Rust on C-3 Frame
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Schuyler Nebraska
Rust on C-3 Frame
I have a 72 red convertible (#'s match, good driver not show) with surface rust on the frame. The frame appears to be solid but I would like to get rid of the rust. Any opinions and price estimates on removing the body and sandblasting frame versus applying rust inhibitor. Thanks for any help!
Last edited by lonnieqc; Jan 24, 2005 at 10:15 PM.
Safety Car
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From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
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The best way to handle this situation is have the frame dipped, then apply rust inhibitors to the inside as well as the outside. Your question is a little vague in that I don't know how far you want to go on this project. Many people might take an opportunity like this to replace all the suspension parts, fuel and brake lines, springs, shocks, maybe even a rear end, transmission, and engine rebuild. Body, engine, and transmission mounts as well. If you are thinking about hiring someone to do this, the cost will be out of reach, probably in excess of $20,000, not including painting the body.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: San Diego CA
Before you start a frame-off. is the rust locallized on a area you can reach frame on? I had light surface rust on the rear of the frame but luckily where I could grind it off via my trusty dremel. Afterwards I liberally coated the entire frame with POR-15, and sprayed the areas I could not reach as in the frame parts against the body mounts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,833
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From: Southeast La
A little surface rust isn't going to hurt you. Take a hammer and punch and see if you have any real trouble areas. if not, I definitely would not pull the body off. Like already suggested, take a wire wheel and apint and go after it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Redondo Beach, California
If all you have is surface corrosion, there's not a big concern. What you don't want to have is serious rust in the frame where the rear wheel arches connect to the frame.
With the body on, you can probably get to about 70% of the frame and rotary brush off corosion and paint it.
I think the next biggest corrosion areas are the crossmember in the front that goes underneath the radiator and then after that maybe the differential crossmember. Anyhow, these two pieces can be removed from the car and treated individually.
With the body on, you can probably get to about 70% of the frame and rotary brush off corosion and paint it.
I think the next biggest corrosion areas are the crossmember in the front that goes underneath the radiator and then after that maybe the differential crossmember. Anyhow, these two pieces can be removed from the car and treated individually.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Minnesota
Just curious as to how the frame rusts out. Is it usually from the outside in or the inside out? Since it's a tubular construction the "dipping" makes a lot of sense if the rust is mainly on the inside. What sort of dipping process is done?
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Schuyler Nebraska
No do not really want to spend the $ to pull the frame off and do a body off restore. Mainly I hate rust and want to keep it from getting worse. Sounds like the rust inhibitors might be the way I want to go. Thanks for the feedback
Safety Car
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From: St. Charles IL
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Originally Posted by jdmick
Just curious as to how the frame rusts out. Is it usually from the outside in or the inside out? Since it's a tubular construction the "dipping" makes a lot of sense if the rust is mainly on the inside. What sort of dipping process is done?
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Redondo Beach, California
After dipping the frame, rinsing and neutralizing, I appears to me that the interior of the frame will just be bare metal. If this is true, then I'd think you're just inviting more rusting problems. It seems to me, that if you could do this correct, you'd have to dip the entire frame in paint, or something, to protect the metal inside of the frame.
For my front/bumper attach crossmember and the differential crossmember, I duct taped all the openings and poured Rustoleum primer inside, sloshed it all around, poured out all the excess paint. The insides of these parts should be pretty rust free. Actually, I think you could do this for the frame. Although it weighs close to 300 pounds, two men could easily tumble and roll it arround on the ground and spread primer paint inside (with all the frame holes duct taped closed.) Is there a better way to protect the inside of the frame? I'd like to protect a frame I have and I'd like to know how to prevent internal rust.
For my front/bumper attach crossmember and the differential crossmember, I duct taped all the openings and poured Rustoleum primer inside, sloshed it all around, poured out all the excess paint. The insides of these parts should be pretty rust free. Actually, I think you could do this for the frame. Although it weighs close to 300 pounds, two men could easily tumble and roll it arround on the ground and spread primer paint inside (with all the frame holes duct taped closed.) Is there a better way to protect the inside of the frame? I'd like to protect a frame I have and I'd like to know how to prevent internal rust.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 117
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From: OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMA
NO! no! if your going to frame off --strip it and take it to the powder coaters-- thar will dip it 'bake it. sandblast it ande coat it inside and out for about the price of haveing it sandblasted only.
