Preventing rust questions, help!

[dmw319]

So I have recently put on a bunch of new parts in the last year (disc brakes up front, suspension parts, etc). It seems that some of them are rusting already! I keep my truck outside under the carport, so it doesnt see rain but it does see drastic drops in temperature (recently) and a lot of moisture seems to form on the ground (epoxy'd concrete) and even when its foggy out, the whole floor stays wet till the weather gets dried up. So.. that's WHY its rusting. It never did this at my old house where I had an enclosed garage.

My question, can I help stop that in any way? My goal is to convert the carport to a full enclosed garage. But for now, would using a truck cover help? I know the moisture still might get in from under the truck, but I'm just trying to stop what I can right now. Eventually I'll take those parts off, clean the rust off and spray them with good paint, but no point until the garage is finished off.

Advice?

[hugger6933]

A cover is not gonna help you except lighten your load in the wallet area by a few hundred. Now if you had some air flow[like a fan,as simple as a box fan might do it] to move the air out of the carport that may be a different story.What parts are you talking about that is rusting? Jim

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

A cover is not gonna help you except lighten your load in the wallet area by a few hundred. Now if you had some air flow[like a fan,as simple as a box fan might do it] to move the air out of the carport that may be a different story.What parts are you talking about that is rusting? Jim

Bolts to the bottom of my trailing arms, master cylinder, brake distribution block, some small spots on the headers...

[long'n low]

spray some lube/wd40 on them?? it you put a layer of light oil should keep the water off and slow any corrosion.

[dmw319]

i guess its worth a shot! anyone else?

[JWPOORE]

Originally Posted by long'n low

spray some lube/wd40 on them?? it you put a layer of light oil should keep the water off and slow any corrosion.

Here is another type of lube/wd40 type spray.
http://www.fluid-film.com/

You can pick it up and in variety of sizes and ways to apply it. Ebay is also a good place to buy it reasonably.

[Cali72K20]

this is what i use, this stuff works great. it turns rusty metal a blackish color.
i usually wire brush the affected area and spray away.
http://seafoamsales.com/deep-creep/

[russgoodman]

I've got some stuff called Boeshield T9. Its made by Boeing for aviation use. Spray it on and wipe off excess and its supposed to last for a year. I haven't tried it outside but its been awesome in my shop.

[Grumpy old man]

buy some tin roofing lie it on the ground and park the truck on top of it !, I have more than a few muscle cars stored this way and it works just fine ! a large tarp and your good to go just don't let the tarp go all the way to the ground it has to have air flow below it ...

[Rod Run]

Any type of bare metal object stored outside is going to get surface rust, that's just part of nature.

I think when you epoxied the ground, you actually added to your problem. If it was bare cement, then the moisture would absorb into it relatively quickly. Now that it's epoxied, the water just sits there and beads up, so it has longer to sit around and cause rust under your truck. Sort of the same effect as wax on your paint

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by Rod Run

Any type of bare metal object stored outside is going to get surface rust, that's just part of nature.

I think when you epoxied the ground, you actually added to your problem. If it was bare cement, then the moisture would absorb into it relatively quickly. Now that it's epoxied, the water just sits there and beads up, so it has longer to sit around and cause rust under your truck. Sort of the same effect as wax on your paint

Sorry to bring back a thread from the dead, but I think this is very true.

My epoxy coat in the garage is starting to peel after about 2 years (wasn't a very high quality one). I am thinking about just scraping the rest off and leaving it without any coat on it. It's just super ugly!

[Gromit]

I like this stuff from www.blastercorp.com and available at my Home Depot for three or four bucks a can (buy two 'cause when you need it you need it and sucks to be out when for example you have something apart and can finally reach that inaccessible spot)..

If there is already rust this stuff will really calm it down..

It does wear off but takes maybe 8 to 10 months and then just give it another shot.

One example - recently I had my window regulator out and I was able to fit the can inside the door and spray the spots in the upper inside corners by the hinge and by the latch - no other way to get at that except maybe with a soda blaster..

Don't get it on your disk brake rotor though - it is wax based..

[dmw319]

Thanks!

[Mrturner1]

Scrape that epoxy off, acid wash the cement, and then stain it to look like something you'll like. Sometimes bare cement is ugly but a little work and the right kind of stain and you will be happy AND the water won't bead up

[GASoline71]

After driving Chevy and GMC's FOR 35 years... my driveway is sealed with 10w30, 80w90, and Dexron/Mercon... if a Chevy ever stops leaking... it's out of oil! LOL

Gary

[mlongkc]

Does carport have a metal roof?

[67 chevelle]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281919158839...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by mlongkc

Does carport have a metal roof?

Nope, its part of the house. I really want to enclose it to make it an actual garage.

[D.PASSMORE]

Old school method here in Florida for the pre '73 Steel trucks was to dump the burnt motor oil back into all the trucks nooks, seams and wherever else. It would slow the rust or prevent from starting. Uh, still works too...

[Fatherflash]

As a stop gap type measure, have you tried desiccant bags? Put them near the component and they will help absorb airborne moisture. They will not solve the rust issue however, they can help control the moisture trapped in the air and environment. You can find the bags through Amazon. Also search for silica gel and damp rid. Don't put the desiccant bags directly on bare metal. I put mine in open plastic bags near the component. I also coat the item I am worried about with WD-40. This combination works for me.

[dmw319]

thanks for the advice fellas!

I am going to paint a lot of the parts that are rusting with some POR15 this weekend and hopefully that will help!

[special-K]

You have bare metal and moisture in the air. It either needs paint, an oil to form a shield, or a product that converts iron oxide to iron phosphate. The converter lasts a while, but needs to be redone in time. Same with oils. The converter is what you need prior to painting, if you go that route. Covering will hold the moisture and even create it through condensation. Circulating air with a fan helps, but you are blowing moisture. It's just the way unpainted metal gets.