- Paint Preparation/Rust Removal -

My biggest pet peeve, RUST!  This car has definitely shown it's age the past two years and I vowed to get a fresh coat of paint on her next year (2001).  One obstacle: RUST.  God, I hate rust.  While working on the interior, I looked up and noticed rust forming around the T-Top area ... from there I decided to try to stop it - at least delay it's progress until I get this beast in the shop to get it prepped and painted.

The picture on the left is what the hood looked like last year.  As you can see by looking that the picture on the right taken recently, the delamination has progressed pretty rapidly, even with the car under the cover of a canopy.  The pathetic paint job done to this car doesn't do it any justice.  Even GM admitted it's fault several years ago and even offered a program to get vehicles repainted.  Only set back.  The delamination didn't start until after this "program" expired.  Such as my luck.  If I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all ...

T-Top area.  I didn't realize to take some shots before I started grinding out the rust spots.  Sorry about that.  Nevertheless, you can still see my delema.  In the process of removing the rust areas, I had to grand down certain portions of the lip that hold the t-top seals in place.  Although, this probably won't affect the purpose of the lip, I would still like to see it either reconstructed or replaced.  I'm not exactly sure what to think of this unitl I take her into the shop for an estimate.

Another part of the T-Top area.   These are the problem spots where rust has formed between two layers of metal.   What to think of this, I don't know.  I may even consider getting some of that rust spray that's supposed to stop rust completely by spraying it on.  That would be nice if I could, A.) Find it and B.) work. 

This last image is hard to tell.  Right around the center of the photo, between the black center piece and the red primer, is the section that was ground away.

As you can see, this car has a lot ahead of it still.  I would love to see her shine and glimmer once again ...

Allan Reinike

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