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MG MG Y Type - Boot lining

The rubber-like coating in my boot appears to be flaking off in places, and I have detected small rust bubbles under the paint along the sides of the rear wings. I can only assume moisture has gone under the coating and begun to rust the bodywork. I've had the car 2 months now and the bubbling seems to have become worse. The only water it has seen is two washings with a garden hose. I really don't want to repaint the car right now as funds and time are at a minimum. What is the best method for stripping and re-applying the coating, and what coating product works the best? Thanks!
Steve Simmons

As a long time YB owner I can understand your concern over this problem . It can arise from a number of things,
for instance:
The rear drain tubes are blocked/split where they go through the boot area,
Condensation in the cabin runs down behind the rear window and starts rusting through the small ledge behind the rear seat - if you poke around here you will probably find small holes etc
The boot seal is letting in water.
Water is getting into the rear wing joints and rusting through the body - not uncommon.

The only answer I found was to scrape away the rusted area and treat with a rust killer/inhibiter (if you find holes then unless you want to spend a lot of money you can use small quantities of fibreglass/filler but I suppose not ideal) and then use a good quality brush on rust inhibiting paint - spraying in this area has never lasted on my car. Best to empty the boot and let it dry out when the car is stored for winter. Unfortunately leaving the rust only makes it worse.If at some stage you remove the rear wings it is vital to properly treat the wing / body mounting area with a good quality brush on paint (for areas not normally seen on the outside). In my experience if you just spray these areas they always rust if you use/store the car in anything but dry conditions.I am not sure what the original covering used in the boot was, or if the rubber like coating was used originally - the coating sounds like some sort of bitumastic paint.
David Mullen

The rust bubbles seem to follow a line from the ledge above the boot down towards the rear bumper. Is this where the internal water channel runs? There are small bubbles elsewhere in the area but the worst of it is here.

THe coating inside the boot is a highly-textures, thick material. I suspect it was grippy at one point in time but is now pretty hard and chips away. Looks like a thicker, brushed-on Rhino Liner.
Steve Simmons

The rubber drain tubes attached to each side of the rear of the sunroof channel (visible with the headlining removed or if you remove the sun-roof)run down each side of the roof by back end of the rear side windows (behind the head lining) and through the corners by the small ledge at the bottom of the rear window and go either side of the upper boot area and then exit through holes (where the tubes poke out) in the inner (rear) wing area which forms part of the boot area (look under your rear wings for them). The tubes should be visible in the boot area, possibly behind some trim if fitted. If missing the lack of these rubber tubes would explain a lot - but they are usually there.
It sounds as if what we call in the UK 'underseal' has been used to protect the boot - best to remove it.

I take it you are refering to the trunk (in US language) in your first message and not the area where the spare wheel goes. Apologies if I have misunderstood your original message.
David Mullen

Yes, the trunk area. Thanks for the info. I'll investigate the drain tubes. I didn't realize they were rubber so perhaps I'll replace them just for good measure. Now to figure out what to do with the rust bubbles. :/
Steve Simmons

Replacing the tubes sounds easy - but you will need to get hold of the Workshop manual to ensure that you know what you are about to undertake. See the Book Review page on the site for a link to get the correct manual for your car - YA/T or YB from the MG Octagon Car Club.
Paul Barrow

Forgot to add, you should also have millboard sides and back to your boot area. I believe Jack Murray has a template that he may be able to copy for you (if you ask him nicely!!) and post to you. This sort of this would not work easily as a web transmission file - before everyone asks - as it is clearly bigger than even an A3 scanner can handle!

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 20/09/2003 and 21/09/2003

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