What is the best way to tell if a convertible top is leaking? What areas does this year seem to rust more in? Thanks!

 

Not sure the BEST way to tell if a convertible top leaks...but I do know that all early model Mustang convertibles have issues with the inner rockers and torque boxes. These were added to the convertibles as extra unibody support. Ford didn't galvanize these pieces as they were add ons for convertibles and tended to rust out first. They are important to the structural integrity of the car and are a big job ($5k at a body shop). Basically, in order to replace the inner rockers you need to cut all the floors out too, so its an all at once type job. Take the car to a shop and have them put it up on a lift. If you see the body panels spacing start to grow larger while its on the lift or if you open the doors when its on the lift and you can;t get them to close smoothly, you definitely have a problem. Plus, you'll notice the rust/rot by eyeballing it from underneath. Put it on a lift, its hard to tell by just crawling under.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm new to this, so bear with me, but what are the torque boxes? I heard someone else mention them as a place to look. The inner rockers I'm assuming are the inner areas of the rear rockers? Thanks! If you have or can point me at pics, that would be awesome too

 

Torque boxes are directly under the front seats.

 

The torque boxes are on both sides of your car upby the kick panel and foot pedal area,the rear portion of your front fenders are directly on the outside of the torque boxes.The rockers arepretty much what holds the car together. They are the parts that are just below both your doors.

 

Is this specific to just convertibles, or is this something to look for in a coupe also? What can be done to prevent these from rusting farther if they are not too bad now, or is it just something (cutting the floors and replacing) that needs to be done? Thanks for the replies.

 

If the metal isn't to bad,buzz it clean with a grindr or d a and por-15 it. If you have a convertible,the torque boxes and rockers are of major importance. Coupes and fastbacks usually don't have 2 torque boxes,some have only 1 ,hell my 6 banger 65 fastback didn't have any at all. Don't forget about your cowl area,thats a common rust area and cause of floor and structural damage.

 

I always thought it was visa-versa.

 

From mustangsunlimited.com $80.00 for the pair.

This is the 3-sided section of the frame visible to the rear of each front wheel. Heavy throttle transfers torque through the chassis, twisting the frame. Metal fatigue & rust weaken this part, causing body flex.

 

I'm actually looking at a 6 cylinder, there is a coupe and a convertible near me, I'm just trying to figure out which one would be best. I don't want to have to do a lot of major work at least right now. I'm looking for one in decent shape I can drive without worrying about it. Will every convertible have two torque boxes? Do all the 6 cylinder coupes not have these?