Rust treatment?

[KUpchu9702]

I'm new to this forum and hope that I am not asking a question that has already been asked a gazillion times before. I recently bought an LC100 that originated its life in Wisconsin and later ended up in Missouri. It shows some rust, but not too bad. I would like to hit those spots that need a converter, then etching and coating the undercarriage.
Thanks in advance for any help and input.

 

[Julian Stead]

My solution to the rust I had was to wirebrush with a wheel on a grinder, used a epozy rust convertor, then I applied zinc primer which is grey, then I applied 2k epoxy primer to make it all waterproof. Used a wax and stonechip over this. It is labour intensive and expensive but if it is good for boats then it should protect the undercarrage. You could miss out the zinc primer but I use it as a wear indicator for the topcoats as it is grey. You need warm dry weather or to do it indoors as drying times are long.

 

[JayM]

I have used a product in cooler winter months called corroseal. You can brush, roll or spray and it will convert the rust to magnetite(turns it black in the process). I have seen people just leave it unpainted for quite some time. Super easy to prep and work with. A good majority of the Alaska fishing fleet that comes into Seattle use it. Cheap too.

 

[ppdd]

In my experience, the POR-15 style rust converters don't work all that well unless you do the job precisely by the book, and then it's still kind of hit or miss. I've used them several times only to come back a couple years later to find tons of rust hiding under the converter.

What has worked for me is to remove all the rust, apply phosphoric acid (Ospho is what I've used), hit it with a 2K epoxy primer and coat that with rubberized undercoating to protect it from stone chips if it's on the bottom. Be REALLY careful with the primer as it is deadly stuff. No joke. Proper respirator + good ventilation is absolutely mandatory.

For larger parts of the undercarriage with light surface rust, wire wheel off surface rust and apply a TON of fluid film and you should be good. The stuff works great on areas that aren't constantly hit by direct road spray. I just did my 100 and used almost a whole gallon of it.

 

[Julian Stead]

^^agree don't breath in the 2k epoxy, its very nasty stuff to inhale. I found out whilst using a cheap mask to start with.