The 'E' Type Forum

Hi everyone

I was lucky enough t have bought a visually rust-free car which was sold to me with an MOT and has passed two more with only an advisory about steering column wear (more about that later).

Having read the various restoration reports on the forum, I am concerned that my car has hidden corrosion in the sills or somewhere else that is hidden from view. I have no signs of bubbling or any other paint defect but want to understand if something might be going on that i am not ready for.

Is there a way of checking the potential corrosion short of drilling into it?

John

Hi John

Just enjoy your car in the belief that it is rust free until you have evidence to the contrary.

Keep your eyes open for the tell tale signs but why worry about something that may never happen?

Consider yourself to be lucky.

Regards

Not sure if it is universal but mine has “inspection holes” in the inner sill under the trim. Trim lifted, metal grommets removed, I can insert my cheapo eBay endoscope in to have a deco at the interior of the sills. I also use the same holes to squirt heaps of waxoyl during each winter layup.

Lift the battery and check where the battery carrier panel "touches" the firewall/bulkhead.
There was a big hole on my car so I required a new closing panel BD27561.
The rust had gone all the way backwards to behind the driver seat (mine is a 2+2) on the inside of the car on the seem of the floor panel and sill, turning it into swiss cheese. The outside of the sill looked great and was in excellent condition.

Rgds
Jan

John,

I agree with Stuart - enjoy your car as it is! Efforts of therapy weigh heavier than those of examination, so don‘t dig in too deep. :)

To answer your question: As mentioned there are holes in the inner sill. The grommets under the bonnet pin receiving brackets give access to the inside of the A-Post.

Martin

Agree with the other posts. Fill it with waxoyl or dinitrol or similar rust deterrent and drive the car....that's what I did five years ago...so far all well.. Mine will be out this weekend as the weather man says it is going to be fab.

Whilst I agree we should get out there and enjoy our cars, it is naive to believe an E type has no rust. All E types started rusting the moment they were made and it is just a question of how much they've rusted depending on how they've lived their lives.

By the time rust becomes noticeable, serious and expensive to put right damage has been caused. No E type should be out there without Waxoyl, Dinitrol or similar product in all closed sections.

A small hole drilled on each side at the rear end of the sill inside the wheel arch at the bottom of the forward facing face allows access to the whole sill for an endoscope to be reassured of what's going on and the injection of a suitable wax without having to disturb the trim inside the car. The hole can then be plugged with a grommet.

Thanks for all the comments. I am not going to worry about it for now and will just drive it. When I spot something amiss that's the time to worry but am finally enjoying driving it more than spending money on it!

I've just spent two hours yesterday cleaning the wheels and it's gleaming so I will enjoy the hot weather for the couple of days it's going to last.

John

Now that‘s the spirit!