Surface Rust

[77ChevySharkBite]

Okay, so as you can see in the pictures I'm going to be dealing with some nice good ole surface rust. What I need to know is what is the most effective way to go about in fixing it? Can I just sand it down to bare metal then paint over it? All help will be greatly appreciated!

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Yes you can do that, but I would recommend Por-15 or Rust Bullet.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Okay, but is that what I use to cover it or what? I've never had to do it so thats why I'm asking.

[rollin thunder]

If it is not deep at all you can wire wheel it off and take it down to the metal or any other means and respray but.. if it is beginning to pit at all then thats probably not the way you want to go. I don`t know about it then, I have not had to deal with the in between its either cut out and replace or just take it down and respray in my dealings.from what i have heard por 15 is like rust-oleaum just spray over rust. But don`t take my word on it

[77ChevySharkBite]

yeah I can pretty sure tell you its not starting to pit I mean there is one tiny little about the size of the tip of a triple A battery that's there but the rest is fine, it's still solid.

[buffle]

I just remove any loose scale , then apply a rust converter. After the converter turns black I coat it with a good enamel paint. It seems to stop the surface rust and prevent any more.

[cory d]

wire wheel on a grinder and go to town

[77ChevySharkBite]

okay so make it like a flat surface again, and then put a converter then paint it am I understanding what you said correctly?

[77ChevySharkBite]

Originally Posted by cory d

wire wheel on a grinder and go to town

Looks like I got some shopping to go do if that's the route taken, but once I have it taken care of then just use a rust preventor over it?

[rollin thunder]

Yeah after it is taken down use rust inhibitors there are primers that are available which will be rust inhibitors as well, rust-oleum is pretty good they have all kinds of choices and even have a line of paints specific for vehicles.

[77ChevySharkBite]

sweet!!! looks like autozone here I come!! lol I like the rewards program lol

[rollin thunder]

x2 lol autozone rocks!

[Damon23]

I hope that when you knock all that back you dont find pin holes. Looking at it, the darker spots look deep but that may just be my computer. I second the rust converters. That stuff is great and paintable. I used it when I pulled the carpets up on my 79Z28 and got lucky with just surface rust.

[77ChevySharkBite]

It might be the camera, but the reason that side is so bad is due to the heater was leaking for who knows how long until the PO decide to bypass it so hopefully it's not too bad
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[kalbert]

Yea not to poop on the party but I think when you start grinding that rust is worse than you think. You may be better to cut it out and replace it.

[panhead671]

gotta disagree on autozone...I used to be a loyal customer...but after buying a bad starter and them replacing it with another bad starter (3rd one worked) and a bad steer box...you'd think I'd at least get a "sorry"...nope, just looked at me in their slacked jawed "I don't give kangaroo crap" way...

Dang, I miss the days of walking into a parts store, shuffelin thru the peanut shells to get to the counter stool and having a guy who actually knew parts and didn't need a computer set you up in a quickie

[77ChevySharkBite]

WOW! Yeah so far i've been very lucky and had no issues with buy parts from them thankfully, but you'd figure like you said after the 3rd one they'd say were sorry for the inconvenience.

I wish I could experience it like that I think it would be fun because like you said the people actually know what there talking about don't just need a computer to find the parts.

[andrewmp6]

I would sand off the rust and truck bedliner the floor pan.

[xrcr]

Definately sold on the Zero Rust, por 15, chassis saver products. Have used them on some ignorant rust and its held.
I'm lucky my local NAPA has a gal named Glenda that's smarter than the computers.

[77ChevySharkBite]

okay, now let me ask this when i use it do I just need the one product or is there a "proper" way for it to be done?

[dieseldawg142]

por15 is extremely tuff paint. after i painted my frame with it, i used to show people how tough it was by whacking it with a hammer. 4yrs of gravel roads & NO chips anywhere. also did my floor pan like your doing, makes a great base if your putting sound deadner in. wire wheel & sand the heck out of it, use some por15 Marine Clean, then spray por15 Metal Ready on to etch it, then apply por15 paint. if your spraying it, you will need por15 solvent, other kinds dont work so good. 2 or 3 coats & your good to go. oh yeah, you definitely want to be wearing gloves!

old factory jute rusted to floor

after por15

[77ChevySharkBite]

that floor looks awesome!!! yeah, I'm planning to put some sound deadner in it at some point in time before I get all my interior work done to it, I'm just having a hard time deciding what I want done floor wise. i'll probably go carpet but do something more durable and better looking of course, can't forget floor mats too haha

[MalibuSSwagon]

You may also want to investigate the cause of the rust, especially on the passenger side. May need to pull and re-seal the heater box, and replace the door/window seals if you haven't already done so.

Edit: I also noticed you have A/C. Make sure the evaporator drain tube isn't clogged as well.

[dieseldawg142]

Originally Posted by MalibuSSwagon

You may also want to investigate the cause of the rust, especially on the passenger side. May need to pull and re-seal the heater box, and replace the door/window seals if you haven't already done so.

Edit: I also noticed you have A/C. Make sure the evaporator drain tube isn't clogged as well.

so true, heater core was leaking, replaced it, still had a leak, pulled it AGAIN, nothing wrong, factory caulking on the heater box under the hood had rotted away.

[77ChevySharkBite]

yeah the PO said it was leaking so that's why they bypassed the heater but I'll make sure to check the things you guys mentioned save me a lot of time and hassle.

thanks for your help guys y'all rock!