I realize this is a stupid question, but I figured i'd ask it anyway. I was under my car yesterday looking at the chassi to see what kind of shape it's in and i noticed that there is a lot of surface rust. No holes or anything terrible like that, but some fairly decent surface rust. Anyway.....i heard that there is some stuff that you can put on rusted areas that actually turns the rust into a primer????? Does anyone know what i'm refering to? Or does anyone know of anything I could coat the chassi with to help the problem? I will eventually be tearing the whole car down and will be zinc dipping the chassis, but i just don't have the time,place, or money to do it right now. thanks a lot

If you are going to galvanize the chassis at a later date, I would not worry about surface rust at this point. That rust has not eaten thru in 30+ years so a few more won't hurt. Worry about it when your ready to do it properly.
Have you condidered wire brushing the loose rust off and applying a product called POR-15 ? You can do this in your spare time and it is very easy and looks great. You would not have to treat chemically later on. It would be done once and for all. graemlins/thumbsup.gif
BTW, there are no stupid questions here ;)

When I first started working on my Chevelle, I wasn't aware of all the products out there. I was working on my trunk floor and purchased some naval jelly and some of the same stuff you are talking about. It didn't work for me at all. I noticed rust re-appearing even though the car had never been outside. Recently, I have been doing the POR-15 thing. I've also found out that you must follow their directions to a T. Some of the POR-15 that I applied on my cowl (over factory coating) peeled off in sheets. I have since followed the directions of applying POR-15, and it seems to be OK. Only time will tell I guess. They claim it will stop rust permanately, I guess we'll see in a few years.

Yes, I also applied some POR-15 over a clean section of my original floor pan (not prepping properly) and the POR-15 would peel up like you described, but the areas on the chassis where I have wire brushed and Painted Over the Rust appears to be indestructable, it looks great and I'm sure it is not going anywhere.

It sounds like this POR-15 is the way to go. I think i'll have to give that a try. Where can I get this and how much is it though? So if I were to apply this to my chassi properly, then I wouldn't have to worry about getting it galvanized at a later date? I appreciate the replies. :D

As far as I know, you can only get it from their website (POR-15.com), and it's about $31 a quart. You'll also need the Metal Ready stuff, it's like a mild acid that disaolves the rust, then etches the metal with a zinc phosphorate coating. I have also used PPC metal conditioner for this instead of Metal Ready. They also say that you have to clean the surface with Marine Clean, once again, a POR product. Go to their web site, it has a lot of info. I have seen it on ebay also. As far as the durability, I cannot say myself because I have only been using it a couple of years and my car has not been outside yet. I've heard a lot of good stuff about it, but have no personal opinion yet.

Yes, go here and read about it and you can order also. You should not need more than a quart.
http://www.por15.com/default.asp

and here are the instructions:

http://www.por15.com/uploads/files/por-15%20application%20sheet.pdf

Excellent. I take it that this stuff is clear? Do you guys think I will be able to get to enough of the chassi, without removing the body, to make it worth while? Or should I just not worry about it, wait a couple years or so, and then get it zinc dipped and coated?

I'm thinking it might be best off to wait....but i'd like to hear any recommendations.
thanks

Check your local body shop supply house.
Mine has a good selection of POR-15 products.

Sounds like a good idea....only problem is that I don't know of any body shops around here. Kinda sucks. graemlins/angry.gif I think i'll probably just go through the companies website to get the products I need if I decide to have at it. Thanks for the advice guys.

If you really plan on getting it dipped and coated, I think I would wait. I had my body off my frame when I detailed it and I still couldn't get to a lot of it. The portions of the frame that's boxed in is the worse obviously. POR-15 will only provide protection to properly prepared surfaces, and I don't see how a person could "properly prepare" an area that you can't get to. I'm sure where theres a will, there's a way though. Good luck with your decision.

That's exactly what I was thinking 7DSS. Thanks for the advice. I guess she'll just have to wait awhile with it how it is. :D

You can also try an excellent product from eastwood called "rust encapsolator". it is more user freindly on the prep side and is used by several pro restorers. It comes in spray cans as well as quarts.