Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

[Greg K.]

Does anyone have any good product(s) for preventing rust from forming on bare steel shifter rods? I don't want to paint or plate them. I would assume some sort of oil would be best, but wondering if anyone has something specific that works well.

[Duke W.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

Armor-All or WD-40 should help as long as they don't see much water splash.

Duke

[Jerry G.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

I use Ultra Lube spray lubricant that I bought at Home Depot. It's non toxic, soy bean oil. I used it for exactly what you're doing months ago and it's still looks like the day I did it.

[Bill L.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

RPM - Rust Prevention Magic.

Bill

[Joel A.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

I used ZEP45 on all my bare metal stuff when I did the '74 years ago('99-2000). Drive/half shafts, yokes, shift rods, etc. No rust on any of it to this day, and it has been driven in the rain a few times since.

[Paul S.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

Try ACF-50 by Lear Chemical, they use this stuff to fog inside airplane wings so nothing corrodes when the plane goes from high altitude to ground level.

[William F.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

Are rpm, ZEP 45 or ACF-50 visible when applied or remain oily, greasy and attract dirt?

[Greg K.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

I have found another product that looks to be promising as well. It's called Gibbs Brand Lubricant that cleans rust and prevents. It dries clear without an oily or sticky finish and has the feel of the bare metal. It comes in spray and liquid form. RPM is similar except it is a paste and must be brushed on warm metal. RPM also does not clean existing rust. RPM does dry clear with a non-oily and non-sticky finish. Not sure about ZEP 45 or ACF-50. Doing some research on those two.

[Michael G.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

Try Froglube CLP, get it on Amazon or at a gun shop. Its colorless, lubricates extremely well, doesn't damage anything, and is better than almost anything you can apply by hand at preventing rust.

[Donald H.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

I used RPM on everything of bare metal when I put my 66 chassis together in October/November.

Most of the parts already have some spots of surface rust. The chassis has not been outside at all.

I closely followed the instructions.
I am very disappointed in this product.

[Joel A.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

ZEP 45 is a spray lubricant. It does stay a little wet for a while, and yes, it will get some dust bunnies on it....but it can be wiped, and still protect. After 10-12 years of mine being done, I have only MINOR surface rust in a couple of spots on the half-shafts...but that also wipes right off. For maintenance, I spray some on a rag, and wipe the parts. My car sits for years, but at least it's not rusting to the ground. I also used it on my front springs, ball joint rivets, etc. Works well for me, and have not had any deductions for any of those parts.

[William F.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

I drive mine. Don't want to collect dust.

[Greg K.]

Re: Shifter Rods Rust Prevention

It's been a few years now and I have been using the Gibbs Brand Lubricant on many of my parts without any rust forming on the bare metal. Back in 2016, I cleaned a set of 3 speed shift rods to the bare metal. I treated the rods with the Gibbs Brand Lubricant and they sat in my garage for 4 years and the last 3 years they have been in my basement. They still look like the day I coated them with the lubricant. The lubricant dries with no oily residue and has a slight sheen. Otherwise, it looks and feels just like the bare metal. Have not tried the RPM or ZEP 45 or ACF-50 lubricants.