Rust spots?

[BLUELINE 1]

I have a 1983 Ford Bronco that is black. It's going to need a new paint job for sure. There are some rust spots on the top of the roof and around the passenger front fender. Will a paint and body shop be able to sand these areas and do the repaint or is it to late? The rust appears to just be on the top, but not down in the metal itself. Does anyone have any knowledge in this area because I don't.

 

[Tex Star Detail]

I did paint and body for a few years. Went to school for it also.
A body shop will be able to fix it up. As long as it is not 'rotted' through the metal, it won't take much work. The way you described it, it sounds like surface rust. If it is light, an orbital sander will knock it out. If it is a little worse, a grinder will make short work or it. They will then sand with an orbital. work their way up the sandpaper grit. Then they can do a few things. Put a skim coat of bondo and sand right back off. (used to fill scratches) Or use a high build primer.(also fills scratched) Different shops use different primers. If they work down to the metal, a light coat of etching primer should be used...then followed be primer. Some shops use a primer with etching primer mixed with it.


hope that shed some light on it.....
Chris

 

[jaybs02]

I don't know about body shops but I do know about older Ford trucks.
What I found out about Fords is that some rust can look deceiving. I had what seemed like some minor rusting on the rear fender of my ranger and found out that it was rotting from the inside out. I had similar problems on my 79 Bronco.

Good luck, hope it's an easy fix.

"J"

 

[BLUELINE 1]

Thanks for that info. Yeah this old thing was mine when I was a teenager, but it has spent that last 13 years on my mothers land. They used it for awhile moving things like hay around for the horses. It pretty much was a work truck around there for years until they parked it about two years ago. I plan on trying to fix it up over the summer. Thanks again for the help.