Things have gotten UUGLY!!

Fl Ted · 09-09-2005, 06:59 AM

So ugly, I have to spell it with two "U's"!!

Spotted small rusty hole under battery at PPI, looked like small repair. Poked with awl, seemed solid around rust spot.( this was seen and inspected from under the car) Got back from up north a month ago, took car for drive, brake pad warning came on. Up on the lift she goes for brakes. " while it's up there, nows a good time to find out why the front bumper and valance don't line up quite right. Off they come! While they're off, now's a good time to check-out and repair rust under battery !! Here's what I found;

And:

I've done suspension pan and battery tray replacements twice before on early cars, thought getting a galvanized body would be the end of that form of torture.

Wrong!! I'm just a slow learner!

Does anyone know who has stock on these parts now? Our host is out of stock, and Restoration Design must be out of business.
This rusty front metal has been a problem for a long time, and made worse by the "sponge" they call a "tank seal"

All it does is soak up the acid/water and keep it in close contact with the gas tank, so it rots too!!!!
When mine goe's back together, it won't have a "sponge seal", and it will have a battery that does'nt ooze acid/fumes. Maybe a Optima or Gel-cell.

Also, most pan replacement panels are for early cars. (wonder why?

) Does anyone make them for later models?( extended battery tray, hole for front condensor)
Thanks for any help,
Ted

Yorkie · Yorkie's Garage

Restoration Design are certainly not out of business. I purchased 911 floors from them about 10 days ago and even spoke to the owner. Look on their website and you can order there.
Kevin

Zeke · 09-09-2005, 08:14 AM

That looks pretty bad to have been missed by the PPI as a "small hole."

I dunno if RD is in business or not, they might as well not be they way they treat customers. The only reason I know this is because I never received any parts from them after paying (or giving my CC #, I guess they never even charged it). Now, Pelican didn't offer the combo pricing for the pan and gas tank support or I would have ordered from them. Just as well, since Wayne has posted here that HE has trouble with RD too. So, what's a guy to do? If it weren't for Pelican members and their un-used parts, my car would never have gotten finished. I got one panel from Pelican that was in the warehouse but not in the inventory. A physical search turned it up and Eugene got it to me.

I think I'd call Stoddard on this one.

porsche356a · 09-09-2005, 08:25 AM

Where did that car live? Did they salt the roads?

jkarolyi · 09-09-2005, 09:31 AM

>Where did that car live?

He's from Florida, and I've seen a lot of Florida cars with serious rust due to the constant rain and humidity there. Usually not as bad as cars from the salt belt states though.

Fl Ted · 09-09-2005, 09:36 AM

Thanks for the replies Guys!
Yorkie: thanks for the up-date on RD. My problem is to get them to answer the phone, or a least return my calls (been calling for 2 weeks!) I get their message " We are working in the shop, we will call you back". I have questions re: the panels I need. I would hate to go online and order blindly, especially after reading Zeke's post above !!

Zeke: Thanks for your input. I think I read somewhere on this BB that RD parts were the best quality for repo panels, which is why I was trying to do business with them (or Pelican, but pelican's catalog for all panels reads "temporarily out of stock". Guess I'll have to go to supplier #3 or #4(Vertex or Tweeks)

356a. This problem is from battery acid and water. There was water trapped in the trunk at some time in the past, as evidenced by a rusty film and water line in the lower regions of the trunk. Add a little battery acid (there's always some somewhere on the battery, look at any battery installation on almost any car, what do you see? rusty and eaten-up battery mountings and corrosion on the terminals!)
The car has been in St petersburg, Fl since at least 1991. Only salt down here is in the Gulf!!

Ted

Shaun @ Tru6 · 09-09-2005, 09:48 AM

Milt, RD must have heard back about experiences like yours and then changed their act. I called up on Friday last week and ordered a rear lens panel for my 84 (was hit some time ago) and I got yesterday.

Even better I spent about 10 minutes on the phone with the owner and we talked about the best way to weld the piece in. Really nice, helpful guy.

BTW, a reasonably complex part, it is gorgeous! Look for a post of my welding adventure on Sunday.

Jim Williams · 09-09-2005, 05:11 PM

Hi Ted,

I didn't see the year model of your car, but I have an extra peice of engine tin I think is called the gas tank support, it's for '74 and later 911's. Check out this link and see if this fits your needs.

http://members.rennlist.com/jimwms/Parts/911parts_body.html

Look under "front trunk sheet metal".

Tooth911 · 09-09-2005, 05:25 PM

Hi Ted I bought my pan kit from Auto Atlanta. Look em up on the web good luck Chuck be sure to post pics during your R&R.

pwd72s · 09-09-2005, 05:42 PM

Suddenly, Gel Cell batteries don't seem so expensive... Damn, those are sad pics.

Fl Ted · 09-09-2005, 05:48 PM

Jay:
Easy to tell where a car has been living:
Northern cars rust from the bottom up.
Southern cars rust from the top down.

strupgolf · 09-09-2005, 05:50 PM

Wish the best of luck on your resto. Its hard for me to see that kind of rot on any car, especially a P-car that you love.

1973911s · 09-09-2005, 05:54 PM

I had an 84 Targa that had rust, good thing I caught it early.

We really need to start watching and checking those 80's cars.

Michael

pwd72s · 09-09-2005, 05:57 PM

Definitely! "Galvanized" does not translate to: "Battery acid proof".

Fl Ted · 09-09-2005, 07:06 PM

Jim:
Yes that is one piece I need, however earlier today I found both pieces at ********** in Miami. The gentleman I spoke with (had a German accent) said the parts were from Germany. I'll know monday. I had just purchased brake rotors from them earlier this week. They were advertised in Excellence on sale for $54 for the fronts and $59 for the rears (ea). The best price I'd found. When they arrived I was pleased to find the fronts were Sebro and the rears were Zimmerman (both German OEM!) Thanks for your help.

Tooth911. Thanks for your lead. As I stated above, I have found and ordered parts.

Ted

Jim Williams · 09-09-2005, 07:16 PM

Ted,

Glad you located your parts. The piece of sheet metal I have is an OE Porsche part as well, not a repro. A Porsche factory sticker with the part number is still attached. I'm curious to know what price you got from Vertex, maybe I should adjust my asking price.

You can PM me if you don't want to broadcast the price to the BBS.

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

They call South Florida the "Fifth Borough" for a reason. You're really buying a car from New York.

Some of the rustiest, nastiest, cars I've ever seen came out of Florida. Especially older collector cars. I'd estimate 99.99% of older collector cars (and 60% of cars in general) in Florida are actually from the rust belt . People bring the cars when they move, and used car dealers love to buy cars from up north and sell them in Florida.

450knotOffice · 450knotOffice's Garage

My car was a Florida Cab (I think it was originally sold there) but it ended up out here in SoCal. Shortly after I bought it I found BIG rust in the pan caused by battery acid. The pan and tank support had to be replaced.

K9Torro · 09-11-2005, 05:09 AM

I buy from Vertex too they are actually a prertty good place to shop.

Todd

Ryce Stallings · 09-11-2005, 05:55 AM

RD parts are not galvanized to my knowledge. There are galvanized replacement parts out there. Watch the air your breathing when you do this, galvanized welds can make you stupid! It looks like you need more than the front pan and tanl support. The longitudinals also need replacing.Good luck.