Dream Job

[hammerhead]

OMG, it’s the shock-tower/k-member equivalent of the fox body! How can the rot be so advanced in one specific area, while the rest of the vehicle appears decent?

lol. Believe it or not I’ve see worse.

[hammerhead]

Passenger side at filler nozzle was pretty bad inside wheel well as well

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[hammerhead]

The complete tower on right side (passenger) was remove and reconstruction of outer well and fuel filler section begin g to be reconstructed

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[5.4MarkVIII]

We were always told that cracked or missing seam sealer allows salty water in between the panels and will lead to this level of corrosion

Also know people that firmly believe keeping you car in a heated garage will cause this because the constant melting of salt filled snow forces that in between the panels.

[hammerhead]

We were always told that cracked or missing seam sealer allows salty water in between the panels and will lead to this level of corrosion

Also know people that firmly believe keeping you car in a heated garage will cause this because the constant melting of salt filled snow forces that in between the panels.

Its hard to say what is best. There used to be a driver here were I work. He had a 90's Mustang Cobra (red Jelly Bean Vert). He was on the old mustang forum and always kept me informed on what was going on around town with Mustangs. When he retired I had the chance to by the car. It had never been winter driven or driven in the rain and always garage kept. I think it was around 2013 when he sold it and it looked like the day he had bought it. No dust dirt grime or anything in the areas where most people wouldn't clean. It still looked like a brand new car. He would take it to a lot of the forum events around the area. I wasn't too into the car being a vert but kick myself now for not buying it.

[Gabe]

I think 5.4MarkVIII was talking about daily drivers through the winter

[ZR]

We are always surprised when what looks like an ultra clean / never seen snow ride comes in with serious rust in odd places. More common vs what peeps think.

[ChickenLips]

We were always told that cracked or missing seam sealer allows salty water in between the panels and will lead to this level of corrosion

Also know people that firmly believe keeping you car in a heated garage will cause this because the constant melting of salt filled snow forces that in between the panels.

That's a two link failure chain, failed seam sealer AND salty water seeping in.

My 88 had a paint flaw at the top of the drivers door post that eventually cancered out the car. It remained hidden under the fender until a leak developed at the bottom of the windshield. Otherwise the car looked mint.

All you need is a minor flaw AND another condition that magnifies the first flaw. In my case a heated garage probably would have slowed or halted the cancer.

I wouldn't condemn heated garages but would be aware that it introduces a unique failure mode not encountered with cold storage.

[hammerhead]

I think 5.4MarkVIII was talking about daily drivers through the winter

I think so yes. There's a lot problems with moisture and heat, metal is thinner, lack of paint in the hidden areas, seam sealer and lack of, some pigments don't protect like others. (White Paint in the past was notoriously bad) The Subby's are bad in this area and if they remove the bumper covers the metal bumpers are probably almost gone too. ( The '04 I have was this way). Back a few post is a 911, most of that rot is caused from heat from the exhaust and moisture. The exhaust was utilized to heat the cabin on air cooled cars. Exhaust pipes that come close to floor boards will deteriorate metal. There is even bad steel that doesn't hold up. Early Toyota Tacoma's are an excellent example of bad steel used for the frames. There's all kinds of problems the Mustang example was just an example that not many people can really do but the end result is the best. We need to move to Arizona...