Where to look for rust on SC
 

I am looking at an 82 and have not gone over it very closely as yet.

In the first quick scan of the car I was a little surprised to see what I thought was a rusty body seam visible on the inside of the door in the flat area above the hing area. I need to look more closely when I go check the car out on Friday and do a drive evaluation.

Is this area commonly a problem?

What are the 'rust prone' spots on SCs?

Since it's a galvanized body, shouldn't be a lot.....look at the seams, underneath and around the windshield....

It'll depend a little if the car lived in a damp climate, I've seen some interesting rust on SCs and Carrera 3.2s in the UK. The galvanized body does hold up a lot better but after 20-odd to 30 years, there's still a chance for rust.

As a starting point I'd check the windshield surround carefully, possibly the rear window area, too. Rockers, kidney bowls (especially as that's not a cheap repair), front suspension pan from underneath the car and inside, the area around the battery (especially if it's boiled a battery at some point).

So much for galvanized body being risk free

Here is a suspension pan replacement
Rennlist Discussion Forums

I'd be particularly concerned with the lower corners of the windshield and rear window.
if the seals leak (which I have seen even on carerra 3.2s) they can rust in the same areas as early cars (under dash, the lip where fenders mount to body etc., just not as quickly.

Suspension pan replacements aren't fun. When I had the PPI done on my 3.2 Targa, that corrosion had been overlooked so I ended up having to pay for that particular repair.

Smarted a little, that.

Unfortunately, you can learn a lot here..http://forums.pelicanparts.com/paint-bodywork-discussion-forum/565023-talk-me-through-rust-repair-please.html :(

Check the battery tray, really well. IF you can pull the battery out and look all around it. I found a nice rusty surprise under my battery in my "new" SC. Damage could have been a lot worse for me, I have seen some pretty cases on SCs and Carreras.

Regards,

Chuck

The theory that galvanized cars don't rust is a very dangerous theory to have any confidence in. here is a link to some diagrams I put together on where to look for rust: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/428594-1972-rust.html

My 911SC which spent its entire life in Southern California and Arizona had rust in the rockers (under the rubber strip) and the windshield corners. Also underneath the battery tray.

That link is really good for knowing where to look.

Don't believe that galv body is low risk. It would be lower risk than non galv but there's plenty of rusty bodies that went through the 'zincing' process.

Also check the kidney bowl area in the rear wheel arches and the door sills. Not unusual to find corrosion in the seam where the front fenders are attached to the tub but you probably won't see this until you remove the fenders.

With a California car, it can really make a difference if it is a coastal or inland car. Cars that live very close to the coast in California can be very susceptible with rust due to salty ocean air.

Regards,

Chuck

I'll add my findings.......on a galvanized SC

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/paint-bodywork-discussion-forum/498431-front-bumper-shock-support-rust-repair.html

Thanks for the input.

I spent an hour or so going over the 82 I am looking at. What I had originally thought might have been rust on a seam was not and the car is actually pretty clean.

What is a little strange is that both doors and a bit of a 'ding' about in the center and the ding seems to be from the inside out. What could this be???

It's an 82?

Definitely from bullets that passed through the passenger compartment and didn't have enough left to get back out.

You might want to check the smugglers box

What makes this so funny is how true it could be. SmileWavy