Possible cause of Rusting front frame

[freesiagirl]

Just a thought. I was noticing on my GEO that a little rubber tube was leaking water. It's the A/C drain and it drips right on part of the front frame. Could this be the cause of the terrible rusting frames in sooooo many Metro's???? So, anyway, just to be on the safe side, I'm going to extend that tube, so that it doesn't drain on anything, just the ground....

[leonbentz]

Yes, extending the drain tube is a good idea. You may also want to go to Napa and get a can of Rust Treatment and treat the area, where the rust is. Good luck.

[freesiagirl]

I think everyone should spray as much under their cars as possible with Rust paint. I got some high heat rust paint for stoves actually. My hubby sprayed everything under the car that even looked suspicious. I would hate to lose my little car to a broken frame....

[GM Line Rat]

Originally Posted by freesiagirl

Just a thought. I was noticing on my GEO that a little rubber tube was leaking water. It's the A/C drain and it drips right on part of the front frame. Could this be the cause of the terrible rusting frames in sooooo many Metro's???? So, anyway, just to be on the safe side, I'm going to extend that tube, so that it doesn't drain on anything, just the ground....

I doubt the AC Drain tube is the cause of the rusting frames....I'd say road salt on the roads during the Winter, and the lack of keeping the underside of the car washed cleaned during the Winter has alot more to do with it. Look at it this way: You drive your Metro in the Rain dont you? That being said, Is it a good idea to extend the drain tube and Coat the underside of the frames on these Metro's? Yes!. I've did the Drain tube mod on both my 91 Buick Century and My 95 Chevy Caprice, and the frame under coating on my 94 Geo Metro using "3M professional Grade" spray undercoating, And they DONT use Road Salt on the roads where I live in the Winter. You MUST have the frame area clean and free of all dirt and grease before applying the undercoating. But the drain tube mod was done for different reasons than just water on the frame. What happens is: Over time, these rubber drain tubes become clogged with debris or soft and sometimes fall off the car. Extending the tube down, and pointing it towards the rear of the car will keep debris out of the tube. When the tube gets clooged, the water backs up in the tube and into the floorboard of the car. Coating the frame on the Metros is a must in an area where Road salt is used because the factory coating is (For lack of words)....A poor job. I used a product called "POR-15" to coat the frame on my 95 Caprice with. Once this is applied, it seals out moisture 100% Here is a few pics of drain tube and frame coating mods I've done to give you an idea of the process. Applying it to a Metro would be just as easy to do.

AC Drain hose Mod (1995 Chevy Caprice)

Drain tube elbow extended with 3 ft of goodyear hose, and sealed with RTV Sealer.


The drain tube exits out of the bottom of the car and points back to the rear of the car. It's held in place with one of the typical plastic clips you see on wiring harness around the plastic wire loom.


POR-15 Frame Coating.


3M Pro undercoating on the floor pan (Dark Gray material)

[91Caprice9c1]

Originally Posted by GM Line Rat

I doubt the AC Drain tube is the cause of the rusting frames....I'd say road salt on the roads during the Winter, and the lack of keeping the underside of the car washed cleaned during the Winter has alot more to do with it. Look at it this way: You drive your Metro in the Rain dont you? That being said, Is it a good idea to extend the drain tube and Coat the underside of the frames on these Metro's? Yes!. I've did the Drain tube mod on both my 91 Buick Century and My 95 Chevy Caprice, and the frame under coating on my 94 Geo Metro using "3M professional Grade" spray undercoating, And they DONT use Road Salt on the roads where I live in the Winter. You MUST have the frame area clean and free of all dirt and grease before applying the undercoating. But the drain tube mod was done for different reasons than just water on the frame. What happens is: Over time, these rubber drain tubes become clogged with debris or soft and sometimes fall off the car. Extending the tube down, and pointing it towards the rear of the car will keep debris out of the tube. When the tube gets clooged, the water backs up in the tube and into the floorboard of the car. Coating the frame on the Metros is a must in an area where Road salt is used because the factory coating is (For lack of words)....A poor job. I used a product called "POR-15" to coat the frame on my 95 Caprice with. Once this is applied, it seals out moisture 100% Here is a few pics of drain tube and frame coating mods I've done to give you an idea of the process. Applying it to a Metro would be just as easy to do.

AC Drain hose Mod (1995 Chevy Caprice)

Drain tube elbow extended with 3 ft of goodyear hose, and sealed with RTV Sealer.


The drain tube exits out of the bottom of the car and points back to the rear of the car. It's held in place with one of the typical plastic clips you see on wiring harness around the plastic wire loom.


POR-15 Frame Coating.


3M Pro undercoating on the floor pan (Dark Gray material)

I've got a 96 caprice. Man I love b-body's. Hey, GM, you wouldn't happen to post on the impalassforum would you? Your caprice looks great under there man! Definitely a worth while thing to do - and I'm inspired. I've been meaning to do the a/c drain mod on my caprice, and I think while I'm at it I might set a day aside to treating the underside/frame of my car. The metro is a/c-less, and if it breaks i'll replace it. But the caprice will be staying for a looong time ;-)

-MechanicMatt

[GM Line Rat]

Originally Posted by 91Caprice9c1

I've got a 96 caprice. Man I love b-body's. Hey, GM, you wouldn't happen to post on the impalassforum would you? Your caprice looks great under there man! -MechanicMatt

Yep, I'm on the SS forum almost every day. We own a 95 Caprice and a 93 Buick Roadmster. Both cars are the "Garage Queens" now. Here's a pic below of my LT1 For ya Matt, Just before we dropped it into my 95 Caprice.

Link to the entire POR-15 and undercoating project on the SS forum.

POR-15 and Undercoating

[91Caprice9c1]

Oh man. That's just beautiful. Excellent work!

[GM Line Rat]

Originally Posted by 91Caprice9c1

Oh man. That's just beautiful. Excellent work!

Yea Matt, Bob Noble did all the powdercoating work on the engine parts, He's well known on the SS forum....This LT1 was pulled from a Wrecked 95 Roadmaster with only 12,965 Miles on it. I nearly cried when I saw the car....Damn Shame it was! So I thought I'd give the old girl new life and some flash.