Off my rocker.........er.........onto my rockers

[Guest]

Now that the floorboards are fresh, I have peered inside my rockers with a strong micro-light flashlight (not a boroscope) and see that my rockers are intact but with a minor surface glazing of rust in some areas. Now to me that says <u>unprotected metal</u>. I have thought of opening both ends of the rocker panels like with a small hole and somehow injection spraying or whatever a rust-inhibiting coating. Then closing the holes. Any thoughts???

Boy, it would be nice to be temporarily close off the drain holes at the bottom and flood the area with phosphoric acid rust killer, then let drain. What a horrible mess. Just what I do at night, sit up and dream up stuff.

For those of you wondering how you can peer into your rockers, without the carpet covering the interior top part of the rockers, there are about 5 or so long, oval "breather" holes about the size of a Mike N Ike.

A little hint on making a paint-carrying tool. I go to WalMart and buy a bag of puffy "balls", something that look like the the big fluff balls one would glue on a clown costume. I only use the larger ones, about the size of a golf ball or larger. I cut a long piece of soft utility wire (bailing wire?) about 6', double it over and jamb the large puff ball at the end away from the free ends. I clamp this tightly in the bench vise (pinching the puff ball) and stick the free ends together into my hand drill and tighten as if a drill bit. Pulling it taut, I hit the button on the drill and, voila, a stiff, very long-handled custom puff-ball paint applicator for hidden areas. This has worked especially well down in my scuttle after I remove the vent. I can coat every area with whatever coating I need to use. Cheap to make, fun to make and very handy. I make up half a dozen and hang them in the my closet-sized shop for future use.

Geez, have I answered my own question?

 

[Norton47]

Re: Off my rocker.........er.........onto my rocke

Well Bill
I had it easier, the ends of my rockers at the front was/is already rusted but and an inspection similar to yours indicated a similar condition.
I used a small garden sprayer that I extended the wand on.
I then adjusted the spray pattern to as wide a cone shape as I could get and then filled it with OSPHO and sprayed the inside of the rockers.
I placed containers on the floor beneath the drains (the second time) to catch the overflow. This seems to have hardened up well.
My plan is to go back and inspect again when I cut open the rocker to replace the front quarter of the outer rocker that is rusted out. But I wanted to do something to slow the rusting down until I get to that. The fenders were not that damaged.
Minimal pitting on left and small pinholes on the right. They were also so treated on the inside at the same time.
IF you have the car this tore down, I vote for opening the ends and gaining as much access as possible and treating it for rust and then using waxoyl.

 

[DougF]

Re: Off my rocker.........er.........onto my rocke

I bought an undercoat wand at the auto parts store. It hooks right up to the compressor. After drilling holes, sized to fit caplugs, I loaded the areas with LPS 3 and then capped them over.
LPS 3 is a metal preservative similar to the old Rusty Jones undercoat. It sets up but always maintains a soft waxy consistency so pockets won't form allowing rust. I also sealed off both ends of the rockers to stop moisture from entering.