73-87chevytrucks.com
General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: jaspencer on July 23, 2009, 02:47:25 pm
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Well, I've got all sheet metal except the cab off the frame of the 78. I have some rusty spots on the frame and axles. Not pits though. What do you guys think about a coat of Rust Oleum rust converter, black primer, and then black paint. Think that'll hold back the sands of time. I'm not equipped for sandblasting, so I figure that was the next best option. I also have a question about the fuel gauge/sending unit. The fuel needle has been flopping when I hit bumps for a few years. It is accurate when parked. Which one do you think the problem is? I can get to the tank easily now so I thought I'd look at this problem while I had the chance. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Jeff
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If its not rusting through you could use a grinder with a wire wheel to remove the rust and then go through the process of painting it.
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Even if you don't have a grinder.... I picked up some wire brushes that go in the chuck of a standard drill at a "closeout warehouse" chain up here in the northeast, and they seem to work well for the $0.98 /ea I paid for them. They won't tackle heavy rust, but they cut through grime and surface rust okay.
As for paint, others on here recommend POR-15 or the less-expensive equivalent Chassis Saver as a rust stopper/preventative so I used that. I went with the POR-15 and put it on with a cheap $1.50 brush from the same store mentioned above, and so far so good. It goes on kind of thick in a brushed-on application, and seems to level itself out so there were no brush strokes, but it can be thinned and sprayed if you desire. Like a dope, I left it exposed in the sun for a while so it got a milky-black appearance in some spots, so I went over the whole frame again with Tie Coat Primer followed by a coat of Chassis Black (both from POR). No rust was showing through after a year outside under a tarp with just the POR-15, and this frame was a little rough in spots under the bed. For comparison I sprayed the leaf springs with Permatex rust converter when I put the first coat of POR-15 on, then hit them with some rustoleum black. They looked good for a while but the rust is starting to show through again.
Smitty
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Thanks guys. I have the cab sitting where the bed used to be and I'm working over the front half of the frame and underside of the cab now. I'm brushing with a 4" grinder, but I guess my question should have been a little better in that I have rust in the spring hangers, and I'm having trouble getting into the "pocket" area. I'm gonna try the drill attachment and that should get most of it.
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Get a needle scaler, clean it up with that. Then you can use a rust converter. There are several types out there. I have used with good results one you mix with water, spray and brush on with a spray bottle. Then rinse off. Let it dry real good and use Chassis Saver, or POR 15. Both the same stuff but POR15 is about twice the $. Then paint over it even if you brush it on with an acrylic enamel with an activator.