Chevy & GMC Vans

Hello all;

I am doing a bit of body work on my 91 safari, along with an engine swap. Most of the body work is just minor dents, etc. However, the major thing I am trying to figure out is what to do about rust on the roof that has become pitted. Sanding it down is a lot of work, and quite frankly, I think it would make the metal pretty thin in some places. There is no rust holes, just rust that has happened through years of neglect and paint fading and peeling.

My questions are. What do I do about it, other than putting on a new roof? Is there a wonder paint like rustoleum that will keep the rust from spreading? Do I need to sand it, sand it, and sand it some more? I don't have access to a bead blaster at the moment, but is that even a desired thing to do?

Anyway, thank you in advance for any and all info about what to do here.

Drive safely,

Dan Harriman 91 safari shorty
Orange, Texas

Can't help you with the answers, but I'm glad you asked, 'cause I'm the same boat and would really like to know as well.
I like the idea of a sand blaster (just because it's fast) but I'd be worried that the sand would be especially hard to get out of the body seams.

Dan,,go by one of your local body shops or paint shops and they'll help you with the latest on the market. Over the years I've used a wire brush to try and get as much out of the pits as possible, clean real well with Prep-All which is a cleaner that removes any dust and chemical build up. After cleaning I spray several coats of rust converter on the area that has rust. The converter changes the composition of the rust to a hard black paintable surface. You can also fill pitted areas after spraying the converter, not before or you'll have rust bubbles on the paint after a few years.

Dan,it is no secret my favorite company for all body work and products for the same is Eastwood.They have a step program for rust prevention that just works.They have a forum too to ask questions and get answers about which product to use and if it worked from customers who have used their stuff.

http://www.eastwood.com

Here is some of their rust products:

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?item ... e=CATEGORY

At your local auto paint store ask for POR 15. After a small amount of sanding to get the scaley rust off you can put the POR 15 right over what's left. The stuff is great. It incapsulates the rust and stops it forever. It also leaves a finished paintable surface. The professional restorers have been using this for years.

Smiliesafari wrote:At your local auto paint store ask for POR 15. After a small amount of sanding to get the scaley rust off you can put the POR 15 right over what's left. The stuff is great. It incapsulates the rust and stops it forever. It also leaves a finished paintable surface. The professional restorers have been using this for years.

POR 15 ftw!

Agreed, I used POR 15 to treat the rust in my windshield channel a few years ago. I glued the windshield right on top of the POR 15. Still no leaks and no signs of any more rust.
por15.com

I don't know about the POR 15, but some of the rust converters are acidic and will turn rubber gaskets to mush if oversprayed on them. I learned this the hard way, fortunate it was only the gasket on the air filter housing lid.