Anyone got any Rust issues on their 964

[RLambert]

Just wondered if the 964 is heading the same way as the 3.2 in terms of rust problems.

Mine has a tiny bubble where the rear bumper meets the offside wing between the light and the wheel but thats it.

If there are areas that start to go I'd like to try and get in there first and cover it in wax.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Funny you should ask because I've been a bit down really because of rust issues with mine [&o].

First it failed its MOT because the boot floor had rusted through where it meets the plastic undertray. It was not so bad that the floor needed replacing but it needed some skillfull welding and re-sealing to remedy the problem. On inspection this is a right old road salt trap because the undertray plastic chaffes at the underseal of the front tub, allowing water and road cr*p to get in.

Unfortunately that wasn't the end of it. The nearside rear quarter panel has bubbling around the light cluster and a lot of surface rust inside the light recess itself. But even worse is some nasty corrosion where the rear quarter meets the engine bay. This is just above the rear reflector on the left as I open the engine lid. I believe it's called the gusset plate and it looks like it's going to have to be replaced. I've no such problem on the offside because that quarter was replaced (very well) due to previous accident damage. I'm off to see the bodyshop guys later this week to see about getting all these issues done (I won't be giving up on her []).

Funnily, the 964s I rejected before buying this one were because of rust issues with them (espacially around the front wings and screen). My aim was to buy a 911 that I could work on and enjoy but I didn't want to be dealing with rusty bodywork. In theory this should not have been an issue with the 964 but in reality I've found rust is indeed something that can and does occur.

Right, who's next to own up to their rust?

 

[vitesse]

Steve,
My headlamp trim surrounds are starting to "bubble" a bit so need taking off and stripping,treating then respraying.There is paint supplier in Liverpool who has mixed me the appropriate guards red;-I also got a a spray can for my esteemed son for his Turbo.
Otherwise ,apart from the dreaded "milking" & fading,it seems ok .I have just treated myself to the coarse & fine 3M detailing jollop plus the velcro polisher attachment & did it for Woodvale.I guess ,if I had the time ,at our cars age ,you need to go over it carefully and stop the rot before it starts-if we had enough good weather.

Are you coming tonight to the Northern Ace meet on Wallasey Promenade-top of the Wirral?Could be good!
Nick & I are going to Oulton Park on BH Monday.IS this a R5 event as sometimes before(with even cheaper tickets)?

Best regards,
Colin.

 

[iangray100]

Ooh dear what a hot topic ...

Headlamp rims
Left hand lower windscreen area
Left hand rear wing ...50% along as its connect to the rear bumper..rust bubble
And worse of all, the paint is cracking and lifting on the top left rear wing ...
Other than that fine ..even underneath.....very clear .. I've spent many hours there..rebuilding the engine out etc etc

I've taken it to body shop for a quote etc and he said its all very small and they will cut out the areas and weld in new. As for the top rear wing ....bad preparation in the past was his comment . All very fixable

As to where are the rust area's....apparently windscreen Very common .( read this a lot already) ...bad design, And around the petrol flap is common ..they were his comments.

Friends got a 964 and the top left front wings as it joins the screen scuttle was bad and had to cut out etc etc ...

 

[stevep2000]

That's a co-incidence - been looking at getting a 3.2, but most seem to have some rust issues. Couldn't see any reason why a 964 isn't at risk of the same, other than being a bit younger. Where there any design changes that improved protection on the 964? (thinking Sills/'B' pillars / Kidneys in particular)....

 

[appletonn]

I'm sure there have been some 993 owners too, posting reports (in Porsche Post for one) of having rust issues around windscreens and other areas - all these cars are getting on a bit now and the galvanisation will not last for ever, don't ask me how I know...[8|]

 

[Alexander_Drobik]

Interesting - on the 964 the most typical is some bubbling around the lower windscreen (poor seals) followed by rear window issues where sun roof water exists get blocked.

The front floor issues seem to be mainly where the lip has hit on a road bump etc and removes the protection. I have not heard of many rear light issues and very few kidney area issues.

But, as the galvanising sacrifices itself - any scratches, stone chip, etc will start to show rust. I recall reading that it takes 8-12 years for that to start but it seems that say after 20 years, the zinc plating will largely be gone and so the normal keep it protected with paint, waxoyl etc will rule.

I can only recommend to check these areas and fix anything before it gets worse, and also having the underneath waxoyled or similar every couple of years, esp the wing join areas (check also under the wheel arch liners).

 

[38F3E1]

Interesting topic Richard.

My observation is that you definately need to start looking after the bodywork as the 964 will go the same way as many 3.2, SC and early 911 without it. The 993 will have the same issues as they get older too. The 964 is now in the high teens for age and the Porsche factory body protection does eventually break down. Body condition will increasingly become the difference between a top condition car and a rough one. It's really no different to restore the body on a 964 or 993 as it is on 3.2, SC or early 911. They are basically all made to the same design and have the same long term rust weaknesses. Secret is to keep the bodywork in good condition as any Porsche bodyshell ain't cheap to bring back when gone too far. I imagine the 964 will be no different to earlier cars in that the price difference between good cars and rough cars will increase over time.

Interestingly the 964 I bought has the most immaculate body condition. Bought it even though it had an obviously leaky engine because of it. Main reason I believe is because previous owners have had the car waxoyed over the years to protect it. Definately makes a difference IMO.

Ian.

 

[964rh]

few bits.

Passenger sill from previous repair, front wing to scuttle (again from a previous repair I think) and a few little bits around the front window and where the rear bumper meets the wings.

