Rust prevention – undercarriage advice

[Simon S]

Doing a great deal of undercarriage maintenance.

Some parts being replaced with new. Some parts will be reused.

Wanting to kill/retard/stop/prevent rust on parts upon installation. Nothing show room - just effective prevention.





intended procedure:
1. De-grease/de-rust/clean up
- intending to use WD40 & degreasers like Simple Green for initial cleaning
- intending to use sandblasting, wire wheel brushes, and sand paper for ‘de-rusting’
- also using a product from hardware store which claims to 'chemically kill rust'.. (like a rust-killing primer(?))

2. Use chemical solvent product for oil/soap removal prior to painting
- allow to dry or blow dry w/ compressed air
- handle with rubber gloves on

3. Use various rattle can paints/coatings on parts (high temp paint for heat shielding & brake components – rubberized undercoating for body areas - rust inhibiting paint for other misc hangers, clips, ect)
- allow to dry
- install


step 2 is where I’m mainly asking for advice.. what’s best ‘pre-paint’ chemical? Mineral spirits? Lacquer thinner? Paint thinner? Acetone? Denatured alcohol? - so many to choose from..

Advice/input appreciated. tia

[Mastrcruse]

On my dads 61 vette we used some kind of paint or adhesive or something (can't remember the name) on the undercarriage and it worked great. We just had to clean alittle and then apply it. There is not sloppy shit to clean up and it applied and has been good for the last year and a half. I will try to find out what we used and get back to you.

[NC325iC]

what are you using to lift the car up so you can get under it to clean up

[bmwm3n528]

Por 15.

[Simon S]

what are you using to lift the car up so you can get under it to clean up

jack stands

Por 15.

yeah.. heard great things about Por 15. There is already an arsenal of products in my shop that I’d just as soon use up. I'd be all over Por 15 if:
a) the car was much more cancerous
and/or
b) car was worth more

[JRowe]

Use Zero Rust - best paint ever for rust proofing.

[Beej '86 325es]

Ya on the Por15. Basically, it's a sealer. Rust can't grow without oxygen, and the Por15 seals the rust. The shit's expensive, but worth it IMO. I just spent $100 their site a few weeks ago.

[stegosaurus]

Wurst has a rustproofing product. I can't remember the name though because the label fell off, but the cans were only $40 or so. Work great, and pretty durable too. Used it on the big flatbed and when a can spilled on me one entire side of my body was covered for a month.

[Simon S]

kudos to imageshack for still hosting those pics..

[dlmpsy]

After cleaning away all the rust I can, I've used a zinc/epoxy spray. Seems to hold-up well.

[CAOSyAMOR]

I used a product called Fluid Film. My undercarriage was much cleaner mind you, but many people have used it on worse with good results.

IMHO unless you can clean every spec of rust before you apply some sort of actual undercoat, then you will only be inviting rust to form at an accelerated rate while going undetected.

Do lots of research, there is a lot of great information out there regarding this very question. Don't limit yourself to just this one site for your information gathering, not that it isn't great, but there is just so much info all over!

Cheers!

[sususeta]

I accept with information:De-grease/de-rust/clean up
intending to use WD40 & degreasers like Simple Green for initial cleaning
intending to use sandblasting, wire wheel brushes, and sand paper for ‘de-rusting’
also using a product from hardware store which claims to 'chemically kill rust'.

[Dirtboy]

I've been using Loctite Extend rust neutralizer. Works pretty good and it's cheap. Just have to paint over it when you're done...