Looking for Alchemist....???

[kamaroman68]

Alchemist after reading several of your posts I am quite impressed with your knowledge of paints/chemicals. As crazy as this is going to sound it is real. I am currently at a standstill on my 68 camaro due to rocker replacement and corrosion protection. Basically I have removed my old rocker panel and have some surface rust. I plan to sandblast these areas which are also the areas where I will be welding. I know about weld thru primers and have used them in the past. I really like the corrosion protection of ppg dp 90 epoxy primer but know it will burn off during the welding process. I was told weld thru primer only protects from welding and not the elements. I live in NY home of the salted roads and 9month winters. In this case before welding two panels together after sandblasting the surfaces what would you use in between the panels to prevent corrosion between the two. My thought was to blast the surfaces and spray them with weld thru primer- do the welding and then go back and use an epoxy primer. After reading another post I was thinking about trying the product standox. I had new inner rocker panels made from stainless steel- modified from originals to try and keep these from rusting again. Probably overboard on all of this but I really dont want to do this again. Thanks Chris

[gearheads78]

There are special sprays and wands used in the collision industry. designed to slip in a small hole and spray 360 from the tip coating everything inside as you pull it back out. I saw a video if it being used at an I-CAR class I went to. Looked like it would work well in restoration for stuff like this.

-Richard

[Alchemist]

Hi Chris,

I have had to address similar situations like yours many times. What gearhead78/Richard has mentioned about using a spray wand is a great idea and is what I do to coat the inside of the rockers.

I drill a hole on both ends of the rockers inside the wheel wells, just big enough for the spray wand to fit thru . Make sure you have hole plugs that will fit the drilled holes. After the hole is drilled for the spray wand and you've completed coating the inside of the rockers I press in the hole plugs - your choice of metal or rubber hole plug (I prefer rubber plugs)- apply seam sealer neatly under and around the hole plug prior to putting the plugs in place. For the final step I spray rubberized undercoating around the hole plug and in the wheel well to blend everything together.

Here is a 360 degree spray wand and rust preventive coating:
http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/pc-1...and-08998.aspx

I like this product for rust prevention, coating hard to reach areas - take a look at all the tech info please:

www.zerorust.com

There are other rust preventive coatings available - just ask your local auto paint supplier.

thanks for asking - good luck with your project.

hope this helps!

Alchemist

[kamaroman68]

I guess my question goes deeper than that. I want to make sure you would use weld thru primer in between the two panels being welded together(after sandblasting). I was under the impression you cannot topcoat over the weld thru primer - poor adhesion. Thanks for the reply.

Chris

[Hogshooter]

Your plan of the DP 90 is probably better than weld thru primer, since it is only designed for mating flanges. I would blast and apply several coats of DP then weld what you need to and use the wands. I have a freind who uses a pump-up garden sprayer with a piece of stiff plastic tubing to extend the tip which he reuses, it allows him to spray 360* and is cheap. I have a kit with the wands and a gun which works best. Again I would not worry about the weld through if you are going to use epoxy. I coat rockers with epoxy then use 3m Rustfighter I, this is a wax based liquid that helps to flow inside and seal minor crevises I use it in doors and quartes also.

[kamaroman68]

Everyone thanks for the replies. Wont the epoxy primer burn off during welding??? I realize these are only spot welds and hopefully the heat would be localized in small sections as to not burn off a lot of the epoxy. Another idea I had was to use powdercoat powder and apply it normally with the electrostatic gun. Then use the heat from the welding process to actually melt and cure the powder. I think I may try a few experiments with the epoxy and powder and bringing welding heat to both. Please keep the replies coming- Again I am probably over thinking this but thats the way I am. Chris

[Damn True]

Any recommendations for something to spray inside of the subframe rails on a 1st Gen?