Vanning.com logo
Boxdin
Site Navigation


Advertisements
Recent Posts
Good day
by lukester - March 28th 2024 12:26 pm
Crazy mods
by MufflerMan Mike - March 28th 2024 9:38 am
Lew Greger
by MufflerMan Mike - March 27th 2024 5:15 pm
1987 G20 Gypsy
by SDMickey - March 25th 2024 9:39 pm
Featured Links


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Roof rust solution
#749720 June 16th 2019 7:36 pm
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 8
S
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
S
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 8
I’m currently stripping down my 89 g20 to bare metal thanks to a nice sprinkling of rust from front to rear. The only place there is anything more serious than surface rust the roof, and floors (thanks to the roof). The floor is no big deal (basketball sized hole in between the front seats), from the underside the floorboards are spotless so one I fix the roof I will be good there. The roof has rusted threw in a few places and it appears that someone in the past may have used it as a space to do calisthenics. I don’t think it’s worth saving.

So right now the plan is to (with the help of my fire team of sons) remove the roof panel, and fix the rust that was caused due to the leaky roof. I’ve found a few pretty good looking roofs in my area in the junkyard so I will hopefully grab one of those soon. I realize that this is a tedious task, but i got this van as a project that my boys can learn to wrench/weld on. If anyone has done this in the past and has some pointers, I’m all ears.

What does concern me is future rust. The drip rail that runs around the van roof to create the rust moat is one of the dumbest things I’ve seen. I’ve read the threads on the sealers to put in there, but I really wouldn’t know if it failed until it is too late. I was driving home the other day brainstorming about how to approach the roof, and I saw a pretty fancy work van with some retro graphics and it got me thinking. Has anyone tried having their roof vinyl wrapped as a way to help seal the seam? I figure I would seal the seal the seam the traditional way and they could wrap the roof and have it go in and over the drip rail ending where the bottom of the drip rail meets the wall panel. The vinyl seam could be covered when I replace the seam sealer that was there from the factory. I would also cover the panel above the windshield and the A-pillars. I’m thinking white roof and A-pillars and the rest of the van the factory light blue it came with. What do you guys think?

Last edited by Spsosicmcise; June 17th 2019 10:54 pm. Reason: I put g30 by mistake
Re: Roof rust solution
Spsosicmcise #749721 June 16th 2019 8:00 pm
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,107
Likes: 37
Maniac
Offline
Maniac
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,107
Likes: 37
I think I would trust seam sealer over vinyl to prevent rust in the gutters. Resealing the gutters is tedious, but there are great products on the market today that will seal them up better than new.

If I were going to cut the roof off of a van, I would go all the way and install a raised roof.


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Roof rust solution
Spsosicmcise #749722 June 16th 2019 8:14 pm
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 8
S
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
S
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 8
I did consider a raised roof, there are a few conversion vans in the junkyard, but I’m leaving it up to my boys. It will be their high school ride next year.

Re: Roof rust solution
Spsosicmcise #749742 June 17th 2019 2:00 pm
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 763
Likes: 50
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 763
Likes: 50
go drive a raised roof for a bit before making the decision. i have a raised roof on my ford and HATE IT. I would hate for yall to do the work and then not enjoy the van afterwards.

Re: Roof rust solution
Spsosicmcise #749771 June 17th 2019 10:38 pm
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 8
S
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
S
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 8
I’m pretty set on the flat roof, it’s pretty straightforward and I like the look of the van as it is. I threw it out to my boys and they weren’t very pumped about it.

Re: Roof rust solution
Spsosicmcise #749840 June 19th 2019 2:17 pm
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 763
Likes: 50
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 763
Likes: 50
Originally Posted by Spsosicmcise
I’m pretty set on the flat roof


good call


Moderated by  Astro 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Donate


Upcoming Events
discovery
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 24 guests, and 6 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
TheDrunkenGunsmith, Jac, LOVclassics, ZenMuffin, Milkman530
12724 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
SDMickey 129
CatFish 25
frscke1 25
Wedgy 21
Forum Statistics
Forums68
Topics35,746
Posts537,916
Members12,724
Most Online177
May 8th, 2013

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4