5 Things every classic car owner should do when rust proofing

Rust proofing is an important step in classic car restoration and as part of on-going maintenance. Any classic car owner who has restored their dream vehicle will share the huge amount of satisfaction felt once the project is complete. Car restoration, as many will confess involves a lot of time, dedication, commitment and organisation on a car you hope doesn't disappoint. Planning and having the right tools are critical to a successful outcome. The restoration process involves cleaning, replacing and repairing plus attention to the underbody - the unseen area that won't thrill an admiring passer-by but is critical to the safety and longevity of any car.

If you are about to take on a task to restore your classic car, you may want to consider rust proofing it as part of the project to protect both the interior and exterior for many years to come. Besides, it is a well known fact the rust proofing is far less expensive and less time consuming than having to treat rust - especially when it occurs in those hard to reach areas typical of old cars. However, this can only be done if you know your car is rust-free. If not, appropriate rust treatment needs to be applied first.

Rust proofing is a rewarding job as is all classic car restoration work. So, role-up your sleeves and be prepared to spend a full week-end painting or spraying on protective coatings - and watch years get added to your car.

5 steps to get started on rust proofing

• Remove any trims or panels covering areas that need rust proofing 

• Remove wheels to get to the wheel arches more readily
• Plug drain holes to prevent them getting clogged-up
• Scrape-off any old, cracked under sealant which maybe harbouring rust. Once removed, do check that the under carriage is free from corrosion before proceeding with rust proofing
• Brush or spray on the rust preventative wax to form a flexible, impermeable coat - spraying is quicker but brushing may be preferable in certain areas tomake sure the wax is applied more densely particularly to sections most vulnerable to rust.

Rejel is a licensed UK distributor for the  DINITROL range of rust proofing and rust treatment products. They have simplified the process of buying all products needed to execute a rust proofing DIY project by making available rust proofing kits. These contain all you need to protect against or treat rust. The classic car rust proofing kit contains the following: ML3125 Cavity wax; 4941 Black Underbody wax; RC900S Rust Converter 400ml Aerosol.

Rust proofing kit content

• Dinitrol ML3125 is a rust prevention fluid with good film building properties for open surfaces as well as for cavities i.e. chassis box sections.
• Dinitrol 4941 is a black external under body rust preventive fluid which provides long term resistance against corrosion and abrasion, even under severe conditions.
• Dinitrol RC900S rust converter spray 400ml aerosol
• Schutz style spraygun with 500mm hose and nozzle
• 50 x Plugs 10mm black tapered plastic blanking plugsUnderbody rust protection only lasts for a few years with suggested reapplication every 3-5 years (especially for older models). This treatment procedure involves the car being degreased and washed to remove dirt and loose particles from the underside. Any signs of corrosion are first treated with a rust converter (Dinitrol RC800or Dinitrol RC900 rust converter) . Next apply a liberal coating of rust prevention wax to theunderside. A lance should be used to add protection inside the chassis rails and under body cavities.

Once the rust converter application has cured overnight, apply a penetrating cavity wax - Dinitrol ML3125. If the ambient air temperature is low, then you’ll need to warm the can of Dinitrol ML3125 in a bucket of hot water. This wax is designed to creep and flow into the smallest of cracks, welds and seams offering further protection to the chassis.

Finally, apply Dinitrol 4941 underbody wax, which forms a black, hard and waxy film which will protect the layer of ML wax underneath and provide a professional factory finish. Dinitrol 4941 provides long term resistance against corrosion and abrasion, even under severe conditions. It also provides a tough elastic waxy protective coating.

Factory applied underbody rust protection isn't always as comprehensive as it could be and for older cars it should be a process under taken every few years not just as part of a restoration process. 

Finally, the key to success with  classic car rust proofing is to take appropriate steps to prepping your car and then applying the correct products liberally to interior and exterior metal surfaces as well as to the undercarriage.