FlyB0y

I have finally accepted that I had better start getting serious about removing the rust from my car. I have looked into sandblasting, I have used industrial ones myself in the past (the out-door type, not the cabinet) and I am looking for a red herring as usual. I have also stripped paint with a 3,000 pressure washer (from a concrete pool) I want to know if this is a practical way to remove rust? I'm not really wanting to sandblast if I can help it, the mess it makes, the hazardous dust I don't want to inhale (yes I would wear a respirator but some will always get through) and I have looked at the baking soda method of sandblasting, I might try that it sounds less hazardous and wouldn't chew up the good metal as much. Anyhow, I know where the really rusty bits I have to cut out and weld in new, but I am hoping to save as much of the original metal as I can. I have no real experience in true body work, I mostly repaired motorcycle plastic, and yes I know how to use bondo, but I mainly want to stop rust and only worry about the structural areas, cosmetic not so much. Thanks! (oh ya and I am on a very limited income these days, so anything that you can tell me to do to save a few $$$ is also very appreciated. zzz)

Here's a couple pics from AA's site showing the Safari brand side piece I was talking about: So, if your not bothered by having the elbow from either 3" exhaust or ABS pipe coming out from the fender, saves you some $$$. I mean if you really wanted too, especially with a custom piece of exhaust, I am sure you could have them shape it to fit snug to the fender, and it would be tricky making ABS do that too, but it wouldn't be as strong.

Well, I might get lucky with just using the car wash pressure washer, the guy who lined my brat originally with some weird looking black tar like substance didn't know he had to scuff the original paint first! So I have taken a really good amount off with just my air gun. I thought about sand blasting initially, but I didn't want anything so coarse, and this stuff is coming off pretty easy, I might eventually try one of those baking soda sandblasters (HF has one for about $120 .. looks like it might be something I could build out of an old fire extinguisher ) but I need to find out some first hand info on it. From what I have read, they are good for minor rust and just taking off paint with out much risk to taking off a lot of the parent metal, of just taking off paint layer by layer. Also, the baking soda isn't as toxic as a lot of sandblasting media. I had the rims sandblasted by a shop and the only problem is they used such a coarse sand that it's made it more challenging to keep rust free since it was done to the equivalent of like 40 grit sandpaper, and that rough surface really holds onto dirt.

Oh, one more POR 15 Q ... How long should I wait before using a pressure washer on it? I still have some really loose paint in the bed, but I don't want to compromise the places I have used it.

This car cannot be thought of as a typical "daily driver" but the body looks to be in better shape than the one I had of the same color scheme, mine was mechanically a peach, but after having trouble just locating the special cybrid power-steering fluid, and having a hard time just ordering a stock XT-6 clutch, I'd say this is going to be more of a hobby horse no matter how you look at it. I know some people who say as long as the bags on the air suspension are in good shape and you maintain them regularly, they are no problem. Mine fit this description, however I agree once they do go, they aren't going to be easy or cheap to replace. I still wish I had mine, but when I had to choose between it and the brat, it had to go. I loved both the air ride suspension and cybrid steering, helped me dodge a moose on a highway in the dark I bearly had time to see, and it was just plain fun to drive. I'd say for $800 bucks it's a great project car, just realize it's not going to be your typical "drive it till it dies" subaru and be sure you get a good source for parts, many manufacterers don't realize there is a difference between the XT-6 and the XT and will send you parts for the latter. Nice car, if I lived near enough and had the cash to spare, I'd take it on as a project.

Yeah, I know what you mean, maybe in my case it would be GOOD to have a wife to tell me not to buy something ... I knew there was at least ONE good reason to get married .. j/k hehe. My last trip there was just to get an airline dryer/water separator for $15 and I came home with a new tow strap (with-out hooks to replace my damaged one with) and a cargo holding bar for the bed. I really think the new recovery strap was needed, and the bar will make hauling my off-road tires much easier, just I always end up spending 2-3x what I planned there.

