Bongo Fury

Hi guys,

I have a very small amount of surface rust starting on the edge of one of my rear wheel arches.

Plan is to disk it off carefully and repaint.

However on closer inspection there are 2 pieces of bodywork that come together here, one from the rear panel, and that then overlaps the inner wheel arch.

In a couple of places you can see that there is a gap inbetween them. Should I be looking to get some wayoyl in that gap somehow, as rust always starts in places such as that and edges where the paint is naturally thinner?

May as well get this licked early on before it develops into something more serious.

First thing to find out is if the rust is 'surface', or has come though from behind. I doubt I have to tell you the different implications?!

Anyways, once the job has been repaired, by all means spray Wayoyl in to the gap, and wipe it off flush to make it neat.

I can't remember the gap you are referring to, but there were certainly huge gaps at the front of my niece's Bongo where the sills met the front wings - I flushed a ton of carp out of there with a hose before spraying copious amounts of W in there.

To prevent future rot coming through from the insides of the wing arches, you do need to spray IN there - Waxoyl on the outside won't protect it, I'm afraid.

Thanks, yes it's definitely surface and only very very slight, hence my need to get it sorted asap.

Probably a wise precaution for all to do this as rust never starts on a flat panel in the middle (unless there is a stone chip) and even though mine is properly undersealed there are always places it can start elsewhere.

I've had all my doors and cavities under the bonnet etc treated too.

Want to keep mine going as long as possible, mechanics can generally be fixed, rust however is something more fundamental.

Thanks for the help. Maybe we should do a post of all the places rust can start that are out of the ordinary? Mike had one underneath, I'm sure there are more.

That's good news!

Once you've under-coated, painted and lacquered the repair, give it plenty of coats of good quality (eg AutoGlym) car wax too (after the paint has hardened for a few weeks)! Paint can be surprisingly porous, and could very well be compromised if you don't wax it. Waxing is the best way to make it absolutely waterproof.

Taking the rear indicators off is a good way to spray inhibitor onto the top of the arches. Need to be careful not to spray the rear seatbelts though. Alternatively take the rear side panels off inside if you have got a day to spare....

Following on from dobby, when you remove the rear clusters, you need to prise out the large rubber grommets the cables pass through to gain access (sorry for stating the obvious!). There's a multi-way plug just behind which allows you to fully remove the lights so's they don't get in the way.

In addition, if you remove both rear cup holders/oddment bins (one screw in each), you'll have excellent access straight down on to the rear arch seams. Use a significantly thinned Waxoyl for this job so's it 'creeps' into the seam and every crevice.

Trouble at t'Mill wrote:Following on from dobby, when you remove the rear clusters, you need to prise out the large rubber grommets the cables pass through to gain access (sorry for stating the obvious!). There's a multi-way plug just behind which allows you to fully remove the lights so's they don't get in the way.

In addition, if you remove both rear cup holders/oddment bins (one screw in each), you'll have excellent access straight down on to the rear arch seams. Use a significantly thinned Waxoyl for this job so's it 'creeps' into the seam and every crevice.

Aye, that's good advice I did simplify it a bit and I forgot about the oddment bins

The easiest way to get to the arches is to remove the plastic cubby hole at the back and pump it in i then got a hair dryer on said joint started at the top of the arch and worked my way down either side as capillary action drew it through. Had to take the back of the cupboard out on the other side but i think easier than removing the lights?