I bought a 1956 Plymouth Savoy. The situation: It has to sit outside; no room in garage or barn. The question: Do I make it watertight (replace gl***/rubber), or do I get a decent car cover? The factors: -Body's in really good condition. -Floorpans & 1/2 the trunk floor are shot. -1 window (rear driver) is gone; others are good enough (for now, but not for legal). - Rubber around doors & truck lid are shot. - I've removed the door panels, seats, headliner, and most of the metal trim on the inside except the dash. Why I'm asking: I've read here that car covers can really help a car rust. However, I can't replace the pans with a leaky car, and this is a project that's gonna be a weekender only- so it'll take months to do. What would you do to keep water out (as much as possible)? Thanks. Mark (tathataboy)
Moisture evaporating from the ground and going up into the floor and frame, suspension, etc is a big problem. Cover the ground with visqueen or something to prevent moister from rusting out the car bottom. Also get a car cover. Can you rent a 10 x 20 storage garage?
I feel your pain! I had to leave a project car outside uncovered for years, too, however in Las Vegas it only rains about every 3rd lifetime... My suggestion would be to get it watertight as fast and inexpensivley as you can, even if it means doing things in a different order than you ordinarily would. 2nd thought: Give it to your wife as a late Valentine's present, THEN tell her she means so much to you that you can't stand to see HER car outside in the rain... move it into the garage and put her OLD car outside!
****s working outside, I've been building the '50 Burb for almost 8 years outside. I'm STILL outside. If you do the gl*** first to seal the car, then you risk the gl*** when you weld the floor up. Whatever you do, prime and paint any newly exposed metal, knowing you'll probably be repainting again to get out work scratches, etc.... Thats part of the deal.
as long as you paint, or undercoat it after you weld in the new pans the water that leaks in shouldnt shouldn't damage the new ones in the few months it will take you to finish the rest of the car. just sop up and water that stands after each rain, and make sure the seams are sealed.
If you have space, try one of these: http://www.canopymasters.com/ They won't survive a tornado but they will keep you dry. .
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