btsgrafr

Hi guys I am new here (be nice ). I have a quick question for you guys. I bought my 88' pickup awhile back and it didnt seem to have rust on it when I bought it but since I moved its been ungaraged and unprotected from the elements. I live in California so the weather is decent (no snow) but now I seem to have alot of rust growing on my truck. My question is, how do I treat the rust without doing a full on restoration or making it look like crap with a whole bunch of paint spots? I eventually want to do a full restoration on it and keep it as a classic car kinda deal because I love the truck and dont want to tear it up anymore than I already have. I want to make sure the rust doesn't get too bad before I am ready to move and have her garaged again. I was hoping to treat the rust somehow then buy a truck cover, but if you guys have other suggestions please share your advice! Thanks.

rattlewagon

Got pictures of the rust? We talking body or frame here.. ?

btsgrafr

Both body and frame, I'll snap a few pictures and post them when I get home. Its not a horrible amount that I can see, it seems to be more surface rust not like pieces chipping off or anything, but I also dont want it to spread or get worse while I wait to move in a year and half or so.

coronangel

few schools of thought but, some say you can primer it to stop the rust since your sealing it away from oxygen, but the other side is once you see rust there is nothing you can do except to cut it out. or grind it away to clean metal.

for restoration the absolute best thing to do is cut it all out and put new sheet metal in.

fiberglass for patch repair, this method can last a long time.

Jimkola

Primer is good for the initial seal, but then you need to seal the primer. Primer is porous by intent, so paint will adhere to it.

coronangel

Your right for most primers
I only recommend epoxy primer which is not porous and also does not absorb water. Would highly recommend a 2k epoxy primer. Stuff feels professional