Is this rust DIY doable or professional? It looks to be contained to the gasket/seal area and not to creep into the hood. I finally got a chance to really detail the car since I acquired in November and finally able to see this area gunk free. The windshield is missing the outer trim piece and the thin plastic that separates the area is breaking of in large strips. Once the rust is taken care of will I be able to install the outer trim piece. Finally, any suggested touch up paint (L741) or paint shops in S. FL? TIA





Passenger side


Passenger side

Driver's side

 

Hi J,
Do you live near the ocean? Seems like a lot of surface corrosion and even dried salt in the seams.
Doing a DIY cleaning and sealing does not preclude going to a professional sometime in the future.
I would rinse things off and dry it. Then for surfaces that are not visible consider using some corrosion converter to stabilize and protect the metal that already exhibits corrosion.
For visible corrosion review my page on the subject here and see if it provides any useful ideas:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...corrosion.html
If not done already I would fill the gutter around the glass so it no longer retains water.
You may need to have a shop do the major repair option which probably involves removing the glass and possibly replacing it with new after the metal is cleaned up.
Andy

 

Thanks, Andy. I have that page bookmarked and read a few times. Initially I only noticed a very small spot on the driver's side but after giving it a good cleaning I see more. Where have you sourced your paint? I inherited the car and piecing together the history. It spent time in Wisconsin and Minnesota, then Florida and Georgia and now back in Florida. It had the windshield replaced in 2011 and sat in a garage since from at least 2013 until Nov 23 when I drove to Ft Lauderdale.

 

With the cracked windscreen seal as well, i'd be pulling the screen, getting it repaired 100%. Metal work, primer, paint, new seals all around etc. Not sure what your diy skill level is but that would be a decent one to tackle....

 

I’ve had this done on two different 993, it’s not a job I’d want to take on, and I’m a semi retired heavy equipment mechanic… Further, I feel it pretty safe to say prices will only go up, glass, seals and labor. Be sure and find a shop experienced with 993 windshield replacement as well as rust repair.
Best wishes, Steve

 

I've seen various threads on this subject. Is the rust visible or concealed under the moulding?
How prevalent??

 

You could remove the rust mechanically and then treat it with 3 stage Por15. If it shows any on a black car you won’t see it much if it’s past the seal. Por 15 is glossy black

 

Hi J,
You can get the paint using the paint code on the option sticker in your owner's manual or stuck to the underside of the frunk lid. The paint can be sourced by any local automotive paint distributor or online from a similar distributor. I have purchased paint both locally and online. If you describe to the counterman at the distributor what you are doing he will know what pant type to give you. For small touch-ups, an acrylic paint may work or the superior catalyzed (2K) paint, Also the countermen are a good source of general painting information. Be sure to handle the paint only in metal or ceramic containers as certain plastic containers will contaminate the paint and may cause adhesion problems.
Andy

 

Agreed. And if seals all around mean the cowl to fender seals, agreed once more.

It may have been repaired once before as there is clear coat on the cowl side edge of the fender seals.

 

You will need a professional unless your trade is body work. There will likely be more rust underneath where the windshield meets the body. You will need to pull the glass, sand affected area, re-prime, apply sealant to avoid in the future, and install a new front windshield correctly.

Yes, you will need a new windshield because the brittle plastic surrounding the windshield is an attached component of the glass. You cannot buy or install the plastic separately. If you put the same glass back in, you will not be able to properly attach the exterior seal and you end up back where you started. When installing the new windshield, use a shop that is familiar with 993s. If the windshield is installed improperly, it will creak and leak again.

My 993 had rust on both front and rear. I had it repaired in 2020 by a top notch shop. I heavily stressed to put the windshield in correctly and the shop paid extra attention to it. Three years later, my window still creaks and leaks when driving through heavy rain.

 

When I restored my car in 2020, they pulled the windshield and there was SOME rust on the driver's side in the lower corner. The wind shield was OEM and they warned me when they took it out it might break- and it did. Check with your glass policy to see if this is covered. It WAS in my case and was able to get a new one. the seals were really old and the windscreen creaked a lot- now it's super quiet and the noise level in the car is much lower- all in- very much worth it.

 

That rust doesn't look bad. Take a small flathead screwdriver and scrape off any scale, then you'll know the extent of it. I had one localized minor area when I bought my car, scraped it clean, used POR-15, and have never had a problem since (that was 15 years ago). It looks like the paint on this car is pretty tired. No need to pull the windshield if the rust is localized/surface and you don't need a concours fix. Just clean it up, POR15, install the outer seal, drive and enjoy.

 

Thank you all for the input. I have been going through the forums page by page reading posts that seem relevant to things I have seen on this car or issue I suspect I will encounter, especially the top.. I am on page 270 now. The windshield doesn't creak or leak now and I am hesitant to pull it, put a new one in and then have problems. I think I will try to clean it up more, take off what I can and go from there.
J
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Is your plan to glue or caulk the outer seal to the windshield? If the plastic surrounding the windshield is broken, you will not be able to secure the outer seal correctly.

If you do not put an outer seal, water will very easily sit in the crevices and rust will reappear.

 

If I try to tackle the rust I will seal the outer seal in.