will check.

yeah.. maybe too smoothy,
I would check the hood to fender alignment.. then if there is easy downwards play, which I bet there is, because it opens very smoothly, I bet.
The hood latch had the adjustment washers.

You have to remove the bumper. First remove the rubber strip, the marker lights, the bellows, then the bumper. You will see the sheet metal screws that hold the "smile" on. This would be a good time to fix that rust since it looks like it is just surface rust and not a rust hole yet.

thanks toolman, for the game plan.

cliff

Rust issue!? That's not a rust issue, that's character! I spent the weekend wire wheeling what wasn't rusted in my back seat/ floor area, heating and scraping sound deadening, and then PORing the whole mess. That's akin to a good cleaning, you got off lucky!;)

i know, i read your other post. sounds like you also have a game plan. maybe post some pics?:D

buy a welder!

I kept meaning to take some pics, but never got around to it. When you have to drive the car on Monday, some things get pushed aside. Talk about a full day, I started about 8, and was putting my second coat on at 12, and the interior was already out! It's all back in now, you never really realize how much the carpet and foam insulation deadens the sound until it's gone, now I won't have a headache when I get to work.

Good luck getting the screws off that hold the smile on. They are prolly rusted big time. Getting the bumper off shouldn't be that tough, maybe a couple hours tops.

Unfixed,

I have a copy of the article regarding removal of the smile. PM your email and I will try to get it to you.

Tim

Hmm, I didn't have to remove my bumper to take the "smile" off. I just unscrewed all of the screws from inside the trunk and slid it out. I was careful not to scratch the top of my bumper by gently lifting up so it wouldn't rub on the paint.

But, maybe you need to remove the bumper to tackle the rust???