Rust holes rear quarters

[georgew35]

Hi there. Newbie from Wiltshire here - I've been to see a 1988 campervan which has clean bodywork all around except for a hole underneath on each side in a horizontal metal area best described as the corner inside where the bumper cap goes. Right at the back. This is the only crusty/holed place on the whole vehicle and I seem to remember from my days owning a T2 that it was exactly the same on that van too, but it was never mentioned on the MOT because it's not near enough any integral components. It hasn't been mentioned on this one's MOT either.

Does anyone know if this is OK and not much of a worry? Or should I budget to have these areas plated if I make an offer? And what's this area called (assuming it's a common problem)?!

Thanks  

[davidoft1]

Any pictures?

[georgew35]

Unfortunately not, I didn't think at the time. D'oh!

Apart from above, best I can describe it is kind of the extreme back quarters of the engine bay 'floor' but you can't see it from inside the boot or engine bay - it's boxed off. You can only see it from underneath (where the bumper cap is).

[RogerT]

Here or hereabouts? (hope this link attempt works)

viewtopic.php?p=8269526#p8269526

[georgew35]

Here or hereabouts? (hope this link attempt works)

viewtopic.php?p=8269526#p8269526

Thanks, very helpful! It's not where you linked to but the floor behind there and behind the rear light clusters - I believe it is the battery tray/battery box, or the seam to the side of that (although there is no battery there as they're under the front seats...).

Strange as there is no mention of corrosion on any MOT and it's hardly moved since the last test. The rest of the van is pretty good. Is this bad?

[RogerT]

If that's all then no, it's not bad, it's a bit of a wonder that there isn't more! Water gets in there from the rear vent on the D pillar, and I guess it's susceptible to road spray from the rear wheel.

[georgew35]

Thanks for the info. Wouldn't this have been an MOT fail though? By the look of it it had been there a while.

[RogerT]

MOT rust assessment is about its proximity to structural components, eg suspension mounts, sills, steps, and other load bearing parts, as far as I know

[davidoft1]

Rust isn’t automatically a fail , the bit inside the rear arch / near the rear light isn’t always a fail , it depends on the size and position of the hole