Van gutter repair w/ pics

[ah1988ford]

1. Dig all the old seal out, its tough I used a chisel it takes a while take your time and try not to dig into the metal.I found some pretty sever rust holes where the water had gotten behind the seal. I used bondo to patch it and to act as the new seal, I figure it wouldnt crack like the old seal!

2. I took a angle grinder with a wire wheel and got it to bare metal and removed all the old seal and rust.

3. Bondo the sucker, I used a steel pipe connecter for chain link fencing to get a smooth even finish.
Sand and paint ! I used a hose to test for leak and it all checked out, it took one weekend to do the whole van.
I ended up ripping the headliner out it had gotten damp and moldy. I used about a gal. of bondo to complete the whole thing make sure you mash it in good and get under the lip of the gutter !

 

[Devon Harley]

Looks good thats close to how we do it at work.

 

[FordGuy100]

I need to do that to my truck in a bad way. Hopefully around Christmas time.

 

[dgr]

Devon,
You use bondo?

 

[jhnlennon]

Bondo RETAINS moisture, thats the last thing I woulda used. Seam sealer would have been a better choice...

 

[c_silva88]

ive used bond before and preped every thing really good painted the truck and maybe a year later it started to bubble up and fall off in chunks. since then ive used eastwoods 2k seam sealer and never have had a problems since i re did every thing 4 years ago

 

[jhnlennon]

ive used bond before and preped every thing really good painted the truck and maybe a year later it started to bubble up and fall off in chunks. since then ive used eastwoods 2k seam sealer and never have had a problems since i re did every thing 4 years ago

Exactly what I was trying to say...

 

[Devon Harley]

No I do not use bondo I use fiberglass doesn't hold water. Then I coat it with flowable seam sealer. an 2k primer. Use fiberglass no matter what an finish with sealer. Sealer over time will rot from the sun which is what causes this problem over years. I have pics of an idi van we just did this to an painted it pearl white for a grand total 5500.00 OTD.

 

[junk]

Yeah they make self leveling seam sealer to seal up drip edges and other roof joints. This would be more impervious to moisture than a plastic filler like bondo would. Now if you coated it well and treat the rust from the inside also to keep moisture from getting in behind the bondo you have a repair I would expect to last. The main problem with Bondo is that it can take on moisture. One it takes on moisture the rust continues and it comes out.

 

[dgr]

The main problem with Bondo is that it will take on moisture

fixed it

I knew I was going somewhere with my question. 20+ years on the seam sealer sounds like a pretty decent life expectancy.

 

[ah1988ford]

Thanks I didnt know about the moisture I thought it would repel it, I will get some seam sealer and fix that up asap !
It was a good amount of work I dont want it to go to waste.

 

[idi_econoline]

Thx to all for this thread. Knew nothing of seam sealer, or of Bondo and moisture.

My gutters are a bit rusty on the outside edge, but the actual guttering looks fine. My van had correct-era California plates when I got it, but surface rust here and there suggests she's seen some snow? ice? salty Pacific air? in her life.

Been busy on the mechanicals and haven't converted any rust yet. This forum rocks!