Rust under the A-Pillar vinyl!

scrapman · 01-03-2009

Hey guys, I peeled the vinyl off of the A-Pillar yesterday and found a nasty surprise waiting. I hope the following explanation makes sense. The vinyl covering that wraps around the pillar and then around to the outside which is then covered by the heavy plastic piece that goes all the way around the door. It appears that rain water running down the channel seeped under the old weather seal and then wicked it's way under the vinyl covering and then under the tan colored build up material on the pillar resulting in rust on the pillar. I suspect that this could be a problem on a lot of cars with old weather seals on them so it may be worth taking a quick look for.

I am including some pics and have a couple of questions I hope someone can answer.

1 - What is the tan build up material on the A-Pillar?
2 - When restoring, how did others approach replacing this material once it was removed, or did you not replace it?
3 - Since several layers of metal come together on the A-Pillar, rust on the inside is a concern. Ideas on treating this are appreciated.

BQS4 · 01-03-2009

If this is on the car from the top of the sign post, I'm not surprized. Being out in the weather all that time. I'd just wire brush it good, an coat it with POR-15. Then when reinstalling the interior, the A pillars are covered with the same vinyl as the headliner, but, these are just glued on.

Dennis Texas · 01-03-2009

It does not appear that nasty of an problem from the pictures like suggested already just clean it up and use some sort of rust sealer on the rest. The tan material use to be a foam type material to cushion the pillar somewhat. I just used some rubber sheets about 1/4 thick and glued to the post before putting the vinyl over it on one of my cars that that material had decomposed on it was all crumbly and stuff.

scrapman · 01-03-2009

Should have clarified, the car in question is my GT, not the birdhouse Manta. It was a hidden surprise. I have stripped off all the old material scraped the rust. Some Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator and it should be good until the interior is ready to go back in. Thanks, Rick

73Manta72gt · 01-03-2009

The A-pillar padding is cork

01-03-2009	#2 (permalink)
BQS4 Southern Red Neck Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 6,027 Real Name: Gene Provided Answers: 12	If this is on the car from the top of the sign post, I'm not surprized. Being out in the weather all that time. I'd just wire brush it good, an coat it with POR-15. Then when reinstalling the interior, the A pillars are covered with the same vinyl as the headliner, but, these are just glued on. __________________ "Yes, I do have a rifle rack in my Sportwagon"

01-03-2009	#3 (permalink)
Dennis Texas Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 386 Provided Answers: 2	It does not appear that nasty of an problem from the pictures like suggested already just clean it up and use some sort of rust sealer on the rest. The tan material use to be a foam type material to cushion the pillar somewhat. I just used some rubber sheets about 1/4 thick and glued to the post before putting the vinyl over it on one of my cars that that material had decomposed on it was all crumbly and stuff. __________________ If everything seems to be going well you have obviously overlooked something.

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01-03-2009	#4 (permalink)
scrapman Opelizer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rogers, Arkansas Posts: 215 Real Name: Rick	Should have clarified, the car in question is my GT, not the birdhouse Manta. It was a hidden surprise. I have stripped off all the old material scraped the rust. Some Eastwood's Rust Encapsulator and it should be good until the interior is ready to go back in. Thanks, Rick

01-03-2009	#5 (permalink)
73Manta72gt Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 341	The A-pillar padding is cork

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