Removing Chassis Rust

[Patrick H.]

Re: Removing Chassis Rust

Keith,

In doing this, what is your goal? Are you trying to prepare it for judging, or just want to make it look as nice as possible?

Advice on how best to prepare and/or preserve your frame and markings will depend on exactly what you intend to do with the car. So, if you could share that info with us I think it would help.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: Removing Chassis Rust

Keith,

In doing this, what is your goal? Are you trying to prepare it for judging, or just want to make it look as nice as possible?

Advice on how best to prepare and/or preserve your frame and markings will depend on exactly what you intend to do with the car. So, if you could share that info with us I think it would help.

Patrick

[Keith M.]

Re: Removing Chassis Rust

Thanks Patrick. Here is kind of my over all objective. I would like for this car to enter into the Bowtie/Flight programs. As I have visited with people I have been told by more than one source within NCRS we are allowed to "clean" the parts. As I undersatnd "celan" means we can remove dirt, dust, over spray and rust as long as we do not destroy the cars originality. Once we have "cleaned" we are allowed to put some type of a "preserative" to prevent further detoriation and preserve originality.
If things go well then my next step would be to go for the Bloomington Gold Benchmark award. Then if all of this goes by the wayside then I would just have a very nice original well preserved car that I would not be affraid to show to anyone. By the way this car will be driven some not alot.

The car has almost 50,000 miles and has knock out paint and interior but the chassis has 50,000 miles of use and I want to bring it back as much as I can and preserve it also. As you konw these one point deductions for condition will soon add up and in the case of Bloomington those one points become five points. Thanks for your help.

[Keith M.]

Re: Removing Chassis Rust

Thanks Patrick. Here is kind of my over all objective. I would like for this car to enter into the Bowtie/Flight programs. As I have visited with people I have been told by more than one source within NCRS we are allowed to "clean" the parts. As I undersatnd "celan" means we can remove dirt, dust, over spray and rust as long as we do not destroy the cars originality. Once we have "cleaned" we are allowed to put some type of a "preserative" to prevent further detoriation and preserve originality.
If things go well then my next step would be to go for the Bloomington Gold Benchmark award. Then if all of this goes by the wayside then I would just have a very nice original well preserved car that I would not be affraid to show to anyone. By the way this car will be driven some not alot.

The car has almost 50,000 miles and has knock out paint and interior but the chassis has 50,000 miles of use and I want to bring it back as much as I can and preserve it also. As you konw these one point deductions for condition will soon add up and in the case of Bloomington those one points become five points. Thanks for your help.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Removing Chassis Rust

Keith,

I was thinking that might be your goal, but I thought it best to ask.

Given that information, ALL you want to do is clean. You can use Simple Green and/or kerosene to clean but do NOT use Ridrust. Even the Catrol purple colored stuff is too harsh. Meguiars makes a nice product that doesn't irritate my lungs like Simple Green does. Judges in the Bowtie and/or Survivor classes will WANT and EXPECT that it will show 50,000 miles of wear, grime and rust. If you have a sparkling rust-removed frame with all the rust gone (and all that fresh, clean metal showing) you might as well throw your Bowtie out the window. To the judges, it is now restored and it's not a contender. They want to see the appearance of the car WITHOUT a facelift. Think Joan Rivers pre- vs. post-surgery.

Clean the car enough to allow the judges to see dates, finishes, etc. It does not have to be "eat-off-it" clean, but reasonable. Use the least harsh method available.

I've used Ridrust quite a bit, but not on my Corvette. It will remove the rust quite well, but can also remove other finishes. In addition, the metal is very clean but you can tell it looks "different." It has its benefits and its drawbacks. Given that, it will not be used on my 5 Star Bowtie car.

Take a look at the picture below. 5 Star Bowtie, 3 Top Flights (Chapter/Regional/National) and 96 point car. If this chassis can do it, yours can too.

Patrick

[Patrick H.]

Re: Removing Chassis Rust

Keith,

I was thinking that might be your goal, but I thought it best to ask.

Given that information, ALL you want to do is clean. You can use Simple Green and/or kerosene to clean but do NOT use Ridrust. Even the Catrol purple colored stuff is too harsh. Meguiars makes a nice product that doesn't irritate my lungs like Simple Green does. Judges in the Bowtie and/or Survivor classes will WANT and EXPECT that it will show 50,000 miles of wear, grime and rust. If you have a sparkling rust-removed frame with all the rust gone (and all that fresh, clean metal showing) you might as well throw your Bowtie out the window. To the judges, it is now restored and it's not a contender. They want to see the appearance of the car WITHOUT a facelift. Think Joan Rivers pre- vs. post-surgery.

Clean the car enough to allow the judges to see dates, finishes, etc. It does not have to be "eat-off-it" clean, but reasonable. Use the least harsh method available.

I've used Ridrust quite a bit, but not on my Corvette. It will remove the rust quite well, but can also remove other finishes. In addition, the metal is very clean but you can tell it looks "different." It has its benefits and its drawbacks. Given that, it will not be used on my 5 Star Bowtie car.

Take a look at the picture below. 5 Star Bowtie, 3 Top Flights (Chapter/Regional/National) and 96 point car. If this chassis can do it, yours can too.

Patrick

[Keith M.]

Re: Removing Chassis Rust

Patrick, Thanks for your input and thanks for the picture it is worth a thousand words. I sure get a lot of opinions on prepration for Bowtie judging. Your way sure takes a lot less energy. One can take the position I will take it for Bowtie judging and let them tell me what I need to do. As I understand it once you try it and you don't make it you cannot come back, so it looks as if I need to get it right the first time. I can handle the Survivor Program pretty good unless they have changed their game plan over the last 3-4 years. I should do 3 of the 4 areas, the chassis is the one that has me kind of scratching my head. Thanks again.

[Keith M.]

Re: Removing Chassis Rust

Patrick, Thanks for your input and thanks for the picture it is worth a thousand words. I sure get a lot of opinions on prepration for Bowtie judging. Your way sure takes a lot less energy. One can take the position I will take it for Bowtie judging and let them tell me what I need to do. As I understand it once you try it and you don't make it you cannot come back, so it looks as if I need to get it right the first time. I can handle the Survivor Program pretty good unless they have changed their game plan over the last 3-4 years. I should do 3 of the 4 areas, the chassis is the one that has me kind of scratching my head. Thanks again.