There isn't a word in the car enthusiast's vocabulary that evokes more emotion than the word "rust". It's the automotive equivalent to "cancer". Rust is bad news, no question. It's also a very misunderstood problem, one that can be easily dealt with or at least controlled to preserve an otherwise good 'ol rig.
Preservation and Maintenance:
The most serious type of rust is deep panel rot. The metal actually disintegrates causing holes and other damage. This requires new sheet metal to be grafted into the panel, or complete panel replacement. Why does this happen in certain areas and not others? Prolonged exposure to moisture. The bottom of a fender, particularly behind the wheel well is a common area. Over the years of being driven, dirt and debris accumulates in the bottom of the fender and stays wet, accelerating the rust process. Other common areas are quarterpanels, windshield channels and lower doors. We've all seen rust out.
All cars, whether restored or just beat up old drivers, can benefit from taking a trip to the Car Wash and pressure washing these areas. Put the rig on jackstands, crawl under there and blast that old dirt and debris outta there!! This is the single best thing you can do to preserve whats left of a future project, or keep a finished car preserved.
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