Rust Susceptibility for later vintage Spiders

[gearedup2]

Just wondering if anyone out there knows if Alfa changed the steel quality or prep in later years that make S3 or S4 vintage cars less susceptible to rust? If they did... what did they do and starting when? How prone are later Spiders to the rust problems experienced by earlier year models?

Anyone experiencing rust issues in later year models? Where are the points of vulnerability?

[bianchi1]

,, i have an 84 spider...i suffered some rust lower corner of windshield.. each side..pass side the worse.. a 20mmx10mm section, on the driver side..10mmx8mm..as i cleaned the area cut out the rust, i found sealent under the rust..i think the rust started because the sealent stoped any dust/dirt.and water from draining out.. i have cleaned the area out , repaired it.. and use a pressure cleaner under the windsheild /crow area.. then got some of a pump/spray on rust changer stuff.. ket it sit for a day.. washed it out, let dry.. the shot a hole lot of rust oliam piant up in the area....i have pulled the 2 plugs ( on in each wheel well and pressure washed the areas out..cleaned and opend up the 3/4? drain areas in the lower panels.. i wash these out 2 times a year...i plan to make some waxoil to prevent anyother rust from forming...the trunk area.. i now use a spacesaver tire for my spare. but to prevent any rust in that area i got 4 rubber blocks 1omm x 100mm to sit the tire on so there is an area for the air to flow around the spare and not trap any water..

[Art Vandelay]

I've got a '74, '87, and '92. As far as undercoating and the like, the '92 does seem to be the best of the trio. But still, it's an Alfa, and I keep an eye on them all.

[Tifosi]

I'm not seeing any more rust than other 20+ year old cars I've owned.

Quite a bit less compared to some actually.

[Zunige]

For sure the series 4 Spiders had much better "rust-proofing". I can't remember what was done exactly, beyond better coats to protect the steel, but it was a big deal when they came out with this. The early series 3 Spiders aren't much better than the series 2, and I'm not sure if the later series 3 had better coatings, but certainly by then materials where of higher quality and Alfa was aware of the rust issues. (This is separate from the infamous "Russian steel".) I remember a thread that has some specific info on this, so I would encourage you to do a search.

Best regards,

[msiert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zunige For sure the series 4 Spiders had much better "rust-proofing". I can't remember what was done exactly, beyond better coats to protect the steel, but it was a big deal when they came out with this. The early series 3 Spiders aren't much better than the series 2, and I'm not sure if the later series 3 had better coatings, but certainly by then materials where of higher quality and Alfa was aware of the rust issues. (This is separate from the infamous "Russian steel".) I remember a thread that has some specific info on this, so I would encourage you to do a search. Best regards,