Preventative measures for quarter panels and door skins

[Turbo6Tech84]

I've owned a few G-bodys now mostly Monte SS. I recently joined the GN brotherhood this year and glad I did. My question is what steps can I take to prevent the rusting of the lower quarter panels, door skins and the lower metal under the quarter windows. Ive have an 85 SS with this problem now and it seems the problem is from the inside rather outer. Im thinking it T-top related but who knows I havent seen leaks. I don't want my GN to suffer this fate as the lower doors are beginning to rust alittle. So any tips I can do to stop the rust from appearing would be a good investment. Thanks Jon

 

[BlackMetal]

Good question hopefully someone has some good tips. I know when I wash my car I'm always nervous to get down to the bottom of the doors because I worry that I'll find something. Would be great if there's some product or method to prevent the rust there.

 

[toofastforyou]

ZIEBART rustproofing...

There ARE some measures and products to prevent this from happening! Back here in Canada where the winter is very hard on the car's body parts, a widely used process used to slow down rust and even stop it from happening at all is to have the inside of door panels, quarter panels, underside of the whole car sprayed with an oil-based anti rust product. There are several companies doing this, but the most widely known is called "Ziebart". See their site at Ziebart International :: Welcome to Ziebart.com .They have a product called "Penetr-Oil" which is an annual oiling process that penetrates all the body's seams and joints stopping water and moisture from doing any rust damage. The overspray can easily cleaned using some mineral spirits followed by a good coat of wax. Having used this process for over 30 years on several vehicles I've owned, and having recommended it to a lot of friends and relatives, I assure you that a thin, oil-based product is far more effective than any wax or sealer type stuff because it reaches every nook and cranny in the car's body which are next to impossible to reach otherwise. Stay away from a product which is too thick or any sealer-type of product because over time, it will entrap moisture instead of repelling it! If Ziebart is good enough to protect cars during winter time driving, I'm sure it would make a GN (which I assume never gets driven in winter) last forever, as long as it's an oil-based product!...

Claude :smile:

 

[Lee Thompson]

rust preventive measures

I have several cousins who used to live in Michigan where it snows mucho. They always did this to all their cars (new or used). They swear it works. Mix in 3 equal parts, eng. oil, trans fluid, and kerosene, spray from a pump up tank sprayer. In side doors and trunk area. Leave doors open for a few days to drip. BTW, the drip holes must be open.

 

[1 QWIK 6]

anti rust products

I live in Ontario Canada and the best proven products are as follows: RUST CHECK and CROWN both are avalible in a spray can and creep into all the seems and displace water. I have used this for years and it is not messy at all. You can spray the floor pan with 1 can complete and a few days later the dripping stops. Iam sure there is a web site. It looks like trans fliud when it is sprayed on. Not a black sticky mess that dries out and holds water and salt.

 

[87GNSteve]

I bought a car with rusted DS rocker panel and floor, but the doors were perfect!
The passengerside power window motor needed replacement and when i pulled the panel I saw why they didn't rust.
The entire inside was treated with high quality undercoat it wasnt the rubberized stuff. It would stay firm but soft enough to scratch with your finger nail and a bit gooey. I'd describe it a tar.
I thought it was agreat idea but Im not sure of what was used but it looked professional because it wasnt a mess and the vapor barrier was put on right.
I would like to do this to my T type but pulling the panel is a PIA when you really dont have to.

 

[getchasum]

Often thought about the electronic units.....
RustStop - Leaders in Electronic & Spray-on Rust Prevention. Automotive,Industrial,Marine,General

 

[turbofish38]

Isn't 20 years after the fact a little late in worry about adding rust prevention? Not trying to sound like a A-whole but if you have any type of rust than just covering it up with some chemicals is just going to accelerate the process, isn't it? I would think the best way to keep it from rusting is to not drive it in any type of moisture. If you have it than the only way to eliminate it is to cut it out and replace the sheet metal. Neil Young is right. Rust never sleeps.

 

[BlackMetal]

Isn't 20 years after the fact a little late in worry about adding rust prevention? Not trying to sound like a A-whole but if you have any type of rust than just covering it up with some chemicals is just going to accelerate the process, isn't it? I would think the best way to keep it from rusting is to not drive it in any type of moisture. If you have it than the only way to eliminate it is to cut it out and replace the sheet metal. Neil Young is right. Rust never sleeps.

Well a few of us haven't owned our cars since 87 , we weren't with the car from day 1 to make sure it never got moisture or salt on it. All we can do is try our best now to keep things from rusting. I can understand what you're saying that if the rust has gone far enough, some of these products won't do anything to help.

Anyone have opinions on POR-15?

