Trunk Restoration.

[MosportGreen66]

I have some rust spots in the trunk of my 1970 Camaro. What steps should I take in restoring it? What are some good products to use to re-coat the trunk?

Thanks!
-Dan

[Schonyenko2]

Do you have holes, or surface rust? Schonye

[MosportGreen66]

I filled a seam with seam filler, and now the water is not leaking through the light panel. Now I just have surface rust.

-Dan

[Schonyenko2]

I would wire brush it, clean out any loose material,and POR15 it with a sponge brush. After it dries dust in two coats of duplicolor undercoat. Spray it on dry, as in dusting from two ft away. Let it dry over night. Then spray with the correct GM spatter paint finish, also duplicolor. Then finish off with the clear sealer so if it gets wet the spatter color does'nt run. Should look very original. Schonye

[SS4Real]

Make sure you definitely use the clear sealer after the trunk spatter paint. The trunk spatter paint will run off when it gets wet if you don't use the sealer as a final finish.

[Denis]

I've been facing a similar problem myself on a low mileage unrestored car. A previous owner had installed a trunk mat and trapped water caused surface rust in the trunk. Ideally, I'd like a way to remove the rust but leave the original trunk finish as-is.

I came across the following "Letter to the Editor" in the September 2003 issue of Auto Restorer. I haven't tried what this gentlemean is suggesting but I plan to do so as it seems he has a solution to my problem:

[ QUOTE ]
I would like to address a question from John Adams in the May Mechanic on Duty column pertaining to rust removal with muriatic acid.

Muriatic acid is primarily used for cleaning concrete floors and works quite well. However, for automotive use, I use oxalic acid. It was the active ingredient in radiator fast flush before the environmental revolution.

I buy it in 25Kg sacks and mix about 2 or 3 tablespoons of the granules with a gallon of water to make the solution.

This stuff only eats rust. It won't damage paint, chrome, glass or skin (however, it is poisonous). I used to use it on old beer cans for my collection in my younger days and it would totally remove the rust but never harm the paint. It also works great for bathtub and toilet tank rust stains.

It may not be easy to find, however. I had to open an account with an industrial chemical supplier to get mine. However, 25Kg. of this stuff should last you a lifetime.

Bob Clayton
Power Accessory Restoration
Suwanee, Georgia


[/ QUOTE ]

P.S.: I need to double-check but I believe oxalic acid is the active ingredient in a fiberglass cleaning product called FSR (stands for Fiberglass Stain Remover) which is available at most retail boat supply shops.