GranTurismo rusty panel query?

AndyG

Junior Member
Messages
368
New panel powder coated and waxed,image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpgthe other side was in much better condition but has the same treatment done, the underside has now been fully waxed including all the box sections, so should be good for another 7 years of hard abuse
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
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21,013
Good work, Andy. Did you do it all yourself? I'm minded to get mine protected and any flaky parts dealt with.
 

AndyG

Junior Member
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368
Yep all done in my own workshop, i'm lucky as i have a 4 ton 2 post ramp, so i tend to do all my own maintenance apart from major works like clutches etc, it goes down to Vic @ Migliore for that. I now need to tackle my paint issues and what was a basket case should look very nice.

Andy
 

Felonious Crud

Administrator
Staff member
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It may be a bit harder using just a trolley jack and axle stands... Perhaps I should get a pro to do it! :smile:
 

JMS

Member
Messages
262
I have a 2008 GT. The car is in very good nick overall. Having climbed all over it during these last few weeks I have come across a 10" x 10" pressed steel plate (patterned) on either side of the car just inboard of the front jacking point. It spans a portion of the brake pipeline channel that runs front to back along the car but doesn't seem to have a purpose?>

Anyway - unlike the rest of the underside, these two steel panels are in a terribly corroded state of disrepair. In fact one has part crumbled and this weekend I removed both plates and threw them in the bin as they were crumbling in my hands!

Does anyone have any idea what these are there for?

[I also note that some of the front and rear suspension rods,supports etc have got what looks like 'wind deflectors' made of hard plastic just in front of several of these suspension struts - anyone?].

HOLY THREAD RESURRECTION!!!

having just had a PPI done by Nuvola and discussing findings with Nareman, I learned the answer.

these plates are sacrificial and intended to attract corrosion and keep it away from the front subframe. Consider them as a consumable to be replaced when they start to rust.
The design team have gone up slightly in my estimation.
 

Zep

Moderator
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9,110
Without wishing to **** on Nareman’s chips, I don’t think they are. Rust isn’t attracted by things, it’s a chemical reaction between oxygen and the iron in steel which occurs more quickly in the presence of a catalyst (water and salt).

The plates protect the pipes that run behind them in the vicinity of the jacking point and due to their location behind the front wheels and their shape which pools water in the ridges they tend to rust more quickly.

There is such a thing as a sacrificial anode in ships and large steel structures, but these are made of a more reactive metal (zinc or aluminium) to prevent galvanic corrosion when immersed in an electrolyte (like sea water), not the same material, like the plates.
 

spkennyuk

Member
Messages
5,931
Without wishing to **** on Nareman’s chips, I don’t think they are. Rust isn’t attracted by things, it’s a chemical reaction between oxygen and the iron in steel which occurs more quickly in the presence of a catalyst (water and salt).

The plates protect the pipes that run behind them in the vicinity of the jacking point and due to their location behind the front wheels and their shape which pools water in the ridges they tend to rust more quickly.

There is such a thing as a sacrificial anode in ships and large steel structures, but these are made of a more reactive metal (zinc or aluminium) to prevent galvanic corrosion when immersed in an electrolyte (like sea water), not the same material, like the plates.

Also used on the American style steel casket coffins. They have a zinc bar underneath. My useless bit of information for today.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
HOLY THREAD RESURRECTION!!!

having just had a PPI done by Nuvola and discussing findings with Nareman, I learned the answer.

these plates are sacrificial and intended to attract corrosion and keep it away from the front subframe. Consider them as a consumable to be replaced when they start to rust.
The design team have gone up slightly in my estimation.
I am sure he was having a laugh at Maserati’s expense
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
Very funny. Cheap rubbish plates but a tenner each so no big issue.

They are indeed pipe protectors for the jacking points so get scuffed and flexed, split the coating and rust sets in quick.
 

Scaf

Member
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6,512
they are also useless design that holds water in the pressed channels that give the plate strength.

When I had my under-seal done I cleaned and rust proofed mine before painting with stone chip, as replacements were on back order and had not arrived. I have the replacements ‘in stock’ waiting for the inevitable !
 
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JMS

Member
Messages
262
I hadn’t realised they were the same material- when I get them replaced I need to decide whether to get them protected or leave to be sacrificed.

out of interest- where are you sourcing them from at £10 or £20?
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
Errrr. why not make them out of plastic?

I'm not material scientist but I've heard that plastic doen't rust...is this true?