Undersealed fate?

Here is a graphic image of why, if you think your classic is protected by a fresh layer of Hammerite/Waxoyl underseal, you are so very much mistaken. I think people that gullible should not be allowed to own these cars, while they are apparantly protected, they are rotting away to the point they will end up being scrapped.

Time and time again, on removing the paint and underseal on this car, it can clearly be seen that rubbery underseal does not work. It simply traps water underneath it, and the metal rusts behind the thick black layer, unknown to you. I have cases of repairs done less than 5 years ago, which are already corroded to the point they will need re-doing. I am so glad I have caught this now, before my GT rots to the point of no return.

Look at this: Wet corrosion, beneath an intact layer of underseal. Loverly.



Vital lessons have been learnt here:

1. Hammerite paints are useless on cars. They chip extremely easily, do not last more than a couple of years at the most, and they do not stop rust.
On the tin, it says they can be applied over rust. And that they will stop rust. NO THEY WON'T, OK? Why do people ruin cars, just because it says on a Hammerite tin that they are suitble for metal and stop corrosion? People who have this much knowledge of anything should not be allowed near historic vehicles. Grrrrr, calm down.

2. Hammerite paints, covered with underseal, are also useless on cars. My inner wings have surface rust after they were replaced less than 5 years ago, despite only a couple of thousand miles being done since.

3. Underseal of the Waxoyl/Hammerite sort is useless. Not only can you no longer see what is happening to your steel, it is not really being protected. I'll get some more photos later of the underside of the GT with some of the areas which show up how useless underseal is.

Here's irony for you! Some of the best rust prevention carried out by whoever welded her last, was leaving the bar code sticker on the rear spring hanger repair. The glue from the sticker has preserved the paint, and the steel underneath, better than the underseal applied around it.

Working back cleaning up the underside, I discovered my nearside rear chassis rail was a bit dead. It's easily repairable though, just the bump stop mount rusting out.

Oh well. I don't care. Just a little bit more welding.