Rust Slower? [Archive] - Chevelle Tech

: Rust Slower?


novakm
Jun 20th, 02, 11:01 PM
Hi,

I am a brand new owner of a '71 Malibu convertible. It looks good and is solid. It's been through a minor restoration, paint, minor body work, new motor & tranny, etc. Suspension is shot (bushings, springs, tie rods, etc.) so I am rebuilding. I bought it for a daily driver. I expect that in 2-3 years the old bondo will fall off and I will tackle a frame off.

Here's my problem: The underside of the car has not been touched, so the original undercoating and paint is flaking off, and most of the metal has surface rust. nothing structural, but left alone it could quickly get bad in the winter. Is there something that I could spray on to slow the rust for a couple of years? I thought about using POR or something like that, but that stuff is nearly impossible to get off later, and it's a pretty big messy job to do the whole underside of a car. Regular undercoating would just cover it, and maybe speed up the process if moisture gets trapped. I am looking for something that would soak into the rusty areas and partly solidify. Kind of like what happens with a small oil leak. Eventually you end up with a hard layer of grease that protects the metal really well.

Like I said, in a couple of years I want to be able to do this right. I figure if anybody knows of something, it's you guys.

Thanks


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'71 Chevelle convertible
red daily driver

TronDD
Jun 20th, 02, 11:28 PM
Welcome to the club. I bought a Chevelle to drive daily here in Mass. In one winter of not really driving it that much (but it was outside) the body went from bad to terrible. Any hidden rust unhid itself. If you are starting with a better body than I did, you might be alright for a while. Although I thought the body was in great shape when I bought it. I was dumb then. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif I'd go with the POR. It'll work and it can be taken off.

I wouldn't take any chances with a cheap fix or in a few years you'll be replacing panels.

I bought a vinyl garage for the Chevelle and a daily driver. It'll never see winter again. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif I still haven't done any body work yet. I hope it doesn't get any worse while I save the money.

Tim.

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Proud Owner: '69 Chevelle
Malibu: 350, PG, 3.36 open dif.
Comming soon: 454 and Richie 5 speed.

FS: TH-400 longtail 0 miles

"ALL YOUR RICE ARE BELONG TO US!"

Chevelle page (http://www.wyatts-torch.com:8080/~dienadel/chevelle/index.html)

NHRA1877
Jun 21st, 02, 8:42 AM
I used some stuff called Extend Rust Treatment by Loctite. You spary 3 to 4 thick coats of it right over rust and it nutralizes it. It dries to a black primer. I used it on the whole under side of my car and over it i sprayed NAPA`s Rubberized undercoating.

koso_64
Jun 21st, 02, 11:22 AM
use "zero rust", it has similar qualities to to POR-15, but it will be hella cheaper, and easier to remove down the road than POR-15.

Chief
Jun 21st, 02, 1:09 PM
Here is the ultimate solution......Take say a .010 or .015 drill bit and put a series of holes through the oil pan up near the pan rail. Start with 3 or 4 holes on each side and add additional holes as required to achieve the oil film thickness on your undercarriage that you are looking for. I figure you can buy about 15 quarts of oil for what you will pay for one quart of POR and with that much fresh oil constantly being added to your motor you may even be able to do away with oil changes for the next couple of years, I would recommend to contine to change the oil filter at recommended intervals though. Just a thought..... http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

67shovel
Jun 21st, 02, 2:44 PM
I'm with Chief on this. My 67 SS project was an oil leaker and even without undercoating the floor pans were perfect once you got all the crud off. How do we make it leak correctly? Loosen pan bolts? Valve covers? Just pour oil and a little thinner in a spray bottle and mist her down?

THORSS70
Jun 21st, 02, 8:40 PM
Hehehe, I always praised my leaking engine for preserving the sheetmetal under the car. Fix the oil leak? Why do that?

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Craig Sanden
'Cleverly designed as a responsible adult'

daveseitz
Jun 22nd, 02, 6:32 AM
Just get the front seal to leak and it does the job on rust prevention.

novakm
Jun 22nd, 02, 11:48 AM
HMMM

I hadn't thought of using the engine as a rust preventative device....

seriously, I was thinking of something like they use on the cables of a construction crane. Sprays on, soaks in, and turns into a very sticky grease that does not wash away easy. As a temporary measure it might work if I respray every few months. I would love to strip it down and refinish with POR or Zero, or something, but I do not have the time to get it done, or the money to have someone else do it.

What do you think?