Right on target Chris!
I`m just finishing up replacing the whole side panel,
exactly because of this reason.
No small job!
You can glass-blast the seam & reseal,
but the rusts still in there
and sooner than later, its going to
ruin that new paint job!
JC...

In a message dated 9/10/03 10:21:08 AM Mountain Daylight Time,
JordanVw@AOL.COM writes:

> In a message dated 9/9/03 1:26:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET writes:
>
>
> >Because it is so common to see the left bottom of a Westy rusty and we
> >should not let that happen when there is a solution for that.
>
> want to know another easy solution to a common problem??  i posted this
> before too, and i bet all of you ignored it too..   the rust that is coming
> from
> the inside of your left westy side panel at the lower rocker seam (and
> possibly
> along the center reinforcement brace that is directly under the westy fill
> ports is it is REALLY bad)  is coming from around the FILL PORTS
> THEMSELVES!!
> when westfalia-werke converted these incomplete vans at their weidenbruck
> factory, all they do is chop 3 square holes in the side, pop a foam gasket
> in,
> followed by the fill port receptical itself.  they dont even seal them with
> caulk!!
> after 10-15-20 years the foam gasket is reduced to dust, and every time it
> rains or you wash the van water spills in around the edges of the fill ports
> and down inside your van and the fiberglass insulation behind there acts as
> a
> sponge, and so it never dries out.. the water sits in there being held up
> against the metal and floor by the wet fiberglass insulation..  water seeks
> the path
> of least resistance to escape, so it starts weeping out the lower horizontal
> drivers side rocker seam..
> the EASY solution??  CAULK the perimeters of your westy fill port inlets!!!
> simple to do with regular silicone or latex household window /door exterior
> caulk.. i used clear, but anything will do.    a few squirts of the caulk
> gun
> is alot easier than welding in new sheetmetal..
>
>
> so..how many of you will actually do this to prolong the life of your
> westy??
>  hmm?