 

[gn4u2c]

the old guys in my hood take there used motor oil, put it in a squirt can and do the lower doors with the panels off every few years, and use a sprayer on the underside. I have bought a few of these oldtimmers trucks over the years.
after a powerwasher job, everything looks like 30 years ago under them.
Yeas if you are selling a 55-72 chevy or GMC I am interested.

 

[TurboJoe3.8]

Well a few of us haven't owned our cars since 87 , we weren't with the car from day 1 to make sure it never got moisture or salt on it. All we can do is try our best now to keep things from rusting. I can understand what you're saying that if the rust has gone far enough, some of these products won't do anything to help.

Anyone have opinions on POR-15?

Eastwood Company: Auto Tools, Body Repair, Classic Car Restoration, House of Kolor Paint, Powder Coating sells a product called Rust Encapsulator, it is much better than Por-15 and costs the same- here is a link comparing the two: Eastwood Co. - Rust Encapsulator vs. POR 15

 

[BlackMetal]

Yikes this is starting to remind me of the motor oil brand wars... too much to choose from.

I do have some light surface rust on the inside of my doors at the bottom, surprisingly it seems worse on the passenger door. None of it is eating through or bubbling yet, just on the surface.

I don't know much about these products but it makes sense to me to steer clear of the "hard coating" products which have the potential to just trap impurities underneath. I'd really like something that can neutralize existing rust (if any product can really accomplish that) and then stop new rust from forming, even if it has to be applied often.

 

[boostingbuick]

Used oil here. Seeps into every spot and helps keep moisture out. Its what I'm sticking to.

 

[Turbo6Tech84]

Alot of good options to choose from thanks for the suggestions everyone. I don't drive the car in the winter time so not to worry about salt. The car is pretty much rust free except for the little surface rust on the inside bottom of the door. I think I'm gonna try spraying the trunk area with used motor oil as it is the cheapest and easiest to get. I have used rust encapsulator on my Monte SS and I have nothing but good reviews for that. Sprayed it on 2 years ago rust hasn't been back since.

 

[Turbo6Tech84]

Yeas if you are selling a 55-72 chevy or GMC I am interested.

Not too long ago I sold my 1972 GMC Sprint pretty rare car/truck from what Ive read. Sold it to some guy in Philly

 

[Turbo6Tech84]

Isn't 20 years after the fact a little late in worry about adding rust prevention? Not trying to sound like a A-whole but if you have any type of rust than just covering it up with some chemicals is just going to accelerate the process, isn't it? I would think the best way to keep it from rusting is to not drive it in any type of moisture. If you have it than the only way to eliminate it is to cut it out and replace the sheet metal. Neil Young is right. Rust never sleeps.

It never hurts to have alittle insurance for your sheet metal. I only bought the car this summer so whatever I can do to keep it from rusting is money in the bank for me. Neil Young is awesome by the way.

 

[BlackMetal]

So is that Rust Encapsulator something that dries to a hard finish? Sounds like it gets good results but I'd still like to try something more along the lines of an oil that can "creep" into narrow spots.

Maybe something like this that neaturalizes it, and THEN a topcoat like the Encapsulator...
Rust Converter - Eastwood Rust Treatment & Prevention Products

 

[TurboJoe3.8]

So is that Rust Encapsulator something that dries to a hard finish? Sounds like it gets good results but I'd still like to try something more along the lines of an oil that can "creep" into narrow spots.

It's deceiving- real thin and almost runny- I put cardboard under my open doors and poured it in first to get it down in the narrow spots (kept using a coat hanger to keep the drain holes open), then applied the rest with a small brush- Great Results! Been three years, no rust!

 

[BlackMetal]

It's deceiving- real thin and almost runny- I put cardboard under my open doors and poured it in first to get it down in the narrow spots (kept using a coat hanger to keep the drain holes open), then applied the rest with a small brush- Great Results! Been three years, no rust!

Did you have any rust that was already starting to form? Or were your doors still in good shape?

Keeping clean surfaces free of rust seems like the easy part to me, the part I'm worried about is taking care of the rust that's already starting. I don't want to spray something over it and end up having it continue to rust except now I won't even be able to see it happening!

 

[Turbo6Tech84]

Did you have any rust that was already starting to form? Or were your doors still in good shape?

Keeping clean surfaces free of rust seems like the easy part to me, the part I'm worried about is taking care of the rust that's already starting. I don't want to spray something over it and end up having it continue to rust except now I won't even be able to see it happening!

Yea man I had bubbles forming on the lower quarter panel of the monte. Got out the wire wheel and took it all to metal. Then applied the rust encapsulator probably 3 or 4 coats and never seen any rust since. Also I used the aerosol cans seemed to work easier for me. The car really needs a good paint job but for now its good with the rust encapsulator haha.