Really bad rust problem

[Parantodd392]

My car has fallen foul to the terror that all car enthusiasts have
The starlet has gained a rust problem if anyone can advise me on what to do it would be much appreciated
Many thanks
Paran

[SiC]

Really bad rust problems?! You haven't seen what a bad one looks like my son!

Has the rust in the middle picture perforated or is it just under the paint?

[Parantodd392]

It was bubbling but the bubble has a hole in it

[mercrocker]

Tear it down and rebuild it. Alternatively, carefully scrape back the paint to a solid area, get it back to bare metal as much as you can. I would use Vactan - a milky substance I have good results with. It will turn the rusty, pitted metal black - you can then apply a skim of filler, plug any perforations with a 2 pack filler (I use Quiksteel), coat with a good zinc primer followed by the red topcoat.

If you are keeping the car you would want to get on this whilst the ambient temperature is a help. Just take your time if you are new to it and don't over-worry about the finish. The aim is to stop the rust getting worse (it will) and keep the weather out.

Ideally you would want any metal repair to be welded but the above course of action will not require any future welding to be any more expensive than it already is if you get my meaning. A small, if not totally professional, repair now will not stop the wing rotting elsewhere but extend the life of the car between costly repairs....

[John F]

I decided long ago that the only permanent repair means welding.

Anything else is only delaying the inevitable.

[Hooli]

Mercrocker's comment is roughly my plan on the rough rear corners on the XJR, welding etc can wait a few years. I do need to get under it with a large tin of underseal though before anything important goes crusty.

[Scruffy Bodger]

Did you order any Vactan yet Paz? That'll hold it off for a bit and I'm sure I'll be able to stitch in a repair at some point.

[CLINT]

Get it sand blasted. Only way to get the rust out of the top surface. But if its underneath too then as JohnF says, cut it out and weld a patch on it unless it can be accessed from behind by the sand blaster.

I`ve got a sand blaster but am rather busy for the foreseeable future but if I get a spare day I`ll let you know. Just moved house plus taking over a new business so messing with cars is something I now used to do...

Or just leave it for now. If its going to need welding then leaving a bit longer won`t hurt it.

[fried onions]

SCRAP IT.