removing rust on OG bumpers

[sixxxball]

i have '64 bumpers w/overriders and i plan on puting them on my '66 they are with original mounts. there is surface rust on the inside lip of the bumpers. how do you recomend i remove the rust.

[chug_A_bug]

hey well I had the same problem too if they are Chrome you will have to grind them to the raw steel then re-chrome then or paint them. hope that helps.

[spotco2]

If it's minor surface rust, you can get most of it off with 000 steel wool.

[Matt K.]

[bug_me]

Coca-Cola and aluminum foil is a trick I've heard, but I've never tried it. Might want to give it a shot on a less noticiable area first and see how it turns out.

[Karmanninthebarn]

This is an older thread, but I'm hoping someone will respond. I found a stock OEM overrider center towel bar to replace the original dented one on my '63 Ghia coupe. Looking inside it there is a lot of flaky rust. What's the best way to remove that without damaging the chrome on the outside? The chrome is in great shape.

[viiking]

I can't remember what is at each end of the that section. Is it open like a pipe?

Remove as much of the rust mechanically. Can you get a wire brush in there? Can you cut a piece of old steel clothes line wire, then unravel some of the end and then chuck it in a drill and then use that to brush out the rust? This is the method used to unblock a heat riser on the carburettor. If you don't understand this then search for "blocked heat riser" and you will find a thread on this.

If there is still rusty metal inside, you need to get rid of it to stop it continuing and then eventually rusting through to the outside.

1. Plug off one end of the towel bar. Be imaginative. You can use plasticine, play-doh, silicone or an old rubber plug or cork, so long as it is water-tight. Test it with water.

2. Wax the outside of the towel rail chrome well. This is to protect the chrome for the next step.

3. Get some Ospho (phosphoric acid) and fill the inside of the tube almost to the top. You'll have to hold the towel bar vertically to make sure it is filled. You don't have to fill it to the top, just make sure NOTHING leaks onto the outside of the chrome. You'll address the untreated top part later.

4. Leave overnight. Check to see the result. If there is still a lot of rust then just repeat the soak. When all is good then flush very well with water. Use a hose.

5. Then remove the plug you made in 1.

6. Now plug off the other end of the towel bar

7. Check your waxing is still OK or redo.

8. Refill the tube as you did in 3 with Ospho (phosphoric acid). Fill almost to the top. The top (which was previously the bottom) has already been treated so it doesn't matter if you don't fill to the top.

9. Then just repeat 4 and 5.

Now you should have a rust neutralised inside of the pipe. Now you can paint the inside of the tube with a rust paint of your choice. Either get a spray can with one of those flexible wands or you can just repeat the idea of plugging off one end and just pour paint into the tube and slosh it around until you know you've got a good coverage. A little bit of leakage onto the chrome with PAINT will generally not affect it.

Yes this sounds long-winded but if you want to protect it, that's what I would do.
_________________
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1966 Lancia Flavia Pininfarina Coupe - in the waiting room
Discharged: 1983 Vanagon, 1974 1800 Microbus,1968 Low Light,1968 Type 3

[Mike Fisher]

Lemon Juice will dissolve rust on chrome!
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