Coating parts to prevent rust

[Rick D]

Hello all.
I’ve got a major project that I’m digging into now. It’s a car that had the moonroof shattered for over a year while it sat parked in the Florida sun. So the entire interior needs to be redone. The various brackets (pic) and fasteners on the backside of the interior panels have differing degrees of rust on them. I can blast them to get them looking new but I would like to put some protective barrier on them to inhibit the return of any rust.

I’d prefer not to paint them a color but rather just throw some sort of clear coat on them. I’d also want to stay away from a grease given these brackets attach to upholstery panels.

What have others done in this situation?
-Rick

 

[phred]

Well my experience with clears is they do not inhibit rust because they have no “body”. Why not just spray them or brush them with a primer sealer?

 

[Copymutt]

Ive been using this Permetex product for a few years. Its basically an oxygen/ water barrier. There are several others such as Eastwood which are multiples of the price. Had good luck in hostile applications like frames & floors. NAPA carries it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

There are home zinc plating kits from places like Caswell: https://caswellplating.com/electroplating-anodizing/zinc-plating-kits.html

 

[nadogail]

A good coat of paint.

 

[4xdog]

A good coat of paint.

Yep. Or even a halfway-decent coat of paint. It sure won't take much to protect an inside trim piece.

Here's an example, @Rick D, of what I'd expect your trim to look like with a few easy steps.

The console bracketry on my 2003 Tacoma (a replacement for my previous 2001) had some very light rust when I switched interiors between the two trucks.

A day in Evapo-Rust and a quick shot of an appropriate rattlecan, and it's good for another 20 years or more.

As removed:


After Evapo-Rust:


After rattlecan:

 

[scooby074]

Eastwood has plating kits to give that factory Cad plating look if you want to go original. Otherwise, wire wheel the rust and paint.

 

[LopezBart]

I guess I'm old school... I'd apply phosphoric acid (ospho is one brand), allow to dry and then wash off w/ water. Rustoleum primer and paint and you're set for awhile.

 

[Rick D]

Caswell zinc plating looks promising.

 

[BrandonV]

I've used the 3 step POR-15 system before. They have a clear option.