23 replies to this topic

[andydclements]

Reliant Schimitar- alot of it is fibreglass

They are quite bad for rust, the chassis isn't galvanized, you can only get to the bits not near the body, so the water can get to it quite well and then the out-riggers tend to rust away.

[mab01uk]

I have wonderd about using that expanding foam (Speed-Camera Foam, as the Dutch call it) in the sills and up the A post cavity, plus under the rear bin liners, to keep the moisture out. The thing that worries me is where to drill sufficient holes to allow the excess foam to squirt out as it sets and expands. If it couldn't expand easily it might deform the structure. Has anyone else considered this as a means of keeping the wet out and, at the same time, maybe stiffening up the overall structure?

Most of the very early 1959/60 Mini's I have been involved with restoring have had expanding foam filled sills and 'A' post cavities, this was done back then as a factory stop gap measure to stop the water leaks caused by lapping the sills the wrong way round on the early bodyshells. Although it is a pain to remove when carrying out welding it seems to have prevented or delayed any serious rusting in many of the early cars box sections and sills.

Edited by mab01uk, 04 February 2011 - 07:35 PM.

[minibazzer]

That sir, is not rust, it is the Progressive Mass Reduction System....

[Tommyboy12]

I hear its lighter than carbon fibre anyway....

[samsfern]

Reliant Schimitar- alot of it is fibreglass

the chassis normally rots fairly quickly, unless its a middlebridge which has a galvanised chassis and the suspension components always tend to be very rusty on schimitars in comparison to other classic cars.

All classic cars go rusty, ive seen spridgets, b's, triumphs, and various other classic cars in need of restoration.

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

all cars rust, ive seen modern cars with more rust than quite a few minis (dont know what the owners are doin) but somehow if you look at the really old cars, pre1950 most are pretty solid even if theyve not been restored before, when i was young and stupid i wanted an SS Jaguar as my first car that didnt go to plan lmao

[Kam]

Do All Classic Cars Rust As Much As A Mini?, Or are mini especially good at it?

The only reason its appears to rust more than other classic cars is because it has sold alot more than others, so its about everywhere and been through everyones hands

[mini_legend]

Relaint Robin? If that can be called a classic... If not, then Reliant Regal Van, Trotter style!

Any steel car will rust, classics especially because they have been hit by 20 or more years of English weather. I know I certainly would be a bit rusty if I was left out for that long

Dan

Reliant Robins (plastic Pigs) are fibreglass, hence the don't rust

[Cooperman]

I have wonderd about using that expanding foam (Speed-Camera Foam, as the Dutch call it) in the sills and up the A post cavity, plus under the rear bin liners, to keep the moisture out. The thing that worries me is where to drill sufficient holes to allow the excess foam to squirt out as it sets and expands. If it couldn't expand easily it might deform the structure. Has anyone else considered this as a means of keeping the wet out and, at the same time, maybe stiffening up the overall structure?

Most of the very early 1959/60 Mini's I have been involved with restoring have had expanding foam filled sills and 'A' post cavities, this was done back then as a factory stop gap measure to stop the water leaks caused by lapping the sills the wrong way round on the early bodyshells. Although it is a pain to remove when carrying out welding it seems to have prevented or delayed any serious rusting in many of the early cars box sections and sills.

It did work well, but it was stopped because someone tried to flame cut a sill off and almost killed himself due to the noxious fumes.
In a DIY application that DIY foam certainly keeps moisture out as it's not like a sponge foam, it is waterproof when set.
Whens set is is very rigid and must strengthen up the structure. Foam is used to add rigidity in other structural applications. The problem would be that when setting it expands and, I suspect, if there are no expansion holes it would simply deform the structure.
Maybe I'll try some in an old scrap shell - and I just happen to know where there is one of those in the next village. Maybe drill a series of 1" dia holes along one inner sill, say every 6" or so, then not drill any holes in the other side. Fill both sill and wait and see.