Rust!

[Hydroglen]

Kevin,
Have you seen this rust problem for yourself, or are you going on what you
were told? Shops do make mistakes and perhaps a skim of light surface rust
was interpreted as a major issue.
Good luck,
Dorien

[Kevin H]

Dorien,
I'm just going on what I have been told at this point. Haven't had time to go and see the car this week, although it is the roadworthy testers who have flagged the problem.

I know I have to go and see it for myself, but I was wanting to know whether rust continues to develop even in a dry workshop. I always thought the conditions needed to be right for steel to continue rusting?

This would normally be a bit of a moot point, but the relationship with the guy who has been working (or not working) on my car has soured somewhat!

Kevin

[lansdownplace]

Steel rusts when there is any humidity at all. It would be unlikely
that a workshop would be de-humidified. Serious rot would suggest an
accelerant like salt was in situ. Other that demonstrating that your
restorer is a bit of a numpty I would say it was nearly impossible
to demonstrate negligence especially over such a long period.

[Hydroglen]

Agreed,..... but I have had some cars stored in a barn or garage with no
ill effects over the same period of time. They were not cleaned or treated
prior to storeage and one was a Citroen 2CV. Hardly a high end car.
So it does seem strange that if the repairs were good there is a problem
after storeage. Perhaps the dampness in the workshop was high.
Dorien

[David Olivant]

I can assure you that the rear end of Bristols rust. I had to replace all
the steel work to the rear of the rear torsion bars. this included the
petrol tank area, both rear wheel arches and all of the boot. I also had
to replace the 'top hat' outriggers, the sills, the front wheel arches and
various other assorted steelwork.
With regards to the front axle, the comlete bottom was replaced as were the
top spring bearing surfaces. I replaced the bottom spring pans but had them
hot dip galvanised. to prevent future corrosion. They were badly corroded,
but are a perfect receptacle for water [and salt].
Bristol in line with nearly all manufacturers in the sixties and seventies
did little or no rustproofing, particularly of hollow sections. It was only
after the Lancia debacle that the problem was addressed to any great extent.
My car is a 408, it will not win any serious concours competition due to not
having an origonal painted posterior, but it should still be here to convey
my relations to my funeral, many many years from now [I hope]
David Olivant