tvr

I'm used to pulling/looking in the storage bin area, but since the SAs don't have these I was wondering if there are other areas these might have that's bad news. Does the area where the storage bins eventually went tend to rust up under there?

thanks,
Stan

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

For SAs the rust areas are a bit different. They can get the dreaded rust
behind the area where FBs have storage bins but they also have some extra supports in there to help make the car stiffer. Also on the outside where
the top rear axle links attach, that can have rust which may or may not get
into that hidden area. So if your serious, remove the carpet and pull out the
metal pan that covers that area and check it out. Since a lot of SAs didn't have
sunroofs its just not as big an issue.

Now places that all SAs tend to have rust is:

- Right rear lower fender just behind the rear wheel. This area collects a
lot of water due to a common manufacturing defect. The drain tube for the
power antenea drops into the gap in the fender and water tends to settle there.

- Around the bottom of the hatch opening at the corners sometimes has rust.

- Under the tail lights rust appears in the seams.

- Front and rear bumpers tend to get rusty and fugly over time.

- The seams below the rear bumpers like to rust and start to split open.

- The lips on all 4 wheel wells tend to get chipped up an rust starts there.

Really rust cars will have rusted rockers and rusted fram stubs in the front especially. Walk away from any of those.

7aull

iTrader: (2)

Another scary point on ANY 7 is under the battery shelf, due to battery acid vapor I imagine.

Definitely recommend pulling BOTH taillights and get a flashlight into the rear fender areas to have a look see. Even my SoCal-dry SA had lots of rust inside the passenger rear well (see pic) behind the wheel, likely as TG points out, because the antenna drain wasn't exiting the chassis.
I got in there with a dremel tool/wire brush attachment and removed as much loose stuff as I could, followed by POR15 METALREADY to etch the metal, then POR-15 Rust Preventative paint - Did the other fender well too for safety AND painted up (inside) over the wheel arches - another area rust prone.
Happily, fellow in UK making replacement rear panel components for RX7s:
(see pic) Stephen@sbrooks43.orangehome.co.uk

Also, if you've NEVER replaced the taillight gaskets, these are rather fragile and dry out and crack, leaving water access. You'll likely do them in just pulling the rear lights, so $$ well spent to have a set standing by!

As a follow up you need to be pretty religious about checking to always make sure the 2 (3 in very early cars) HATCH DRAIN hoses are properly exiting both sides just under the bumper. I once, in a cleaning frenzy knocked one of the hoses back into the fender well (see pic) where it dumped a 1/2 qt of water from washing! Not good!!

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

tvr

Thanks guys, that was exactly what I was looking for.
I knew about the hatch-drain tubes (sometimes easy to spot when the hatch recess fills with water!), but wondered about the SA's particular problem areas. I'll be sure to check these spots on the SA I'm looking at.

I hate rust.

Stan