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MG MGB Technical - Trapped Water

Ok, I need everyone's help again. My car is a 73 MGB. If I am standing in front of the car, with the hood open, in the back right corner against the fire wall is my clutch and brake master cylinder. Beside these are two openings that give access under the fender. The cut out openings. There are the same openings on the other side of the car.
My question is, are there suppose to be water drains for these areas? When I first got my car, these areas had rust in them. Then when I cleaned my engine on Saturday, I noticed that they just filled with water. I had to blow it out with an air hose and then dry it with a cloth.
Is this normal? Thanks
Robert Browning

There are no drains in these areas. These large openings lead into the trumpet sections which act as inner wing stiffening members. However the openings don't go down level with the dash panel so under normal circumstances water cannot run into them.

Now I usually wash the engine areas of my everyday car by pressure hotwashing as I insist on a clean engine bay but I would not dare use this method on my MGs as water would get in everywhere including the passenger footwells. I suspect that you took a hose to the underbonnet and all I can say is don't do it. It's a bit of a nuisance but you will have to clean it by other means such as water and a sponge and then polish etc. On my cars these areas are wax injected and you would be well advised to do the same to provide protection.
Iain MacKintosh

Before spraying, I lightly stuff those areas with
plastic grocery bags - which are themselves
stuffed with crumpled newspaper to give them
volume.

I never aim the water stream directly at that area
as the stuffing is only enough to repel slight oversprays, but with a careful aim and a focused
nozzle, it's fairly easy to do the area around the
openings.

Remove when finished.
Daniel Wong

The bit that annoys me is the little corner where the chassis rails drop down under the firewall at the back of the engine. Perfect little water trap there.
Simon Jansen

I agree with Simon. These are very annoying areas.

Yes, Iain, I did clean the engine with a pressure washer as I do with my other cars. I also like a clean engine. Amazingly, the only water I had leaking into my car was where I had forgot to put a screw back in place about the clutch pedal. Other then that it was dry.

So the moral is not to clean the engine as I do my other cars.

So, how do you prevent rust in these inner wings - trumpet areas? How do you get in there to remove existing rust?

Thanks
Robert Browning

Robert,

Assuming ythis specific car location would be dry, you can spray these cavities with waxoil or Dinitrool too. These wax are really rust protective too and they steack on propoerly.
HTH.
Renou

If you guys are not spraying with water, what do you use to clean your engines? Any product suggestions. My engine and bay are quite dirty and greasy, and want to make them nice and pretty for this summer.

Ken
70 B
Ken Harris

If the inner wing trumpets are rusty then the only way to keep them at bay is to wax inject them. That will certainly hold it back and prevent further damage. These trumpet sections are usually pretty well rotted due to the very small space between their top surface and the underside of the wing. The wing rots and so does the trumpet. They can only be replaced when the wing is off so check them very carefully at that time and replace them or repair. Treat them well after fitting on both inside and outside surfaces and prime and apply underbody sealant and then wax. I dont fit the splash plates which I consider useless but fit the plastic wheel arch liners removing them annually for inspection. I heve never found a spec of dirt in there since I fitted them.

Now keeping the engine bay clean is another matter. I started off with a bare metal engine bay which of course was sprayed in body colour along with my cars. I can only wash them with soap and a sponge and then polish with body wax. I suppose that degreaser and a hot pressure wash is OK if you must, but for me it would be a once only on my MGs. My Audi gets this treatment regularly but then it's an every day car.
Iain MacKintosh

Ken

On my MGA I spray the engine and surrounding area with concentrated Simple Green, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and hose off. Works well.

FWIW

Larry
Larry Hallanger

This thread was discussed between 14/02/2005 and 16/02/2005

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