Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

[Keith M.]

Am about to start putting my car back together and unfortunately I did not have the time and resources to do it frame off. I am looking for some input on how best to "clean up" some frame areas while I have stuff off. So for example I have all the front bumper support brackets off (had them powder coated) and wondering how best to address the area where that first bracket mates up to the frame? Similar situation in the back before I put on new brake lines and start to get the drivetrain back in. Fiberglass areas just gonna do some Dawn wash/scrub and some baking soda on the battery acid. For the frame areas...was thinking maybe Evaporust by draping some thin Tshirt material soaked in Evaporust and then covered with tin foil. Once or twice a day open up and spray with some more Evaporust. Or should I just do some dawn scrubbing with wire brush and call it good? Or something else? Am hoping in my lifetime I can get the body off to paint it and restore the frame. That may be 5 or more years off...and maybe not in my lifetime heading into in my mid 60s.

[Joseph W.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

How about dry ice blasting? I’ve never done it before but reach out to Jon Herrick. He’s on this board and the other. He did it to his LT1 and was pleased with the result.
For the Evaporust for the frame, I’ve seen some guys get a plastic kiddie pool to place under the frame and then get a pump that will continually run or spray the evaporust on the frame. Then it collects into the plastic pool where it is continuously recycled.
The kiddie pool thing sounds like a lot of work but I know they do it that way.
Might also ask over on the Yenko forum Those guys are really big on preservation and get creative to preserve all the original patina while removing the rust.
let us know what works cause I want to do the same with my 71

[Mark E.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

Doing the same thing as you, I used Evapo-Rust gel that clings to upside down surfaces. Brush on, wait, wipe off.

Dawn concentrate works great as a first step to remove grime, then Evapo-Rust for rust, then scuff with scotchbrite, then metal prep.

For fiberglass, Dawn followed by Scotchbrite worked well. I then sealed it with a light coat of mat clear.

[Tim G.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

Keith, will you be at the Texas Regional? Here's a chassis on a car I will have there after and before. Someone painted it orange and black. Your chassis is a very good starting point. I also have a '70 that was heavily undercoated and I used heat on it. Ice blasting is good, but can be expensive and hard to locate a technician that knows how to use it properly. It may take you 20 to 30 hours to clean that chassis up, but you have something good to work with.

[Keith M.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

Mark,
Can't thank you enough!! I have become a HUUGE fan of Evaporust during this, my first, restoration. Must have bought 30 to 40 gallons or so by now. Totally forgot about the gel which is perfect for this application. Amazon order placed! I already cleaned up pretty good with assorted degreasers and some wire brushing. The bracket to be attached is powder coated anyway so no real issue there. I just dont want to attach such a pretty part to a rusted greasy mess. If and when the frame gets done the bracket will come back off anyway. Thinking for "metal prep" I will just do a black primer between mating surfaces after the Evaporust. How long did you leave the gel on? did you wrap with anything to slow evaporation of the gel?

Great tips for the fiberglass.

[Mark E.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

On bare metal like the frame, application time is not critical. You'll learn how long it takes Evapo-Rust to remove your rust. Generally a few hours.

Application time is more critical with plated metals like some fasteners and hardware. This stuff will eat into the finish if applied too long, so check it every hour or so and remove by wiping/scraping off then neutralize by rinsing with water as soon as it does its job.

This stuff is expensive but can be reused if carefully scraped off and collected. It will get messy so cover the floor with cardboard, work in sections, and wear PPE like long sleeves, gloves, hat and safety glasses. Be sure the wife takes a photo of you when the creature from the black lagoon emerges from underneath.

Evaporation wasn't an issue.

[Keith M.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

Tim,
Won't be in Texas regional. I live in Pittsburgh. But I appreciate your post and encouragement. The frame condition and mostly matching orig drivetrain are what this car has going for it. Otherwise POs raped and butchered the heck out of it!! Nice pics BTW.

[Mark E.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

It looks like the battery box needs either major repairs or replacement. This is a good time to do that.

