Going coastal

[tirwin]

Looking for anyone to share their experience living near a coast with a 911. Mainly thinking the southeast but salt air is salt air I guess.

How big of a problem is corrosion and what, if anything, can you do about it? What kinds of things are affected the most? Undercarriage? Paint? I've heard those love bugs in Florida are nasty on paint.

Just looking for any feedback.

[Flieger]

I don't think it is really an issue unless you live on the beach or with an unobstructed view of the beach and at 0 elevation. Like where you get worried about your beach home flooding if the tide is high and a storm comes up. The salt air doesn't go all that far.

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by Flieger

I don't think it is really an issue unless you live on the beach or with an unobstructed view of the beach and at 0 elevation. Like where you get worried about your beach home flooding if the tide is high and a storm comes up. The salt air doesn't go all that far.

What if you did? Other than the obvious flooding problem of course?

[Flieger]

I'm not sure. I don't know anyone who lives within salt-spray distance of the ocean with a classic car. Clint at Rebel Racing lives in Morro Bay which is really close to the ocean, but up on a hill. He has never mentioned any issues with salt air. They do have a garage, though.

I know driving down the coast will put a layer of salt on your windscreen, but in some places the freeway is right next to the water.

[brads911sc]

pretty much non-existent in Marietta, GA. so why the ??

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by brads911sc

pretty much non-existent in Marietta, GA. so why the ??

Considering not living in Marietta.

[Flieger]

As to what is affected the most, I would say that as long as your paint and undercoating is in good shape, the engine and transmission would begin to corrode first- the fins and such. Unless your car has the optional, self-applying protective oil coating (engine leak). Anything magnesium like the fan will corrode first, followed by uncoated aluminum and then the rust will start in the chassis at the paint chips and plugged drain holes.

Away from the coast it would be similar but slower.

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by Flieger

As to what is affected the most, I would say that as long as your paint and undercoating is in good shape, the engine and transmission would begin to corrode first- the fins and such. Unless your car has the optional, self-applying protective oil coating (engine leak). Anything magnesium like the fan will corrode first, followed by uncoated aluminum and then the rust will start in the chassis at the paint chips and plugged drain holes.

Away from the coast it would be similar but slower.

Makes sense. I guess that's a practical reason for powder coating the fan and yet another to invest in SSIs.

I know I covered this in a college engineering class but I sloughed off those brain cells long ago.

[Flieger]

Aluminum oxide is what anodizing is, and it can be pretty good at corrosion inhibition, so the engine should not be too badly off. Magnesium doesn't do the same, though.

[tirwin]

Flieger, if I have it right '78 and after the transmission housing is aluminum. Before that was magnesium I think. As I said earlier my fan is powder coated so I assume that is enough protection, tranny case is aluminum (if I'm right on that) and I have turbo lower valve covers. Are there any other magnesium parts?

The salt in the air basically acts like a conductor for the galvanic corrosion, right? If that's the case then I don't guess it's really any different than places up north where road salt is commonly used. I suppose that's why some people store their cars for the winter in that climate. Maybe that's actually worse.

[Flieger]

Moisture and salt causes a lot more corrosion that moisture or salt on their own. Doesn't matter where they come from. Road salt and slushy snow is way worse.

My engine and tranny are mostly all magnesium but yeah, I think yours is aluminum.

[Drisump]

I have lived with my 911 within a few hundred yards of the Pacific for four years and have had no issues. But these are protected waters so there probably isn't the level of salt in the air such as near crashing waves. I think if your concern is about body corrosion, the later galvanized bodies are quite resistant to rust....the early cars, well, not so much. Cheers

[dshepp806]

Although I don't live on the coast, we do go there often to various condos,..mainly Gulf area stuff,....,..I would think one would be washing/rinsing the car more frequently than a typical owner located somewhere else.....just thinking.

When asked to get me to the condo on St. George Island,..Apalachicola,...spend a week there,.......I always give my girl a hose down, especially the underneath, upon return back to middle GA....

BEST!

Doyle

[911Freak]

Living within 1mile of the Pacific in Playa del Rey CA only effected the fully polished finish on my Weidman Fuchs. They turned dull much quicker then living inland. So every month I'd break out the Mothers Power Ball for a quick buff! Labor intensive. Even the Vaseline trick didn't help much....

Solution? Sold the polished Fuchs and bought 7&8x16 with my homemade RSRish finish! Oh we moved too...

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by Drisump

I have lived with my 911 within a few hundred yards of the Pacific for four years and have had no issues. But these are protected waters so there probably isn't the level of salt in the air such as near crashing waves. I think if your concern is about body corrosion, the later galvanized bodies are quite resistant to rust....the early cars, well, not so much. Cheers

Thanks for the input! Area I am thinking about is a bay so that helps and different parts of the area are protected.

Got several ideas I'm exploring... one of the first things my said said was "but what about the Porsche" which is what led to this discussion. Gotta have your priorities in line.

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by dshepp806

Although I don't live on the coast, we do go there often to various condos,..mainly Gulf area stuff,....,..I would think one would be washing/rinsing the car more frequently than a typical owner located somewhere else.....just thinking.

When asked to get me to the condo on St. George Island,..Apalachicola,...spend a week there,.......I always give my girl a hose down, especially the underneath, upon return back to middle GA....

BEST!

Doyle

Doyle,

I am very close to Apalachicola right now. Been out to St. George many times. We're down closer to Mexico Beach. Just cooling off from being down on the beach right now. Lots of rain this week. Weather great today but the seaweed was knee-deep. Still we had a good time as usual.

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by 911Freak

Living within 1mile of the Pacific in Playa del Rey CA only effected the fully polished finish on my Weidman Fuchs. They turned dull much quicker then living inland. So every month I'd break out the Mothers Power Ball for a quick buff! Labor intensive. Even the Vaseline trick didn't help much....

Solution? Sold the polished Fuchs and bought 7&8x16 with my homemade RSRish finish! Oh we moved too...

I have thought about taking my Fuchs back to anodized with black centers. You guys are making me feel better and better about this.

[dshepp806]

Originally Posted by tirwin

Doyle,

I am very close to Apalachicola right now. Been out to St. George many times. We're down closer to Mexico Beach. Just cooling off from being down on the beach right now. Lots of rain this week. Weather great today but the seaweed was knee-deep. Still we had a good time as usual.

We just got back from the Destin area recently,..water was crystal clear!!!!!! Drove the Merc AMG down on that run..NICE!!!!!!!! Lotsa' people though.....

I like Apalachicola since it feels a bit remoted,..peaceful and quiet. I frikin' HATE seaweed....

Best!

Doyle

[ShakinJoe]

This is funny. The US navy stores their old ships in CA primarily because they won't rust there. Is has a lot to do with low humidity levels. The rusty areas are in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida.

Cars that are ungalvanized with or with no undercoating could be a concern. I live 2 blocks to water and I have little concern.