frame treatment
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,731
Likes: 15
frame treatment
What is the best way to treat surface rust on the frame of a driver car? I have no intention of doing a frame off power coat or paint. I want something to treat as best as possible as car sits. Thanks!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,731
Likes: 15
I can paint I just don't intend on removing the entire body to do it. What I was wondering is what others that have non-show cars have used to paint, undercoat, oil, etc to protect the frame as well as possible without spending months disassembling the entire car to do it. And what technique they used to get the best coverage possible. Thanks!
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 295
Likes: 2
From: Columbus OH
If you don't want to do anything else to it, I would recommend naval jelly. You can get it just about anywhere including home depot, etc. However, the rust will return without sealing it with something. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 793
Likes: 11
From: Grafton MA
put the car on a lift or jack stands and get wire wheel brush that attaches to a drill (from any home improvement store). use that to remove the surface rust and then paint the frame with rustoleum semi-flat black paint. you're not going to be able to get at all the tight spots and get everything like you would with a frame off, but you should be able to clean it up nicely provided the rust is only minor.
before..
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Once you clean the grease and gunk off the frame, use a wire brush (powered or manual) to knock off any loose rust. Don't worry about the light surface rust, because your next step is to put some "rust converter" on the areas with surface rust. That stuff chemically converts the rust to an inert material which seals the surface, as well. That converted layer will act as a primer to which you can add whatever paint you want to use. [P.S. If you have other areas that are un-rusted bare metal, you need to prime them before painting.]
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 331
From: Indy Indiana
this is the best job of a non frame off of masking and painting I have seen.. it can be done.
http://www.julietpage.com/corvettes/...p/rearsusp.htm
http://www.julietpage.com/corvettes/...p/rearsusp.htm
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
What I have done is to use an assortment of wire brushes including manual and with a drill. When I am satisfied with the cleaning, I finish the job with laquer thinner and some rags.
I paint my frame with a specialty rattle can from Rustoleum. It is an epoxy spray paint color called stainless steel. It dries very quickly and looks very nice.
I just do a small area at a time. This is not a fun job and so I will only do it when the mood strikes me. My frame has NO rust so I am only cleaning off the years of grease and grime. An hour or so now and then is the strategy for me.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time..........
I paint my frame with a specialty rattle can from Rustoleum. It is an epoxy spray paint color called stainless steel. It dries very quickly and looks very nice.
I just do a small area at a time. This is not a fun job and so I will only do it when the mood strikes me. My frame has NO rust so I am only cleaning off the years of grease and grime. An hour or so now and then is the strategy for me.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time..........
