Rust on Drivers side windscreen A frame support - help.

[OldModMike]

Mechanically my Z is pretty sound. But the bodywork and underneath now needs some proper attention. My biggest concern is some nasty looking rust/bubbling at the top of the drivers side windscreen A frame support.This definitely needs sorting as its structural. Has anybody else had this issue and what would be my best approach to get this sorted? I get a wet right knee when it rains heavily from water dripping in from this point. Thanks in advance.

 

[Pingu]

Remove all rust and treat with Kurust or similar. Overpaint with red oxide and wait until you have enough pennies for a respray.

 

[Sean d]

Its not structural but needs sorting before it goes to far, you will never stop it but can slow it down. It really needs to go into a body shop,and shouldn't cost more then £150 but I doubt very much that you will get a guarantee.

 

[andyglym]

Its not structural but needs sorting before it goes to far, you will never stop it but can slow it down. It really needs to go into a body shop,and shouldn't cost more then £150 but I doubt very much that you will get a guarantee.

I thought the A pillars were mate, they're roll-over protection.

 

[Sean d]

I thought the A pillars were mate, they're roll-over protection.

Got me thinking now mate

 

[andyglym]

Got me thinking now mate

Defo structural mate. Stops your bonce getting crushed should you roll.

 

[colb]

Looks like its holed at the top edge, best option would be to find a competent welder to cut the rotten patch out and weld in new metal, the frame is structural as the others have pointed out, it offers protection in a roll over. Care needed as there is wiring leading to the interior mirror and roof light running up inside the windscreen pillar. Will need to put the hood back and strip down the trim to get a good look at how far the rot has gone.

 

[OldModMike]

Thanks for all the advice. I have some time over the weekend so will drop the roof and strip the trim away and start investigating.

 

[Nodzed]

I have a small spot in the same place, I'm not messing with it its going to my sprayer to be professionally sorted, the area gets a lot of weather so I'd advise the same for you especially given the scale of the problem.

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

You want be to cut you a section?

@OldModMike

 

[t-tony]

Saw Edd China do this repair on an MX5 some years ago. Only way to get rid of the corrosion permanently.

Tony.

 

[colb]

Saw Ed China do that job on the MX5, he made the replacement metal panel pieces up, I would take up spurs fans offer of cutting you a corner off one of his breakers and have that welded into yours.

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

Got a bit for you mate!

 

[t-tony]

Has that Mike geezer been visiting again Andy?

Tony.

 

[Sean d]

Has that Mike geezer been visiting again Andy?

Tony.

Now that shows where the structural strength is and its not the tin on the outside

 

[Althulas]

Thanks for sharing the A frame section photo Andy was the screen cracked as I thought be worth saving if ok but I suppose you have a shed full of them

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

Thanks for sharing the A frame section photo Andy was the screen cracked as I thought be worth saving if ok but I suppose you have a shed full of them

Screens pretty cracked now, I took an angle grinder to it

 

[Pingu]

10mm crack in Zone A is a fail, don't ya know.

 

[t-tony]

10mm crack in Zone A is a fail, don't ya know.

OK with 300mm crack then?

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

This definitely needs sorting as its structural.

Not looking at that, it isn't.

Tony.

ps. From a testing perspective that's good to know.