call me crazy - heres how I fixed my quarter panels

dutchamphi

Proud Sponsor of the Amphicar Digest
That is a very clever and affordable solution. Thank you for sharing although probably the pro's will have their thoughts about it.
 

Jon March

Member
i hope they go easy - after buying the car, i didnt have the funds (nor proximity to an experienced pro).
It came out great looks completely pro on the outside - and the inside is now totally waterproof!
 

SNOWBIRD

Amphicar Expert
This is nothing new, guys use to do that years ago to used cars, put them on the lot for sale, looks like new.
The unsuspecting new owner nun the wiser till 1 year later.
Sorry.........THE RUST WILL POP OUT QUICKLY!

Chucks  stripping 028.JPG
 

Jon March

Member
well, it was my only financial option for the time being@#$ - but I will definitely keep an eye on it, and I will report back as soon as I see any new rust visible that comes thru the areas I did this to - I very curious too! Im certainly hoping it will be longer than a year from now (or do you mean a year from the first time it gets wet swimming?)
 

mike_israel

Amphicar Forum Admin
Staff member
When I purchased my Amphi it had similar type repairs to the quarters. As Gord notes, it did not hold up well once it hit the water.

That said, it did let me get a few seasons out of mine before I eventually had the repairs done properly. So hey, if it gets your Amphi on the road and in the water for a year or more then it is all good!
 

SNOWBIRD

Amphicar Expert
Yes Mikes reply is good,, get it swiming, have some fun, That's what its all about.(another) Mike in Fl. keeps a real rough car swimming . he is out in water almost every day and has fun. But Rust Never Sleeps. Rear quarters were done in this car but rust came back just ahead of the repairs.

IMG_5542.JPG
 

okey0

Member
Yes, you ARE crazy ;), but I am right there with you on the financials. It is sad that the best Amphicar expert, engine and tranny rebuilder, and body man that I can afford is ME!
 

Midwest Amphicar

Worlds Largest Amphicar Destination
Looks like you kept pocket open. I will bet being open it will last longer than many expect. Usually they get filled to the top with glass and goo. Spray some used motor oil in and let the good times roll.
Might consider cutting battery tray and clean. See you in Florida for our swim in March 16th.
 

Jon March

Member
dag blastit! - is the winter event the same weekend every year? - how does it go?
(second fri/sat/sunday of March every year?)
 

Steve

Member
Looks like you kept pocket open. I will bet being open it will last longer than many expect. Usually they get filled to the top with glass and goo. Spray some used motor oil in and let the good times roll.
Might consider cutting battery tray and clean. See you in Florida for our swim in March 16th.

Don`t use used motor oil for rust prevention. Blow-by of combustion gases that contain sulfur mixes with condensation in the oil pan and creates sulfuric acid. There are additives in the oil to neutralize the acid but they have their limits. If you`re going to put any oil in there, use proper under coating oil or at least new engine oil.
 

Jon March

Member
John Friese and/or? Larry Solheim mention routinely running an absorbent papertowel/chamois down inside after swims.
Gord uses clever petcocks. I think Dave Chapman has talked about keeping the area(and others) coated with Waxoyl , and I think Mike Israel mentioned Amsoil sells a similar protective coating spray as well -
.....these are all good practices to be sure water doesnt get at the metal & seams.

Im curious if anyone has experimented with rubber flaps to better prevent water from entering the quarterpanels in the first place?.....if they were adhered along the bottom edges, and velcro'd to the inside of the quarter panel along the top, they could be opened up and rag-dried and "aired out" as needed (maybe with some condensation releasing holes along the topline?

Has anyone ever conjured a way to direct some hot engine air blowing down into them to keep the areas dehumidified & always evaporating?
 

jfriese

Active Member
I've actually thought about using engine intake manifold vacuum to suck up the water and feed it into the engine. Engines will run fine with a bit of water injection. Your intake lines would have to be small though to not harm engine performance by reducing the manifold vacuum too much. Never tried it though.

John Friese
67 White
67 Red
 
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Midwest Amphicar

Worlds Largest Amphicar Destination
With proper application of zinc fortified epoxies I don't worry about it. The cars when made did not get much if any paint. Heavy duty metal protectant ultimately gets in bilge pump. Never had an oil pan rust from the inside. You can over think everything, still gets back to keep it simple.
 

LSolheim

Member
John Friese and/or? Larry Solheim mention routinely running an absorbent papertowel/chamois down inside after swims.
Gord uses clever petcocks. I think Dave Chapman has talked about keeping the area(and others) coated with Waxoyl , and I think Mike Israel mentioned Amsoil sells a similar protective coating spray as well -
.....these are all good practices to be sure water doesnt get at the metal & seams.

Im curious if anyone has experimented with rubber flaps to better prevent water from entering the quarterpanels in the first place?.....if they were adhered along the bottom edges, and velcro'd to the inside of the quarter panel along the top, they could be opened up and rag-dried and "aired out" as needed (maybe with some condensation releasing holes along the topline?

Has anyone ever conjured a way to direct some hot engine air blowing down into them to keep the areas dehumidified & always evaporating?
May have been JF, but no water absorbent chamois for me. I do have drains on inner quarters, but really don't use them. The only water that gets in there is from splash through the engine louvers (and there has to be a lot --very fast entries---) and the open slot coupled w/ residual engine heat evaporates it quickly.
 

jfriese

Active Member
Hi Larry,

I don't trust the 20 to 50 minute drive home to dry out those quarters. My White car only gets a tiny bit of splash water but I've always suspected a tiny leak on the right side of my Red car. I've never been able to find it though. Anyway, at the end of a days run, and before driving home, I always run some quarter folded paper towels down there to be sure they are dry and I let the drive home absolutely finish the job. By the way, even if your feed through pipe from the front trunk to the back is open and working correctly, the pipe doesn't get close enough to the trunk floor to completely drain that area. When I get home I run another towel or two down there with an extension handle (Ace Hardware) to get any moisture out of there too. This problem is why you see most Amphicars have some, or a lot, of rust damage down there, and it's easy to avoid. Just a bit of after run maintenance guys. These cars are 50 years old and can use all the extra help we can give them.

John Friese

67 White
67 Red
 

AL67

Member
With proper application of zinc fortified epoxies I don't worry about it. The cars when made did not get much if any paint. Heavy duty metal protectant ultimately gets in bilge pump. Never had an oil pan rust from the inside. You can over think everything, still gets back to keep it simple.

What is your price for right side lower quarter panel patch,or do you still make them
 
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