Fix Rust under hatch lid or leave it alone?
#1
Fix Rust under hatch lid or leave it alone?
After washing my car today I decided to open the hatch just to let things dry out faster, and to my horror saw some rust on the bottom of the hatch lid in the center.
See the pics.
The car is garage kept and I never drive it in the rain any more. (I have in the past)
I tapped on the rusty areas and the paint is ready to flake off. I can't tell how deep the rust goes. I'm afraid if I try to remove those 2 black plastic plugs, the rusty metal will just break off around it.
I could spray it with some anti-rust chemicals and then leave it alone.
Scrape off the peeling paint and see what's there, then sand it down / wire brush it, and paint with rustoleum?
Take it to a shop and pay megabucks?
Any thoughts welcome!
Thanks
See the pics.
The car is garage kept and I never drive it in the rain any more. (I have in the past)
I tapped on the rusty areas and the paint is ready to flake off. I can't tell how deep the rust goes. I'm afraid if I try to remove those 2 black plastic plugs, the rusty metal will just break off around it.
I could spray it with some anti-rust chemicals and then leave it alone.
Scrape off the peeling paint and see what's there, then sand it down / wire brush it, and paint with rustoleum?
Take it to a shop and pay megabucks?
Any thoughts welcome!
Thanks
#2
Supreme Member
Re: Fix Rust under hatch lid or leave it alone?
Looks like moisture is getting in between the halves of the rear panel. Just trying to fix what you see in the photos will only be cosmetic. The real fix is addressing what you can't see.
I'd replace the rear panel with a known good piece.
I'd replace the rear panel with a known good piece.
#3
Supreme Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Car: 89' Firebird
Engine: 3.4L V-6
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Re: Fix Rust under hatch lid or leave it alone?
At minimum I'd try to scrape off whatever you can and use something like Por - 15 to seal the metal.
That rust is gonna get woooorrrrsseeee.
That rust is gonna get woooorrrrsseeee.
#4
Member
Re: Fix Rust under hatch lid or leave it alone?
My rule of thumb on rust is: you only see half of it. I would begin searching for good replacement deck lid.
#6
Supreme Member
iTrader: (167)
Re: Fix Rust under hatch lid or leave it alone?
I tapped on the rusty areas and the paint is ready to flake off. I can't tell how deep the rust goes. I'm afraid if I try to remove those 2 black plastic plugs, the rusty metal will just break off around it.
#7
Re: Fix Rust under hatch lid or leave it alone?
What about the value of the car as a collector's item? Would a collector prefer an 88 GTA with the original deck lid with treated rust that's going to slowly get worse, or an 88 GTA with a new deck lid with no rust?
I would guess they would rather have the new deck lid / no-rust option, but that's just me.
I would guess they would rather have the new deck lid / no-rust option, but that's just me.
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Mark_ZZ3
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08-28-2001 01:23 AM