extra rust prevention?

[Ottobon]

Won't have money to buy a GTV6 for a few years probably, but they seem to hit a high note with me as I'm mad for both Giugiaro styled cars and excellent exhaust notes, as well as other reasons that anybody whose driven one will understand. Anyways i live in Michigan, and I've seen my fair share of sad looking Alfas, so i was wondering if there is anything that can be done besides simple storage during the salty season to help with rust prevention. For example, say i got a GTV6 to the point it was rust free and needed a respray, would adding extra layers of paint at all help?

I know salts a huge no-no, how does rain fair?

All the cars I own are rusty, so any and all information would be great as rusty cars, Alfas or not, are pretty much a fact of life in Michigan.

Thanks!

[karmat]

No, adding more paint won't help, unfortunately. I lived in Ohio for a long time and had Alfas there. They do rust but if you're careful you don't need to worry. The main things are in how the car is used. Don't take the car out during the winter. Wait until at least two good rains have cleaned the salt off the road in the spring before driving the car. Clean out the wheel wells behind the riveted panels (drill the rivets and replace them with screws). Wax the car religiously and when you wash it, spray off the whole underbody as well. When a nick in the paint appears, touch it up immediately.

Rain is not bad for cars if you don't have blockages causing the water to pool anywhere. The worst thing it does is kick dirt into places that can later retain water and form mildly acidic paste that then eats at your car.

Keep things clean, don't drive it in the winter, and make sure the salt is off the road before you get it out. Resist the temptation to take it out on the first nice spring day when the road is still white with salt.

Lots of Alfas live in the mid west and survive the salt by staying out of it.

A good cavity wax can help keep internal rust from eating things. Wurth makes a good one in aerosol cans.

Cheers,
Karl

[GreyGTV6]

Buy yourself a trolley jack, set of axle stands, goggles and expect to get dirty. A monthly check with a wire brush, primer and sealer will help the underside if you keep it sealed with a good rubber type sealer and primer. Then give the body a good check. Drill holes in the sills from above and spray every cavity, pillar, water trap and any panel you can find with a good preventive product. I've seen a few GTVs rusting on the top of the "c" pillars so that is hard to prevent.

As for the panels behind the wheels, I've left my covers off so they can be flushed out with every wash, rather than when I remember. The downpipes from the sunroof enter this area as well and it only takes a small amount of dirt to block them, so I shortened mine so they can't be blocked. Another benefit is when it rains it flushes the mud out the wheel wells.

[karmat]

Yeah, aerosol rubberized underbody spray is a good idea. Parts of the back of the car, particularly that back lip of the body below the bumper, and sometimes the upper front wheel wells could use some of that sprayed in there anyway, even if it looks fine now.

Karl

[westbournia]

I appreciate you want to protect your alfa against the dreaded rust. Modern cars have very sophisticated rustprotection methods now, look at a ten to 15 year old audi or bmw it probably doesnt have any rust still. I live in the uk where we still use salt on the roads in winter, although less and less, global warming effects etc. There is a company in the uk that acid dips the body which kills all rust and puts modern type primers that are very durable, giving you a very durable body. I am sure there are companies in the U.S doing the same thing.