Wheel well rust temp. fix

[torqueluvr]

Hi all,

1987 JDM BJ74 auto. I got a $6000 quote on repainting my rig if I supplied the new rear panels and fenders - they are starting to rust. As a student this is no where in my near future, but my wife actually had a great idea. What if I were to buy the fender flares from spector, and put copious amounts of axle grease/lithium grease on the existing rust to prevent it form getting worse. The fenders would cover up the the rust, and the grease - which would not drip off or be noticeable - would block any futher corrosion and water entering.

This is my poor student way of preventing further awful rust until I can buy a better tub or some new panels and fenders, what do you all think? I am free to any and all criticism, polite or blunt, this means you Wayne - I've read in the past you saying that there is no point in fixing steel when its just gonna rust again, so this is my temp. fix until I can afford new steel.

Thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Pics of the rust are below.

Tanner

 

[Mark_kzj78]

if your going to cover it with flares then as you say whats the point in spending the money on replacements parts. However rather than using grease (in you wheel arches this will get wash out) I would get rid of all the loose rust and then coat the areas with Hammerite (this is whats it called in the UK) - the paint that converts rust to a solid surface. Either that coat it with the stuff that you can seal the inside of fuel tanks with.

Regards
Mark

 

[tucker74]

Use POR15 instead of grease, but it would cover it for now and stop the rust from getting worse

Tucker

 

[Cayman Dennis]

I'm kind of in the same spot but it's not so much rust as body damage. I drove off a rock shelf and punched a hole in the rear quarter behind the mud flap. My wife's suggestion (after we got some body man quotes) was to buy myself a mig welder and learn how to weld sheet metal. So for me it's POR15 until I can weld sheet metal.

Cheers,
Dennis

 

[BTC95]

If you are going to cover it up I would get a side grinder with a flapper disc and remove as much of the rust as you can, then cover the areas with POR15 and then install your flares over top.

 

[audaciousduo]

Use 80 grit sand paper, feather back the paint and knock off the rust. Then spray it with picklex20 and top coat with Zero Rust. POR15 is the devils work, I've never been able to get that stuff to stick to anything. Zero Rust is cheaper, better and will work over picklex20 which is a super product.

Dave

 

[haryv]

I should have used axle grease years ago. Yes, its a great idea.

 

[prado t]

If you greese it now you will have a chance. I am forever spraying my frame /undercarriage.