hey guys
I just got an 87 trans am, it has some surface rust on the roof as per usual and there are a few bubbles here and there around the car, whats the best way to fix this, I have a palm sander and a dremel if that helps. also my car has louvcers on the rear hatch, they are annoying to me, can I just rip them off or are they attatched to the glass. tai

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neko
'87 trans am
car in the making

 

For the surface rust, you should grind down the surface down to metal ( I do NOT recommend the crap that "converts rust to primer) Since it only works on the surface anyway, there would be rust underneath.

Sanding it by hand is possible, but not practical. You need some sort of either electric or Pnumatic grinder. A D/A would work great. A lot of auto stores have them.

As for the Bubbles, you would have to do the same thing, just make sure you get ALL the rust, otherwise you are only delaying the inevitable (re-rusting). That goes for the Surface rist too.

You should be able to remove them without hurting the glass. All the ones I have seen clip on somehow. They might even screw, but I do not know what they would screw to.

Hope that helps

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G O D BLESS AMERICA
87 Formula Yellow/Black

5.1 TPI Automatic
Baer 12" brakes 4 wheels, KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks & struts, Custom Leather interior, WAAAY TOO MANY MODS TO LIST

87 Formula TPI (5 Speed) Yellow/Gray STOCK

1967 Buick Riviera 430hp Turns high 14's (Not bad for 4300 lbs)

83 Camaro
83 T/A

http://www.3rdgenformula.com

 

Welcome to the boards! Always take care of rust immediately. The process is straight forward, sand away rust, feather edge (blend surounding area via sanding), prime and paint. Use 80 grit to get to bare metal, 220 grit to prep before priming, and 400 grit wet on the primer before painting.
But, be warned, those bubbles are probably more than surface rust and as you sand away the rust, you might be left with holes, which the only PROPER way to fix, is by welding a patch panel. If you are left with just a pitted surface, you can use "bondo" to smooth it out before priming and painting.
If you do not want to prime and paint, once you get most of the rust off you can use a rust converter such as por15 www.por15.com but of course the color won't match the rest of the car in those areas.
Whatever, you choose, just do it quickly. Good luck
As for the louvers, they are USUALLY just clipped on all the way around, so if yours is this stlye, yes you can just rip it off.

[This message has been edited by Nightcruzer (edited October 31, 2001).]

 

*** I love you third genners, even when I had my first 82 trans am and no computer people at car shows would take hours to help me with it. thanks for the help now and for the upcoming help I'll need