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Newbie Rust Question

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goloch

goloch

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In case you hadn't gathered, anything even remotely resembling a restoration of my 71 B is still a good way off. I'm mostly cobbling the car back together when it gets cranky to keep it on the road and as safe as possible. As such, I'm going to be dealing with rust for a bit. In particular, I have rust under the trim on the driver's side fender that has been gradually creeping over the 18 months I've owned the car. Same on what I've gathered is the rocker panel on that side.

Realistically, I hope to restore the car within 5 years and would rather spend those years and my MG dollar driving the car. However if the car disintegrates around me, it's not much fun is it? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif When should I start to worry and start taking paint off and treating these areas to prevent complete and utter decay?
 
Day before yesterday. Stop it now.
 
Go now and buy a wire brush... And some Permatex Rust Disolver Gel (or any other phosphoric acid product)... some rubber gloves, and cheap paintbrush.

Scrape all the bubbly paint off, brush the rust as good as you can, and follow the directions on the rust disolver gel bottle.

The seal with some rattlecan primer and paint. That much should at least stop the rust from spreading until your ready for metal replacement.
 
Pull the trim...get a grinder & clean the rust away....treat it & put a good red primer back on

the other problem is a dogleg replacement...that parts not expensive (think I have them in stock for around $20)....however: MG's rust from the inside out....so, were it me, I'd get a dogleg & cut the old metal away to see what's underneath...then, I'd make the determination to clean & POR to stop rust or go the whole route....you might get lucky & POR will solve the problem if you catch it soon enough....once you've done what you ant to inside, weld the new dogleg on & use red primer to cover it up

the longer you wait, the worse the inside rust will get....splotchy colored, safe, rustfree car is better than Fred Flintstone car....you remember him? Feet through floorboards to stop...
 
Hopefully, that's not your car....if it is, you've got to focus there 1st - immediately!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hopefully, that's not your car....if it is, you've got to focus there 1st - immediately!

[/ QUOTE ]
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif
For the other rust issues, those also need immediate attention, even if you plan to temporarily fix them go outside right now with some vaseline and cover the 'wounds' with it until you get around to painting.
 
Unfortunately, that's my car. Is there a short term solution that doesn't involve ripping out the interior to cut out/weld in new floors?
 
*cough* not to sound like I may be a potential DO... I've never personally done this, but 3/4" plywood and RTV.... I dunno how long I'd trust that though...
 
RUST NEVER, NEVER, SLEEPS!!! Six months ago I pulled a "B" out of 15 years of DRY storage. The car originated in New Jersey, a town somewhere close to the ocean. I knew it had a rust problem, but thought it would be ok once it was put in dry storage. WRONG! When I pulled it out 6 months ago I couldn't get the right door open. After pulling hard, the door came open and the car droped a couple of inches. The car actually rusted in half on the right side while in DRY storage. The body is now junk. I could probably buy a new Heritage body for what it would cost to fix it up. Whatever you do, STOP THE RUST! There are chemicals that will do this. Spray inside all the underside supports, even if you have to drill a hole to get the spray tube in there. If you plan on keeping the car, this is a must. 15 years ago I was too busy to be bothered worrying about it. Today I pay. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif PJ
 
If you want to be driving that car 6 months from now, here's what you HAVE to do - IMMEDIATELY:

1. Replace floors - you don't have to weld them in, you can glue them using FUSOR or a like product - but do it 1st....floors aren't that expensive. (Contact chuck cougill at chuck@shadetreemg.com & ask him about FUSORing floors)

2. Cut that dogleg off, inspect underneath & make repairs as necessary - replace the dogleg

3. Solve the trim area rust problem

The longer you wait, the worse it gets...& rust in its advanced states is like cancer - it seems to work quicker.
 
Listen to Tony! Otherwise you will later listen to others in your sleep!

Do it right the first time! That then will be the only time!
 
Frank, What a beautiful car! Love that color! It's too pretty not to say somthing about it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif PJ
 
Are all those boxes in the back spare parts?
 
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