Club 80-90 Forums

Hi

I'm a new owner. I went under the van at the weekend to check out the heater matrix. There is some rust on the underside of the van, doesn't look bad, just spots here and there. It's a bit worse on the bottom of the radiator fan and radiator itself.

In general should I be jumping on any rust and treating it as soon as I find it.??

I've got some Eastwoods Rust Encapsulator that I'm going to spray on the rad and fan, but i'm going to get myself some Vatcan soon too.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Difficult to say anything without pictures But some Fluidfilm or similar product would work.

If its dry get on with it
No point waiting to get vactan on
If your going to paint also then may be worth waiting for better weather for the paint

Vactan is acrylic so does seal the treated area too though, something many rust treatments don't do. I've left treated areas for a couple of years before getting round to painting them. Rust is never a particularly good thing to leave untreated, particularly on body panels but it depends which side its rusting from as to what you can do to slow it down.

I don't even bother painting over vactan if it's out of sight, I prefer no know where the rust is so I can go back each year and check/ retreat if needed.
Once you have painted over it the rust can form underneath and you don't know until it breaks through the paint.

I just use this aerosol stuff called " Ambersil corrosion inhibitor" in a spray can( its like waxoyl/ankorwax but thinner). I have it on a test piece of rust here at work, its been in the salty wind and rain for nearly ten years now and still look exactly the same!!. Just knock off any loose rust with a screwdriver/wirebrush and if its nice a dry( I normally do it on a hot day in the summer) spray it every where underneath,its great at gettting in all the little nooks and crannies. I've put it in all my doors and cavities and spray it down the outer body seams occasionally(just wipe of the excess)you'll not have to touch again for years!

In general when should you tackle Rust

Best to do it when it is hot and dry. But in the real world, leaving it from now until Summer is not as good as at least putting something on now. Obviously get as much rust off before treating. My preference is Vactan. Follow the instructions carefully. Decant some into a jam jar lid or summat, NEVER dip the brush into the bottle. Only buy a small bottle, it goes a long way and also goes "off" if stored too long. As said, don't paint over it, even on the bits that show, wait for a hot dry day to do that.

I sometimes wonder if careful use of a gas blow torch to dry the area off before treatment might be a good idea ?

I sprayed a load of Bilt Hamber Dynax S50 inside the wheel arches, jacking points, sills and the gaps where the seams are (after a thorough cleaning of course). Also sprayed and wiped it into the external seams and around where i could under the window rubbers. Should hopefully keep it at bay as best as possible until i can look at/afford getting it done!

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