How to retain original paint 1971 Ford F100 Custom

[pattywatty23]

Hi!
I'm bringing my 1971 Ford F100 Custom back. I shipped him out to the desert because rust was starting to appear in every nook and cranny. I live in a beach area. I'm bringing Tbone back because my newer car failed me. I don't care for a new paint job, but I definitely need to do something to stop the rust progression. It has the original ... Seafoam-ish green color. Any type of advice would be cool! Thank you!!

[Montana71-F100]

Naval jelly works on rust. Then prime and paint the bare spots.

[kf7mjf]

Remove all the rust, and then wax heavily? Spray a clear coat over everything, then wax heavily?

[bluef250]

I have used rubbing compound to remove surface rust. Prime with a zinc rich primer and paint with touch up green. The finsih will look blotchy and not terribly good, but short of a new paint job what you get is what you pay for. A good parts store should be able to match the original color and put paint in spray cans or provide it in pint or quart container for paint gun for you to apply.

[pattywatty23]

Such a shame! I might have to scrap the paint eventually. Thanks for the tips! They sound promising for temporary relief!

[colnago]

Naval jelly works on rust. Then prime and paint the bare spots.

When I was working on an '82 Honda Magna, the guys on the forum would use naval jelly for cleaning the rust out of their gas tanks. I think it was the muriatic acid in the jelly. I never used it myself, but others raved about how well it worked.

Joseph

[pattywatty23]

Cool thanks!
I will read up on that!

[Kurt Combs]

I have lived near the ocean in northern California and the salt air is the pits, pun intended. I remember the hinges and nails inside our house would rust for the salt in the air. First thing, never leave the truck outside if you live where you can smell or hear the ocean, maybe even further away, that isn't an exact measurement of distance. If you drive near the ocean, especially on a windy day, wash every part you can get water on. Seal every surface to keep that salt air away from bare metal. That would be underneath or in the seams of body panels. Wash and wax regularly. Then remember that there is no way you are going to stop all the rust, you know what local cars look like after a couple of years, it is impossible to stop. If you like the truck you might consider selling it to a good home and buying a disposable newer Chevy or Dodge.