[Keith M.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

It looks like the battery box needs either major repairs or replacement. This is a good time to do that.

Yep. I guess corrosion ate away the original battery bos. Some PO did a very rough repair job. Front battery hold down no place to install. Had a 2x4 wedged in there to keep battery in place when I bought it. Soooo....I have no idea how to approach this. I have never done ANY fiberglass work and honestly don't want to learn and even if I did could I do anything but a half arsed job? What are my options here? Is there any way to get a "donor" box and cut out the old one? Would be grateful for any and all input....not to hijack my own thread....but you are totally correct....probably never be a better time to deal with it. (not to mention the butchered antenna cable!)

[Tim G.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

I use a product called PB Blaster. It really refreshed the chassis and makes mild to moderate rust really disappear. Many times, you can save the original factory chassis paint as I did. On fiberglass and bare metal surfaces, you can use 0000 steel wool and PB Blaster or lacquer thinner.

Chassis are really amazing to work, the results can be fantastic unless the chassis is really a mess. Yours is not a mess at all.

[Mark E.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

Yep. I guess corrosion ate away the original battery bos. Some PO did a very rough repair job. Front battery hold down no place to install. Had a 2x4 wedged in there to keep battery in place when I bought it. Soooo....I have no idea how to approach this. I have never done ANY fiberglass work and honestly don't want to learn and even if I did could I do anything but a half arsed job? What are my options here? Is there any way to get a "donor" box and cut out the old one? Would be grateful for any and all input....not to hijack my own thread....but you are totally correct....probably never be a better time to deal with it. (not to mention the butchered antenna cable!)

I've replaced three C3 battery boxes in my lifetime so not an expert but have done it. It's not uncommon for battery acid or a thrown u-joint to damage these, as my first two C3 ownership experiences have shown.

You have three options: If large pieces are not missing, rpair what you have; replace it with one cut from a donor car; or get a reproduction. Someone reading this may come forward with a donor box; also try Gulf Coast Corvettes and David Sokoloski (sp?) in Driveline. A few weeks ago I saw an ad for a reproduction C3 battery box you can splice in. That's when i learned someone is making these, but I don't remember where I saw this.

You say you don't want to learn fiberglass repair. But IF you did, this is a good first project- simple (but awkward access) and it's okay if not cosmetically perfect (it's a battery box after all).

Let us know if you go for it- there are tricks for hiding the repair seam.

[Joseph W.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

I’d love to know who makes the repop battery boxes as I need to do this repair also

[Mark E.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

I’d love to know who makes the repop battery boxes as I need to do this repair also

https://www.corvettecentral.com/1968-1974-battery-tray-fiberglass-tub-143335

[Mark E.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

Keith,

I also just ordered evapo-rust gel from Amazon. A heads up that this batch of two bottles has the consistency of sill putty. Maybe old stock or a bad batch. Since you just ordered some for the first time, I wanted you to know this isn't normal. It should literally be a gel.

I found an alternative product at Lowe's: Rust-oleum Rust Desolver Gel. And it comes in a spray bottle! I tried it on an old leaf spring and it works well. It smells like the Evapo-Rust so probably has similar ingredients. Cheaper too.

[Keith M.]

Re: Partial Frame clean up with "frame on" restore

Keith,

I also just ordered evapo-rust gel from Amazon. A heads up that this batch of two bottles has the consistency of sill putty. Maybe old stock or a bad batch. Since you just ordered some for the first time, I wanted you to know this isn't normal. It should literally be a gel.

I found an alternative product at Lowe's: Rust-oleum Rust Desolver Gel. And it comes in a spray bottle! I tried it on an old leaf spring and it works well. It smells like the Evapo-Rust so probably has similar ingredients. Cheaper too.

Thanks Mark. My Evapo Gel arrived today but I did not open it yet. thanks for the heads up on what consistency should be. As an aside....I stumbled on some naval jelly I had laying around and figured what the heck. I applied some for about 30 minutes today. Not very impressive. What I like about Evaporust is it contains some detergents so can do a bit of cleanup duty too. but the 8oz largest container might not last that long.