Rust repair

[tm7302]

I have a 1982 BJ42 in pretty good condition with the exception of rust where the hood meets the window frame (yellow highlighted area in photo). Leaks pretty good during when raining. Any ideas on how to fix? Is there a replacement panel or cut out and put new metal in? Fabrication looks to be a pain due to the curve. Thanks...

 

[okie]

first off you have a beauty there!

i think what your talkin about is the cowl vent right. Its that vent thing in front of your hood. It leaks all the time on the old cruisers, because the gasket gets warn out. someone on here has done a full writeup on the restoration on one of those that was helpful for me also. hope this helps

 

[samwise]

Awesome looking BJ!! I am jealous! If you do a advanced search in the fj40 tech section with "cowl vent" or cowl rust" you should come up with a lot of information. But I thought the later years didnt have a cowl vent, so if thats your case, I know someone on here welded a new piece in to replace the vent. It actually didnt look to bad, even with the curve. I couldnt find it, but I know its out there and that should help. So happy searching! Good luck
Jon

 

[Finally Mine]

From what you have circled is it the seam? If so POR 15 makes a seam sealer for those areas. There might be other companies that have something similar. Check around.

 

[tm7302]

My bad, the cowl vents are not rusting, but the seam. I have duct tape on it now so I can drive without getting soaked.

I guess I just need to get in there with the wire wheel and see how bad it is. Thanks for the tip on the POR15 seam sealer, I'll have to check that out.

 

[GarnerFJ40]

I'm not sure if the later models have the same as my '74 but I'll throw it out there. Have you checked to make sure your drain lines going to the vent are connected to the bottom of the vent and make the trip though the firewall? I had the same problem, but my hoses had dry rotted and were leaking into the inside and dripping on my floorboards....

 

[FF LC FREAK]

If it is the seam, you need to clean out the old seam sealer and see what kind of rust you are dealing with. It could be that your old seam sealer is leaking and you have a bit of surface rust in there or possibly some pitted areas. If that is the case, clean out the old sealer, treat it with your favorite rust converter, prime it with an epoxy primer, and re-seal it. If you are careful, you may not mess up the surrounding paint too bad.

If it is worse than that and rusted through, you would probably best treat it by cutting out the rusted areas and welding in new metal (fun stuff, I know). At that point, prime and re-seal it.

Good luck!