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Common Rust Places

Hey Guys,

Pretty much a novice when it comes to T-Birds since i'm in Australia and they're far from a common site over here.

however, i'm starting to look at potential purchases and want to ensure i know where to look when it comes to rust.

So are there more typical places to look, or problem areas that are more pr0ne to issues.

Cheers
83 Thunderbird Heritage - Right Hand Drive
95 Falcon GLi


Common Rust Places

Reply #2
oh wow, i was browsing that site yesterday, must have missed the buying section.
83 Thunderbird Heritage - Right Hand Drive
95 Falcon GLi

Common Rust Places

Reply #3
That's my site and it's really old and broken (many dead links). A few rust-pr0ne areas not mentioned there are the front strut towers and front frame rails
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Common Rust Places

Reply #4
The sheetmetal under the rear window of the '83-'86 cars seems particularly pr0ne to rust if the clips holding the brightwork on break the paint in the area.  Just looked over the car yesterday and it seems like this is all I've got.
'83 302/AOD Heritage (silver/red, full restoration w/ SEFI, 5-lug, 8.8, rear discs in-progress)
'95 Explorer Limited (white/gray, 4x2, 323K mile daily driver)
'97 Cobra (black/black, bolt-ons, 4.10's)
'04 Lightning (black/gray, bolt-ons, stock-pulley gas guzzler)

Common Rust Places

Reply #5
yeah, a few i've looked at have had various amounts coming through there.
83 Thunderbird Heritage - Right Hand Drive
95 Falcon GLi

Common Rust Places

Reply #6
The most common rust I've noticed are in the lower quarter panels (both in front of and behind the wheel opening) and the bottoms of the doors.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

Common Rust Places

Reply #7
lol, just look at pics of my car and you'll get a good idea of what happens if you don't take care of it. Prior owner didn't, and it's bad in the rear well right by the doors and around the lip.
88 Camaro RS - 355/TH350
87 Thunderbird Sport - 302 (351 going in)/AOD

Common Rust Places

Reply #8
Lower quarter panels and the bottom parts of the doors on mine need attention right now. Also.. around the trunk lid hinges and around the rear window.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
'86 Turbo Thundercat (Cougarbird)
'02 TrailBlazer LT 4x4
'08 Chevy Cobalt

Common Rust Places

Reply #9
Wierd.  The only spot on my original car is the underside of the trunk lid on the left side of the latch.  I have no idea how it started rusting there but definitely it was not due to a knick or scratch.  Maybe a gap in the trunk weatherstripping?

Second car has some rust near the sunroof, can't speak to the relevant history on that one.
__________________
Twin '85 TCs
White/ Grey 2-tone
#1 (left): undergoing top-to-bottom rebuild     
#2 (right): DD, power everything (sorta)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Common Rust Places

Reply #10
Where I live, there's only a few places they don't rust..
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
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5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
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