does this rust matter?

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
As my handle implies, I'm a newbie who got bit by the classic car bug the last couple years. That's my fair warning on what may be a rookie question.

I'm looking at a 62 Impala that was advertised as a no rust car. I got some pics including the one attached here. It looks to me like that's at least some decent surface level rust. I'm out in California and the car is in the South and I've seen different regions have different takes on what's actually rusty or not.

1962%20Belair%2036_zpsynzawqee.jpg


I'll get someone out there to take a look at the car anyways but wondering if any on here wanted to throw in there two cents on what's in the pic and level of effort on "cleaning it up".

Thanks in advance and I'm sure this won't be my last rookie question!


Id say that the vast majority of the older 1955-1980s cars will by this time have at least similar surface rust, or worse, on the frames and suspension components and in many cases FAR more extensive rust.
now that appears to be superficial, and only cosmetic surface rust but its always a good idea to put any car your looking to buy up on a lift and either you or better yet a professional body shop inspect the car before you purchase it.
if you have access to a decent air compressor there are small but effective sand blasting tools and chemical coatings, and various paints , that seal and prevent any further rust forming.
I,ve put dozens of cars up on jack stands and used similar tools too remove the surface rust.
(usually youll want to do the work outside not in your shop and youll damn sure need a breathing filter mask, goggles and ideally 12 ton jack stands too allow easy access under the car.)
a decent pressure cleaner helps remove loose road filth
Ive "made do" with a high pressure washer....and a decent air compressor,
696471065909.jpg

http://www.lowes.com/pd_600025-24212-65 ... Heavy-duty



P1000311.JPG

goggles.jpg

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/89397301

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https://www.zoro.com/north-by-honeywell-northtm-5500-series-half-mask-kit-l-5501n95l/i/G3970355/
Ive generally used and strongly suggest you consider using, one or both of these when using angle grinders or while porting heads due to learning from past experiences
safegog.png

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-Safet ... 220499-_-N

http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable ... 46526.html
faceshield2.jpg


http://www.harborfreight.com/21-oz-hopper-gravity-feed-spot-blaster-gun-95793.html
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http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95793

grit1.jpg

the harbor freight blaster and grit may not be near top quality but for little jobs that you don,t do all that often like cleaning years of rust and dirt of a salvage yard differential housing they come in very handy

THERE ARE EFFECTIVE CHEMICAL OPTIONS


334501_400x400.jpg


once its clean! spray it with this OR PAINT IT
http://www.eastwood.com/rust-encapsulator-white-15-ounce-aerosol.html

http://www.theruststore.com/Rust-Conver ... 40C10.aspx

the results you get, with a sand blaster are dependent on the amount of air pressure and volume and amount and type of grit and the velocity you can provide.
obviously the tool needs to match the application
if your just removing a bit of surface rust from small parts thats a totally different deal than cleaning boat trailers or car frames or differentials for powder coating or some other much more massive project, Ive got two 60 gallon compressors and both together won,t keep up with a larger sand blaster used constantly.
you can normally rent commercial sand blasters on a daily basis for larger projects but get a good face mask filter and expect a huge mess unless youve got lots of room someplace outdoors to work in a vacant lot or large back yard, btw youll need between 100lbs and several hundred lbs of grit to do a top quality job on an old rusted car frame

basically a toy but good for small stuff, used outside
http://www.harborfreight.com/21-oz-hopp ... 95793.html

not bad for minor stuff, used outside
http://www.harborfreight.com/90-lb-pres ... 93889.html

small parts in the shop like cleaning brackets,etc.
http://www.harborfreight.com/40-lb-capa ... 93608.html



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http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rust-removal.1844/#post-55108

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rust-removal.1844/#post-57278

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/1996-underbody-corrosion.10066/#post-39253

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=9263&p=33437&hilit=weld+floor#p33437
 
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