Avoid Rust

I just discovered something on my 98 Malibu. There is a channel that runs along the roof to the back window for water. The channel disappears under a flap that is part of the rear window seal. This channel can get clogged, then causing water to stand and in my case .... rust. So I cleaned out the channel by starting at the top where the roof enters and sliding a small dull probe down the whole lenghth to the trunk. Now I have some sanding , primmer, paint to do.

They also rust in the quarter panel lower doglegs and really rust around the fuel filler where there is an extra panel on the inside of the quarter panel. keep the doglegs cleaned out and maybe do some extra rustproofing inside the left rear quarter.

I see quite a few Malibus durring my day, I have never seen one with rust, out side of this on mine. Are you sure we are talking about the same year ? I remember when i worked for GM in the late 70s . We use to see a lot of pick ups that had rusted out around the wheel wells, in fact there was a company in PA that made replacement panels. I guess maybe there might have been some rusted Malibus.... I just do not remember seeing any newer ones that have rusted.