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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ What the heck is this?
Posted by: quickshutter Apr 15 2012, 08:59 PM
Ok, I need some help on this;
I've been noticing a buildup of whit powder below and around the clutch pedal of my 73' 914/4 (converted to EV by previous owner). The powder appears to originate from a damaged area (actually a hole) between the foot well and where the gas tank once was. I'm guessing (and hoping I'm wrong) that this is some kind of asbestos containing material for sound deadening/fire protection, given its proximity to the gas tank.
The powder is white and chalky in consistency, which doesn't ease my suspicions at all. I've searched around and haven't found anyone with a similar issue.
Does anyone have any idea what this may be? The car is pretty far from stock, so it could be some kind of repair that was done at some point and is now falling apart.
Thanks for the help,
Mark
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Posted by: CrashDown Apr 15 2012, 09:18 PM
Man that almost looks like bondo dust.....
Posted by: Vacca Rabite Apr 15 2012, 09:29 PM
Galvanic corrosion is my guess, given your car is an EV, and its common for EV batteries to go where the gas tank used to be.
Where are the batteries kept in your 914? I bet you have a terminal with tons of this crap on it near the main battery bank.
Zach
Posted by: NORD Apr 15 2012, 09:54 PM
Galvanic corrosion is my guess, given your car is an EV, and its common for EV batteries to go where the gas tank used to be.
Where are the batteries kept in your 914? I bet you have a terminal with tons of this crap on it near the main battery bank.
Zach
I agree. It looks like battery terminal crud that my Pickup gets on the terminals
Through some in the sandbox and let the screwballs sniff it, then maybe we will
know.
Posted by: quickshutter Apr 15 2012, 10:02 PM
Galvanic corrosion is my guess, given your car is an EV, and its common for EV batteries to go where the gas tank used to be.
Where are the batteries kept in your 914? I bet you have a terminal with tons of this crap on it near the main battery bank.
Zach
That's a good guess too, but not the winner. The batteries are all fine, and contained in pretty thick boxes.
-Mark
Posted by: CrashDown Apr 15 2012, 10:10 PM
Okay I'm just gonna ask..... Was your car moonlighting as a Coke mule in columbia??
Posted by: Strudelwagon Apr 15 2012, 10:29 PM
I'm guessing your pet chipmunk keeps his powdered donuts by the fuse panel! 
Posted by: quickshutter Apr 15 2012, 10:29 PM
Man that almost looks like bondo dust.....
That one seems very likely to me. I know the previous owner used bondo in a few places, and patching a hole in the foot well seems like a distinct possibly
Posted by: quickshutter Apr 15 2012, 10:33 PM
Okay I'm just gonna ask..... Was your car moonlighting as a Coke mule in columbia??
Ok, tha's got to be it. Maybe that's why I have so much fun driving it around...
Posted by: CrashDown Apr 15 2012, 10:47 PM
Man that almost looks like bondo dust.....
That one seems very likely to me. I know the previous owner used bondo in a few places, and patching a hole in the foot well seems like a distinct possibly
And sadly, the only real way to tell if it is, is to smell it. Bondo retains it's polyester smell looooooong after its been mixed and sanded. Buit if it's comoning from a hole which is near an area that was repaired, and bondo was used, I'd say it's a damn good bet that's what it is.
Posted by: SirAndy Apr 16 2012, 12:44 AM
Did your car come from Columbia?
Posted by: euro911 Apr 16 2012, 12:53 AM
Did the car ever belong to John DeLorean? 
Posted by: CrashDown Apr 16 2012, 02:03 AM
Did the car ever belong to John DeLorean?
I see what ya did there...
Posted by: wingnut86 Apr 16 2012, 07:38 AM
Not enough hardener in the coca to solidify your 914 made completely out of Jaun Valdez's premium coffee powder
Definately looks like a quick mix job on the body putty...
Posted by: OU8AVW Apr 16 2012, 08:28 AM
It could be Corrosion, check any aluminum parts in that vicinity (mater cylinder) and makes sure that they are not getting fried. Galvanic corrosion occurs on all metals when there is an errant ground. Aluminum oxide looks like that and is caused by dissimilar metals corroding the aluminum. Steel and brass are more noble than aluminum and can cause the aluminum to decay. This happens in salt water environments and when current is introduced, like your electric car.
Front end components, master cylinders, any aluminum parts are suspect. Even the inboard side of your wheels.
Posted by: vsg914 Apr 16 2012, 08:33 AM
Fire extinguisher residue?
Posted by: Eric_Shea Apr 16 2012, 08:45 AM
Pretty sure he's referring to Scatty_underscore_b.
"Mater" cylinder? There's a joke in there... come'on Mke, you can do it!
Ant powder.
Posted by: underthetire Apr 16 2012, 08:47 AM
Was the car soda blasted?
Posted by: Vacca Rabite Apr 16 2012, 08:47 AM
It could be Corrosion, check any aluminum parts in that vicinity (mater cylinder) and makes sure that they are not getting fried. Galvanic corrosion occurs on all metals when there is an errant ground. Aluminum oxide looks like that and is caused by dissimilar metals corroding the aluminum. Steel and brass are more noble than aluminum and can cause the aluminum to decay. This happens in salt water environments and when current is introduced, like your electric car.
Front end components, master cylinders, any aluminum parts are suspect. Even the inboard side of your wheels.
I was going to post about checking the master cylinder.
It could be bondo dust, but I really think this looks like a galvanic reaction getting blown in through that hole.
Zach
Posted by: LotusJoe Apr 16 2012, 12:26 PM
Is that a hole in the peddle plate? Is the peddle plate aluminum? 
Posted by: euro911 Apr 16 2012, 01:21 PM
Could a rust preventative solution be the cause (not neutralized prior to painting?)
Whatever it is, I'd keep an eye on it and wouldn't wait too long to fix it.
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