I know just what you mean. My last "non-Vanagon" vehicle was a 1996 GMC Safari AWD van that I purchased from a car dealer in Mount Joy, PA. The body of the van was in excellent shape, and the AWD system worked fine, interior was in great shape-it never occurred to me to look at the undercarriage! On a PA vehicle? Not smart! Not only was the undercarriage extremely rusty, but under the lower body cladding (similar to that on a Vanagon) I found some serious rust. Of the 80+ vehicles I've owned, the Safari was to earn the distinction of the one I owned for the shortest time. Purchased in March, I sold it in June to buy my current '85 Weekender (see my post yesterday "I May Not Be Insane") Moral of the story: Never buy a vehicle from Pennsylvania (or any rust belt state) without checking out the undercarriage. Jeff

Jeff Stewart

----- "John Meeks" <vanagon@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

So... while prepping for a rear trailing arm rebushing project ( that's a
whole other story, the moral of which is 'kids, don't try this at home if
you drive in brine for part of the year.' ) I removed the fiberglass
cladding just fore of the rear passenger side wheel. What I found was not a
bit pretty. An 8" rustout of the outer sheet metal right above the trailing
arm/jack point.
https://picasaweb.google.com/112346123305551852781/SaltbeltRustyParts#5609690386532659922
( Warning!! Content is disturbing ).

I've removed the cladding from both sides of the van between the wheels and
they ain't going back on. I kinda like the retro late 80's look anyway. I'm
doing the bottom rails including the jack points and trailing arm bolts in
Por-15 with a flat black topcoat.

If anyone wants the panels I removed. just send me a pmail and I'll be happy
to ship them to you. They are in fine condition. Pix on request.

I'll post the bushing story after I have a pro alignment and drive a bit
more. I used Powerflex bushes (thanks Chris (Loogy on theSamba) ) on the
upper control and the rear trailing arms. First impressions: SWEET!!!

John Meeks
'91 Vanagon MultiVan
Northern Michigan

Vanagon Rescue Squad
www.vanagonauts.com