Puma corrosion

Daz90 · Oct 29, 2019

Hi All,

Apologies for the possible schoolboy question, but apart from the chassis that I understand is the same as previous model defenders from corrosion resistance perspective, will the modern puma versions suffer from the same bodywork and bulkhead rust areas or is the puma bodywork some how different to avoid this happening?

kind Regards

Daz

swisstoe · Oct 29, 2019

They're all the same, you will still get electrolytic corrosion on the body...

Daz90 · Oct 29, 2019

Thanks Swisstoe,

can the same be said for the door bottoms and the bulkhead? Behind the dash etc?

swisstoe · Oct 29, 2019

Your best bet is to keep everything greased and oiled from now on, can only slow the corrosion...

Marmaduke · Oct 29, 2019

Daz90 said:
Hi All,

Apologies for the possible schoolboy question, but apart from the chassis that I understand is the same as previous model defenders from corrosion resistance perspective, will the modern puma versions suffer from the same bodywork and bulkhead rust areas or is the puma bodywork some how different to avoid this happening?

kind Regards

Daz

As already said, basically wherever steel and aluminium meet i.e. doorframes, rubber window seals which on the front window are held on with steel clips and anywhere that's bolted together like the seat box to the rear tub.

Should take a few years from new to start showing though

Flossie · Oct 29, 2019

Doors are more modern one piece and are, I believe, much better.
Bulkhead has no vents which is one less place for water to get in so that should last longer?

Flossie · Oct 29, 2019

Big job (cos I've done it) but if I had a newish tratter I would strip it and get the chassis/bulkhead galvanized.

swisstoe · Oct 29, 2019

New galvanised chassis and bulkhead on my rebuild, shouldn't need to touch them again...

Daz90 · Oct 29, 2019

Thanks guys. Appreciate all that. I too thought the doors were supposed to be better. I suppose I’m trying to establish that assuming I can get hold of a say 2012 model with no rust currently, as long as keep treating the chassis, how long I can expect before I start having to worry about rusty bulkheads etc

swisstoe · Oct 29, 2019

Ten years possibly, but spray clear waxoil in every cavity...

Flossie · Oct 29, 2019

A lot will depend on where it lives and where it's driven.
By the sea?
Or in Africa?
Driven on salty icey roads or through cow cr@p?
Only used on dry roads?
Maybe 30yrs for one of these scenarios, maybe 5yrs for the other.

Daz90 · Oct 29, 2019

Makes sense.

Does the puma have enough bulkhead access points to get plenty of dinitrol in?

Al2O3 · Oct 29, 2019

As Flossie said, I think the newer doors are much better. I think they are zinc plated and last a lot longer.

Flossie · Oct 30, 2019

Daz90 said:
Makes sense.

Does the puma have enough bulkhead access points to get plenty of dinitrol in?

Pillar door hinge holes are the only ones that spring to mind. Lots of bulkhead rot starts on the very top where the windscreen frame sits, pita to get at that. Footwells may, probably do, have a reinforced double layer, rot starts between those 2 layers too.

owas · Oct 30, 2019

Vet I go to has one of the last 2015 defenders, her rear cross member looks terrible already, I'll have a look at the body properly next time im in but I wouldn't be very happy with that, paid 10k over list for it too

Disco1BFG · Oct 30, 2019

Daz90 said:
Makes sense.

Does the puma have enough bulkhead access points to get plenty of dinitrol in?

As well as Dinitrol, which is damn good stuff, have a nosy at the Bilt Hamber range - and also Corolan oil from rust buster - might be just what is needed to minimise electrolytic nastyness

Al2O3 · Oct 31, 2019

My mate has a 60 plate. All doors and bulkhead are still clean and blister free. Rear crossmember has been rusty from years and his seat box ends are rotting out.

lightning · Oct 31, 2019

You need to treat the crossmember
A spray with any sort of wax based rust proofer or spray grease takes five minutes

But few bother.

tottot · Oct 31, 2019

Regular treatment is the answer, every year power wash clean and spray preservative inside and out when dry, taking care to get in nooks and crannies.[ eg remove door hinge screws for access.] Extra flaps [ Gwyn Lewis do some now, I made my own. ] to cover footwells/ crossmembers .
My 1990 90 has only had a few small patch's Lives outside all year by the sea.
My favoured preservative is fresh engine oil and diesel. Just have to remember not to park on someone's posh drive for a couple of days.

Al2O3 · Oct 31, 2019

lightning said:
You need to treat the crossmember
A spray with any sort of wax based rust proofer or spray grease takes five minutes

But few bother.

He has treated it and is getting in to maintaining it himself. His next priority is his brakes, but then he's going to look at the corrosion at the seat box and front of tub to chassis mounts.

Puma corrosion

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