Hello everyone I had a full respray back in January 2008, and the bottom 6 inches were replaced in most places on the van, new door steps etc. Just been out to the van today and noticed the paint bubbling on door step badly and underneath can see that its not looking great. ( will try and get a pic tommorrow) Question is, is this to be expected or should I be complaining to the garage that did it? Thanks
A pic would be great, but rust does have a tendancy to come back. Do you use your bus regularly? It it kept outdoors? Was the underneath protected with waxoil or other underseal?
Hi There Bus is used regulary, but has had a cover on it for the last 2 months. Underneath of bus was undersealed as well. year 1 bus was kept in my garage, since then its been outside Will def get out there and take a pic...
If it's kept outside and water makes it to the step regularly it was rust just as it would from new. You say underneath it looks bad - did you get it prep'd and coated underneath too? If it is kept outdoors and the underside is not protected then in four years I would expect to see some areas needing attention. I don't think you could really complain to the garage after 4 years.
It all depends on so many factors. Was the rust proofing adequate after the respray?? This is where it can go wrong and does go wrong on so many restorations. l was told by the chap who painted my 504 that the only way to get rid of rust is to cut it out. If you don't it will always come back. l applied a really good coat of waxoyl to the doors of the 504 and 7 years later the rust was just coming back on one door. l had the inner rear wing within the door shut fabricated and again applied a very good coat of waxoyl. The rust never came back. If truth be told l should have reapplied the wax after 3 years but l didn't. l did some rust workj on my own bus to the good steps 3 years ago under the rubber steps and applied underseal to the area. The rust has come back so l will need to redo them this year. Should you complain?? Personally l don't think so. Look at the area that was done (A picture of the area and what was done would be great to give advice) and consider what it goes through. Those front steps are made from ok-ish steel. Was it treated inside the box section?? Those new steps are not treated the same way as when the bus was new with all its coating and electrophenetic (you know what l mean) treatments. If not treated they will rust out. Steel rusts. It doesn't like moisture. The English climate is not great for anything made of steel
By the way l don't buy the blurb about covers. I've seen several damaged from having a cover on over winter. l would NEVER use on even on a car kept in the garage. Best think l can suggest to anyone who stores a bus outside is to prep the engine air vents to allow air in but not water. Battery trays and engine bays don't like getting wet. they stay wet and damp for a long time.
^this. I think covers accelerate rust, rather than stop it. No cover and a good run from time to time will help.
Sometimes, when new panels are added or bits welded in, the rusting area behind is not properly treated. In that case, it won't be long before the rust comes through the panel again. I've seen a few restos done like this (on TLB too). It's a false economy of course.
bubbling normally indicates blown filler. Keeping a cover on a bus stored outside is the best option, however, you need to make sure its aired regularly, at least once a week, or you'll end up with ground moisture trapped under the cover. Ground moisture is by far the most damaging to a vehicle, not necessarily wet weather. Putting something on top of the van (I use a spacehopper) to make it more tent like will ensure water will run off the cover. My van looks like a camel A vehicle kept on grass or gravel, or in an area where rain is not able to flow away from the vehicle will scab over quicker than a nuns chuff
All I can say about covers is that in about a year of using mine I got bubbles appearing all over the place ,the problem is that once the steel gets wet inside it cannot dry out even in breathable covers ,the humidity will mean even if the van is covered it will get damp. I wouldnt reccomend.
That doesn't look good. My van was sprayed with 2-pack about four years ago, then left in the fresh air, and (sorry ) I've got nothing like that. Looks like moisure has crept up under the paint from around the panel edges 9or possibly the panels weren't prepped properly). Bummer.
Ours was done 3 years ago and doesn't have any areas like that yet, just a few lone bubbles around. Are they the only bits that have bubbled?
