Thanks for the extra tip, Greg - I hadn't considered that before. It's bad
enough when Triumphs encounter water, let alone attract it!
-----Original Message-----
From: Hutmacher, Greg [SMTP:ghutmacher@stanleyworks.com]
Sent: January 8, 1999 4:13 PM
To: Day.John@fin.gc.ca
Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Why all the rust?
Importance: High
As a long time TR6 owner with a nice, original, low mileage car that
has
never been north of the Red River since it was new (I live in Texas
far from
the coast), one thing I've learned surprised me. If you are not
driving
your car very much, take the front carpets out while the car sits
unused.
My 76 TR6 sits in a dry garage 99.9% of the time. I only rarely
take it out
for a spin due to a busy work/travel schedule (someday, life will
slow down
and I'll have more time). Yet, even without a drop of rain falling
on it, I
discovered surface rust forming on the interior side of the
floorpans when I
removed the carpet to do some underdash work. As JD pointed out
below and I
learned after this experience, its not pretty, but its best to let
the bare
floor pans "breathe" while the car sits unused. Since then, I've
talked to
a couple of other people who do this for the same reason. The
carpet
actually acts like a wick that absorbs moisture from the air and
then holds
it against the metal for long periods.
----------
From: Day.John@fin.gc.ca [SMTP:Day.John@fin.gc.ca]
Sent: Friday, January 08, 1999 2:39 PM
To: JackR@SHRIVERCO.COM
Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Why all the rust?
Your car certainly had the benefit of storage in its youth
when most
cars
were out there as daily drivers. Now current owners are
paying the
price for
the sins of previous owners, particularly when there is
little or no
known
history about a car's past. Rusty floors in this case are
often the
result
of rain getting in through & around the windshield, where
wet
carpets acted
like humidifiers, keeping metal wet for days afterwards. If
you know
yourself the car will never get that sort of treatment, no
problem.
BTW -
where are you? The SW U.S. should never see a rusty car,
even a
British one.
Coastal states & provinces have salt & humidity worries.
Enjoy!
JD
-----Original Message-----
From: Radley, Jack [SMTP:JackR@SHRIVERCO.COM]
Sent: January 8, 1999 3:27 PM
To: 'triumphs@autox.team.net'
Subject: Why all the rust?
I am new to the TR6 world, but the one thing I have
learned
with
certainty is that I have to protect my TR6 from
rust.
Currently my
car
is original and basically in like-new condition. I
have
read all
the
posts about the rust repair products, but what
should I do
to
protect my
car?
I have a handle on the basics like no salt, avoid
rain, keep
it
clean,
dry, waxed, etc., but why all the rust?
Is the steel in the TR6 overly susceptible to rust
or is
this all
simply
a function of 20+ years of exposure.
Is there more that I should know?
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