rust underneath my vinyl top

[Ryan.C]

so im in the process of stripping my car and when i removed my vinyl top i found some surface rust and pitting. my question is how do i get the rust in the pitts out? i nervous about sand blasting the area because i have heard alot of horror stories about warping the sheet metal. any suggestions are appreciated.

[tan top]

normaly a combination of , some form of blasting  . grinding , wirewheel on a angle grinder etc  & acid  ,  how  much is pitted ?

have you got a picture ?

[Ghoste]

If its really bad you can get a new roof skin through AMD.

[green69rt]

If the rust is on a section that is fairly flat....

Get some plumbers putty and build a little dam around the area, then pour in phosphoric acid or vinegar or citric acid.  Let it set for as long as it takes to eat away the rust.  Now clean up the mess you've just made and prime and paint.

POR15 makes a liquid called Metal Ready which is Phosphoric acid plus zinc phosphate but it costs and you have to pay shipping unless you can find a local distributor.  Might be able to find something at Lowe's or Home Depot that's cheaper.

[Dino]

If the rust is only light then try soda blasting it, it won't take care of deep rust but will handle the surface rust.  If you have a compressor than you can build a blaster for less than $10.

http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

Citric acid works real well also.  Be sure to do the necessary rinsing and cleanup regardless of what method you choose.

Oh and the old school wire brush on a power tool still works pretty decent.   

[cudaken]

On this Charger there where some rust bubbles showing up under the top. This is what I found after the top was off.

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Bodywork/1-14-2_zps9cd91f7c.jpg.html]

I stripped the roof with a DA and started with 80 grit then 120 grit.

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Bodywork/1-14-7_zps07470805.jpg.html]

Where there was some pitting I used a small hand held sand blaster to clean out the pits and there was not many. Lead seems where looking bad so I cleaned them out.

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/1-14-13_zpsa3e3e846.jpg.html]

I used a filler called Metal To Metal to fill in the seems. It is a powered Aluminum with a Epoxy Hardener. Very water tight.

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/1-14-14_zps846fe47c.jpg.html]

Next I used American Finishes AP 340 Epoxy Sealer, a none sand-able primer much like stuff the cars are sprayed with when they are being made.

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Bodywork/1-Clleanroof_zpsb983f146.jpg.html]

After she was about ready for paint, the new top was installed.

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Bodywork/1-IM000004_zps5183ed4c.jpg.html]

http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cudaken/media/Bodywork/1-IM000005_zps5354e646.jpg.html]

Oh, the other 68 Charger sitting in the background? 68 Hemi Charger with 32,000 miles on it  Top was still good.   

Hope I was of some help.

Cuda Ken

[Ryan.C]

thank you all for the replies thus far. I have been trying to upload pics but my file size is to large, any suggestions on how to fix this.

[y3chargerrt]

Size them down here.

http://www.shrinkpictures.com/

[Ryan.C]

here are some pics of what I am talking about

[tan top]

 lot better than i was imagining   , mine was sort of the same ,  i used a combination of in my first post , word of warning , as you know  roof is only thin gauge stuff , will  / can warp  , even just  giving it a hiding with 40 &  or 80 grit on a DA if your not carefull ,
can see in one picture , may sound silly but dark brown rust bits ,  by the time you blast / wire wheel / acid them , it will leave a pin hole or be very thin , had a few like that on mine , will need welding up if gone through , or a skim of bondo if its deep pitting , make sure all rust is gone is the main thing first .

[Dino]

You could use a rust reformer on that.  Apply very thin and let it dry for at least 24 hours.  Then scuff the reformer so it's only in the pitting. 

[Ghoste]

Way better than I imagined too.  As soon as you said vinyl top I pictured the usual devastation.

[Ryan.C]

Sounds good thanks for the advise.
while im thinking about it.... I am going to put another vinyl top back on the car, so is their any special precautions I sould take to prevent this from happening again down the road?

[tan top]

yeah , make sure all the rust has been removed , then use a good etch primer , then 3 or 4 coats of hibuild primer , block it just like you would normaly for any other panel , then paint it ,

[ACUDANUT]

yeah , make sure all the rust has been removed , then use a good etch primer , then 3 or 4 coats of hibuild primer , block it just like you would normaly for any other panel , then paint it ,

X2

[green69rt]

Yes, your rust is very limited, theoretically you could dig out the individual pits with a file, then treat with phosphoric acid then prime and paint.  Don't poke thru the metal!!  Really, a fairly easy job compared to some.

[Ryan.C]

thanks guys

[cudaken]

My self, do it the way I listed above. I would get a hand held sand blaster and they work well and won't warp the metal. Fill the pits with Metal To Metal and 2 good coats of sealer.

Unless there is other damage I see no reason to block the roof. I would buzz it with a DA using 220 grit and get the top on. Vinyl Tops will hide all sorts of small imperfection.

Reason your roof got rust?  By guess is because the top dry rotted, let water in and held it under the top remains. Keep a good top on the car, it will not rust again.

Cuda Ken

[Ryan.C]

I got my hands on a spot blaster I will post the results.
cudaken- Just so I understand you install the top without painting the roof, just use sealer?

[ACUDANUT]

That or you could paint it. I don't think it matters much. (except the price of paint.).

[cudaken]

 Yep Ryan I don't waste the paint. In fact, I am not sure if they did at the factory?  I have never pulled off a good top to see what was under it. 

Cuda Ken

[Ryan.C]

when i pulled my top and sanded the top the original B3 light blue paint was present under the adhesive.

[charger_fan_4ever]

I'd spray it with at least some rustoleum. Just primer from the factory hence all the rust.

[Pete in NH]

Hi,

Since you are going to media blast it and the metal will be really clean, I would think this would be a good place to use a good epoxy primer and let it cure well before putting the vinyl roof back on.