But then it is a track slag that lives outside, I get it sorted sometime.

 

[vitesse]

General good housekeeping is necessary;I always run a finger around under the rear wheelarches with the hosepipe when washing the 964(or any car),where road crud sticks;whenever under the wheelarch,say doing brakes etc,I clean off hardened road dirt etc,but have to admit I have not yet got to waxoyling everywhere-good idea.

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: VITESSE

Steve,

Are you coming tonight to the Northern Ace meet on Wallasey Promenade-top of the Wirral?Could be good!
Nick & I are going to Oulton Park on BH Monday.IS this a R5 event as sometimes before(with even cheaper tickets)?

Best regards,
Colin.

Thanks for the tip about the paint Colin. I think we are lucky that many of the standard 964 colours are easy to match compared to modern metallics. I shall be taking some before and after shots of the rust work I'm getting done and will post them up later. I've also got a rusty headlight ring and have had a new, primed one in the cupboard for ages. I'll be getting this painted at the same time.

The Gold cup meet at Oulton is just a casual get together. There were some free tickets if you volunteered to go in the display area but I think we are too late for these now. There's a thread on the R5 board about this.

 

[iangray100]

I've just booked it into the body shop to have its "rust spots" cut out and repainted ..Plus paint the two bumpers

I've cut a deal where I have to take the bumpers off ..saves a few quid..and means I can then replace with new, all the rear brackets and screws etc ... I can then paint them first before I put them back on ...might last a little longer ...there not cheap.

 

[polar964]

ORIGINAL: iangray100

.. all the rear brackets and screws etc ... I can then paint them first before I put them back on ...might last a little longer ...there not cheap.

Just in the process of replacing my rear bumper corner brackets ... £56 each [&:] ... for a bit of fabricated tube!!

 

[RLambert]

Thanks for all the tips and advice. Ian was definitely right that the bodywork is going to be the most important factor affecting the selling price for these cars.

I'll spray some wax oil in all the crevices when I get the chance.

I'll also try and get in behind the window rubbers with wax too.

 

[iangray100]

Ref the cost of the rear brackets ..correct there not cheap but at least you get a few bends and a little more bracket for your money than the 2x front wheel arch ones !!!

I've just stripped my car (front and rear bumpers off and dismantled them, taken the side skirts off etc etc, and taken the left rear window out) as its off to the body shop on Tuesday for it rust spot on the rear wing and lower screen, and as part of the work I had to replace all 4x of the rear brackets ..as they fell apart (fully Hammerited the new ones before they go on )..

(FYI : The rear bumper reinforcing bar fell apart at its mount so another one will be required as I have no mount now, all the UK breakers tell me these are hens teeths...OPC price over £550!! so plan B, I found one in Europe 2ndhand at 200euros+shipping)

Has any one checked the two leading front brackets holding the front wheel arch to the body ..its just behind the front of the front inner wheel arch .....10cm long with a small bend in to ....£50+vat each !!!! and I can guarantee if yours are original, yours will be shot as well ...and Porsche know it !!!! the only positive thing is at least you can get them as Genuine parts, if this was Ford no way.

I've also made a rear left hand inner arch protector to stop all the grud going up inside the rear wing .....i'll have to see if it works now....as I might look at selling a few on ebay. Right hand one is a lot more trickier but will look at that later.

 

[iangray100]

Today's cost for the Porker due to corrosion/bad design is the rear bumper reinforcing insert. The one in the breakers that I was promised to be in A1 condition was utter rubbish and was just waiting to fall to bits, and he wanted £150+vat....so it was worse than my one that when disassembled fell apart after waiting to fall apart. So as these are Hens teeth in good condition as there all like this on the left side, I had to bite the OPC spares bullet ....£550 later retail !!

So if you looking at waxing your car perhaps put some on the left rear inner bumper alloy mount as I suspect if you look carefully the alloy will be splitting and waiting to falling apart under the wet and hot damp atmosphere..funny that Porsche have two in the shelf in Stuttgart ...well only one now ;-)

 

[Steve Brookes]

Ian, any pics of this part? I'm struggling to picture what you're reporting to us.

BTW, mine went in today for sorting body rust. Before and after pics to follow (I've got the befores but don't want to give anyone nightmares before I get the afters!).

 

[polar964]

How bad is your rust problem Steve? surface rust or total corrosion? Who have you entrusted to do the work?

Ian, viewed your thread on your engine rebuild for the first time (from your link) ... very impressive .. superb history of the work done not to mention your skill and application. You'll have a well sorted porka by the time you have finished.

Thought i had found a cheap source for bumper brackets over the weekend ... disappointingly found out today they were second hand. Yet to find out their condition. May well have to resort to the opc ones!

 

[Steve Brookes]

ORIGINAL: polar964

How bad is your rust problem Steve? surface rust or total corrosion? Who have you entrusted to do the work?

Patience dear boy []. I'd rather post the ugly, bad and good in one go. It's with the same shop that sorted out my structural rust at the rear of the front tub. They're not a Porsche body specialist but to echo a good chat I had with Vitesse yesterday at Oulton, a bodyshop guy who knows his onions doesn't have to be Porsche only.

 

[iangray100]

Two pictures ( one at a time due to site restrictions ) of what I've been mentioning ......take your bets as to the state of yours ..what might look OK on the left rear mount, at closer inspection falling apart.....but your only know when the bumper comes off and your see the alloy mount splitting apart ....worth knowing .