t bar

[stagmuffin]

stripped out a t bar ive had for about 10 yrs stored dry and found this !! the black ambla /vinyl cover and zip were in very good condition no holes foam looks like crumbled digestives and the t bar is compromised by rust . kinda guessing the foam acted like a absorbant sponge and sucked up any moisture out of the a and b posts ,was going to use the t bar to have it retrimmed when i get my interior done ,looks now like it will need work and galvanising first .how many more out there in this shape ready to fold on impact or collapse??
steve

[jleyton]

Hi Steve,

I've looked at 4 or 5 in the last few months and all of them look like yours

I know it looks awful but I don't think the structural integrity is diminished much, if at all.

Just paint it with something lik Bilt Hamber's Hydrate 80.

Cheers

Julian

[iani]

This is on my list for the next few months, no doubt I'll find the same mess.

[staginhiding]

I remember when I worked on the Ford production line (for a short period) back in the 70's, when I walked past the trim shop where the seat covers were being stretched over the frames,they used a lot of steam.
This was probably the same at Leyland in the same period.I wonder if the moisture got in to the T bar and then just stayed there when the PVC was pulled over the foam.
That could be part of the reason that the bar is rusty..

[new to this]

stripped out a t bar ive had for about 10 yrs stored dry and found this !! the black ambla /vinyl cover and zip were in very good condition no holes foam looks like crumbled digestives and the t bar is compromised by rust . kinda guessing the foam acted like a absorbant sponge and sucked up any moisture out of the a and b posts ,was going to use the t bar to have it retrimmed when i get my interior done ,looks now like it will need work and galvanising first .how many more out there in this shape ready to fold on impact or collapse??
steve

steve

my spare t-bar that im going to use was a little rusty i had it sand blasted and powder coated came up a treat

when you took the cover off was there two metal end plates separate from the t-bar

dave

[stagmuffin]

Dave Yes
, blast and paint be ok then
Steve

[Stag therapy]

I found the padding around my T bar in similar condition and also had concerns about the structural integrity. I was however pleasantly surprised that (in my case at least), it was all surface rust.- Now all removed and powder coated.
I seem to remember Drew also expressed concerns about the rust he found on his project.

Baz

[Rze30]

I did mine recently. Just wirebrushed it and then applied rust remedy. Then primed and painted. Bought new foam and cover. Bugger of a job to fit requires massive patience but end result is very good.