Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All,

Been doing some hacking out of rust today. I was cutting out a section of rusty metal under the lower front grill, in front of radiator. (just abover bumper)

Behind the section i was cutting and above the spare wheel carrier is a material that looks like black fibreboard (about 5mm thick) Does anyone know what the material it is? I am a little concerned it may be asbestos.

I have a 1981 Autohomes watercooled camper.

Any idea? - I am a little concerned about whay i have been breathing in!

Doug

Could it have been the wind deflectors that are usually attached to the back of the plastic grill (One on each side) I had one whose holes had worn and so it had warped and was only just hanging on, I presume if it fell off it would have lodged just where you found your black fibreboard.

If its ^^^^ there is also a horizontal one at bottom of rad and connects to reafr of fromt panal , do without it or cut a hole icross the front as it directs the water that comes through the grill to run off onto the rear of said apnal, dont half speed up ther rot,
M

Yeah, probaby is a win deflector, it would channel the air through the radiator. It was wet underneath even though it had been in the dry for several days! I will be removing it but what is this stuff made of? Is it safe to cut out?

Any Asbestos>>???

Doug

No asbestos at all
mike

exellent....
Thanks Mike

I am starting to think it may be easer to just replace the front panel rather than cutting out more rusty metal. The angles make it hard to get the grinder in!

Doug

you still have to get a grinder (there are grinders and grinders) in and the deformation panal that the fr panal fits to gets hacky as well, not the nicest of jobs to do right.and dont forget there are cables and stuff between it and the coloumb
mike

Yeah,

Quote a bit of fiddly tidying removing the old section... Gonna attack it again tonight. need a bigger grinder...

I took the remainder of the fibreboard out last night.

Cheers

Doug