Rust proofing floor boards

[future_assassin]

I looked underneath my carpet/front/backseats yesterday and the floor boards are as solid as you can get for a daily driven 74 (no rust holes/solid metal). I did notice surface rust here and there. My question is what would be the best weekend way to scrub out the rust (Drill/wire wheel?), anti rust treat the floorboards and repaint (No spray gun). I'd plan or removing the seats/carpet and any left over tar overlay.

Arek

[jlandreth]

I used a wire brush on a drill and POR-15 and it turned out very well.Just remember not to get the POR-15 on you or it will remain there for a while!

[RandyMolson]

I am at the early stages of a complete floorboard rehab/rustproofing project for the 76, but I have no illusions about doing it in a weekend. It will take me 6-12 months, I imagine.

Thus far, I have:

Removed all the seats.

Removed and discarded all the carpet.

Removed and discarded all that cardboard and tar crap everywhere except under the rear seat.

Wiped out the tar residue from the tub using a solvent.

Reinstalled the seats as necessary to go out on drives.

In future, I plan to:

Remove the cardboard/tar under the rear seat.

Remove the primer plug holes (I can see the seal is breaking down), clean and POR-15 them, then weld them back in place.

Remove pedal box (not looking forward to that).

Cut out a few spots of cancer and weld patches in the front floorboards.

Wirebrush everything to roughen surface.

Wipe down with Xylene.

POR-15 anything that needs it.

Herculine everything.

Reinstall pedal box (not looking forward to that either).

At this point, I need to decide weather to run the car with just herculine, or to soundproof and recarpet. I am a bit concerned that carpet and soundproofing will trap water, but it is very noisy without, so I will likely soundproof using those 1/4 thick foam floor mats made for shop floors, route some new speaker and power to the trunk, then install a kit carpet.

I have also recently picked up leather E30 Ricaro Sports and rear seats that will will likely install in place of the OEM seats as part of the overall interior rehab project.

Depending on how cooperative the local welders are, I may end up buying a welder and teaching myself welding along the way.

[Sam_in_VA]

I agree with you about not applying anything that will trap water. I have bought, but haven't gotten around to applying, a brush or spray on sound deadening that you might be interested in. Check out www.quietcoat.com

[BLUNT]

I agree with you about not applying anything that will trap water. I have bought, but haven't gotten around to applying, a brush or spray on sound deadening that you might be interested in. Check out www.quietcoat.com

i used a similar product on my inner roof called "edead"

it sucks applying overhead but it really works. i have 5 or 6 coats on the roof and it has a dull thud to it when i bounce a brick off my new paint.

[scottt]

Removing the pedal box is about the easiest thing on your list, read the faq on it. The feed line to the clutch master is the $@^*

I just bought self adhesive EDPM rubber sound absonbsion sheets from Mcmaster Carr, part number 9709T39 , I'll be installing them this weekend very sticky, heavy and inexpensive. We'll see what happens.

http://www.mcmaster.com/

[kcdonahue]

I just finished removing the sound dampening pads in my car to deal with some rust. I ended up using the dry ice method with great results and then used goof off and citristrip to get off the left over tar. To deal with the rust I used an angle grinder with a wire wheel and went to town. For areas I could'nt fit the angle grinder I used a wire cup and a brush on my drill and some sandpaper. After treating the bare metal with some metal ready I painted the floorboards with POR 15. I still have to finish painting but I dont want to get too close to the areas where I need some welding. Oh yeah, I also tried the POR putty as a seam sealer and it seems to be pretty tough stuff.

Good luck, I planned on knocking my floorboards out in a weekend and now I'm going on a few weeks of work here and there.

Casey

[RandyMolson]

I agree with you about not applying anything that will trap water. I have bought, but haven't gotten around to applying, a brush or spray on sound deadening that you might be interested in. Check out www.quietcoat.com

There's my answer. I'll put down quietcoat then overlay that with herculiner for strength and rigidity. That will be so sweet. I really don't like carpet at all.

[Marty]

Or don't have acess to a welder. You can reseal them with 3M 5200 this is a marine adhesive sealant that won't break down ever, But you should know what ever you put together with it won't come apart short of distruction

[future_assassin]

Thanks for all the info. I dont have a closed garage right now so I'll wait till spring.