got started, but need some advice/inspiration

[onemanarmy]

I recently acquired a 1977 FJ55 that is in great mechanical shape, runs and drives pretty good, but the body is close (not all the way ) to rusting away. It is still solid in the floors and most of the roof, so I'm going to try and salvage it, and by that I mean make it look good from 10 feet away and try to stop the rust progression. I will not be taking the body off the frame, and the work will be done outside, and the Cruiser is an hour from me, so things will get done very slowly. ANyway, I have started dismantling the big parts (rear door and front fenders) to have these sandblasted, patched, and painted.

Now my questions are about how to tackle the frame and underside of the body. I do not have air tools, but have had good luck with a drill and wire wheel, a grinder, and sand paper. What I need is a good rust stopper and paint that I can use on the rusty metal after I wire wheel, hand sand it. There will be some light rust left in hard to reach corners and inside the frame rails. This also means that I will not be able to brush paint on in certain areas. I have read all the manufactures websites (corresal, rust bullet, POR15..etc) and the nice thread on thesamba.com.

Long story short, I want to be able to brush on paint where I can, spray paint the rest of it. I will probably stay away from POR because I won't be able to prep the surface enough in spots. I will also be using some brand of spray paint /cheap roll on paint for the entire vehicle. (rustoleum, etc.) There will also be some bondo work to paint over.

I'd appreciate any tips/tricks that people have had work for them over the years to get this done good enough until I get the garage I want and tear it all apart again.

Thanks

 

[laguna80]

Checkout Zero Rust paints. They come in spray can form like rustoleum but many say (myself included) that they are better than rustoleum. I've sprayed rustoleum on true rust and it was bubbling back again in a couple months, while zero rust lasts much much longer. Only problem is that it doesn't have UV protection, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem since you're working on the underside. Have you checked out the 55 section? Post up your rig and we'll all give you plenty of advice/encouragement.

 

[onemanarmy]

yea..thanks for that. I actully read through your thread last night. and thats the same color (close to it ) that i'm going for. I will be painting the underside as well as the rest of the body. I'll check on the zero rust for the bad parts. I posted a pic of my ride in the pic thread. that was the day I got it.

and, I have the factory grey steelies and need to paint them as well, what shade of grey should I look for?

Thanks again

 

[laguna80]

Here's a reference from a previous thread. I'm not sure on the accuracy of that though. https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/66057-what-paint-code-40-wheels.html#post758925

 

[onemanarmy]

thanks...also I assume that I can use zero rust and then a different brand of paint for a top coat? sort of using it as a primer?

 

[laguna80]

thanks...also I assume that I can use zero rust and then a different brand of paint for a top coat? sort of using it as a primer?

I haven't had any problems doing that. Zero rust is very easy to work with. It won't harden up super fast like I've noticed with POR-15 either.