Having spent 10 years cleaning the tracks (that’s how long it felt anyway), I’ve kurusted & primed them. They seem in pretty good condition apart from one anomaly, which might even be purposeful... This hole at the front on the bottom track? If it shouldn’t be there I could possible fibreglass it. Main questions are along the lines of “what can I fill in to make the task less troublesome in the future and reduce the amount of grime my van transports (thus reducing weight and increasing speed & mpg...ok, i’m dreaming but there was a lot of grime). This groove along the top was the rustiest part. Any reason why I can’t fill it with Seam Sealer? Same goes for the front bit...just a dust collector...can I put filler in this? There is a purposeful hole under that, just shy of where it curves, but i’ve no idea what the purpose is...nor what the purpose of the hole about 30cm from the rear of the track!? The running groove on the bottom track, a trickier fill, being upside down, but that just seems an unnecessary trap for mud etc... Where it opens up at the front i’d leave alone but can the long run be filled with Seam Sealer? Same thing goes for where the metal folds down, at the back of the track along its length... That could take a nice line of Seam Sealer and it wouldn’t interfere with the runner, but it would mean less grit accumulation (unless that’s it’s purpose...to trap it out the way of the runner!?). Finally, the main running rail itself at the bottom. I’ve read some say the groove is by design and others say it’s wear & tare. Either way, i’ve only got one bump & one depression along the way so nothing major. What I was thinking though was to fill the groove with Seam Sealer to be level. Might make a nice soft ride for the baring and save the metal somewhat. The Kurust crystallised, which I hadn’t noticed when I primed, so i’ve sanded it down again Top track was pristine and turned out nicely - must remember to remove the tape. I do intend to clean & maintain all of this in the future but if I can fill unnecessary traps for moisture & dirt to save hassle then now is my chance. Cheers folks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The top metal inside should eventually be covered with a big rubber strip that you bang your head on as you get out of the slider, rather than scalp yourself on the metal edge. The door is so heavy, it will just remove all the paint from that wear groove in the lower track. So a light greasing will be needed, if the paint is thick it will flake off either side of the pressure point of the roller. If your door profile matches the body of the bus, the door seal should keep all water and dirt out of the lower track anyway. Hint : aftermarket door repair panels dont quite match. The hole above the lower track on the inside looks like the metal has worn through or rusted from the inside. Its where the lateral guide roller runs.. more welding Bottom of bottom track, mark above where lateral guide roller runs.
I would suggest as it's lasted 40+ years without seam sealer where you're proposing it doesn't need it? Certainly not where the wheel runs. That hole in the first pic I'm not sure a wheel would hit it.
Always suspected you were a head-banger Mike! Gotcha about the paint. Wasn’t a lick of it left on there once i’d cleaned the grease - i’m thinking of using Copper Slip instead. I’ll not bother trying to do anything fancy with the groove then either Gosh, it’s been so long since I had the seal on and door shut that I stupidly didn’t realise that overhanging groove would be covered. One less thing to deal with and just keep clean in future. As for the hole on the bottom run (top ones may well be for waxyol), it’s strange because it looks too symmetrical to not be on purpose. As Zedders says, the runners don’t actually get anywhere near it I think. Still some welding in the bottom seal corners so i’ll have someone look at it anyway. Zedders, I have 2.5 tubes of Seam Sealer left over from doing my gutter!! ha ha I found it far easier to work with than silicone sealant so now i’m just trying to find places to use it - possibly not the best life philosophy. Cheers guys. You’ve set me up nicely for the next stage Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Seam sealer is also just a thick soft flexible paint, it guides rust underneath it once any water gets in, so if you put it on somewhere it gets damaged, its worse than thin paint
Ah, well that I did not know! I’ll most certainly not use it anywhere like that then. Thanks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