Ahh yes I remember reading that somewhere too, and it's just a simple in-line oiler that can be bought for air tools, probably a cheap on at HF would work. I might have to get a tank going too and get serious once I get all the rust off ... HF seems to get a lot of stuff for projects started for me, but I often start more than I can do lol!

You know, I have toyed with the idea of converting my AC compressor, but I have few air tools, and although I think it's a great mod, I am curious, how often do you have to oil the comp. if you just use the stocker? I have one that was stock on my brat still, and I would lover to just put in a filtered intake on one side and a dryer/water trap on the other. I don't air up and down much since now I have separate ATV tired I switch to, and yes I used to store the ATV tires where I had to air things up and down with a cheap Walmart cig lighter compresser and it hasn't got hot or let me down, but it takes FOR-EVER to air up a set of tires, I figure it took me around an hr to do the deed lol!

Yes that is the one, thx for the pics! I was just wanting to get an idea of how it USED to look! I can probably get it in there and working again, and mine is just like your picture, but I have the 5sp D/R tranny too in my Brat and I can see that it was just a flimsy connection, I might just take some tubing and thread it and the switch to make it work, ty. Gonna wait a bit tho, started raining so just going to troll a bit he he.

Heya all, I got the switch that comes on when you pull the 4WD hi & lo lever loose somehow, the plastic that holds the switch in fell apart an I don't know what it looks like, anyone have a pic of theirs that isn't broken or even a repair idea to keep it in place? Thanks!

Good to hear you found the problem, as for repairing, if you are limited to just holding things together with wire, just wrap both haves of that shift linkage together and be gentle with it until you can replace or repair by drilling a hole through the 2 pieces and if the rubber is gone, just use anything handy to make a similar gap. wood will work if you don't have chunk outta an old trucker's retread or something. I once had to ride a motorcycle with nothing more than a piece of retread I carved down plugging the hole in the tire. Good luck!

is that a product that is a thinner for POR 15? I was thinking something to thin it, I haven't had anything on my skin, I didn't know how hot this stuff was, so I really suited up the first time using it, all I had to do to remove some spots on my glasses was put a little dish soap on it and run hot water, came off pretty easy, of course it was still wet. I might get a gun and shoot it now that I have access to a decent air compressor.

W00t! Thx! Time for the second coat and then I will be golden! Oh one more Q lol ... is there anything cheap and easy you have found to cut this stuff? Acetone maybe?

Kewl, I have lots of spray paint, but after a visit to HF for a $15 airline dryer I spent $65 lol ... too much good stuff ... so I gotta be careful. How about heat resistance? I put some on my tail pipe, and it had about 4 hrs to dry before I ran it, but I am curious how the stuff takes the heat? Thanks again for the info all,

Sweet, good to hear, what would you say about it's abrasion resistance? I am thinking of using it to cover my skid plate, but it gets the worst of the beating off road, will it hold up better than paint?

I'm pretty sure your problem is the shift linkage is sinking down enough that it is starting to rub against the driveline. I would get under there and just look to see where the bright shinny metal is where things are scraping, and even if all you have is some zip-ties, bailing wire, don't let it go on that way, or you might have a serious problem on the road in the near future. I am saying this assuming that since you say it only happens when your going down the road and shifting into certain gears? Or does it happen at idle too? Even if it happens while at idle too, I highly suspect the shift linkage rubbing against the drive line. Also be sure to see if the trans mounts are rotten, if so that can allow the same problem to occur. Good luck and be safe! (don't "feed" any bears while your there if you know what I mean ... I have always wanted to visit Alaska! might move there someday )

I got this stuff and I got the special cleaner, but they were out of the metal prep, and since this is just kinda a test run, I decided to chance it and just let it dry really good (about a day with no rain) after using the POR 15 cleaner. Is there anything other than their special Metal Ready product out there that anyone has use to prep metal for the POR 15 and had good luck with? I also didn't know how thick the stuff would be, and I used more than I needed, and went ahead and used up the extra on a lot of other places that I had cleaned previously, but not with the special degreaser. What's the chance any of that will stick? And what will have to do to fix it if it doesn't bond properly on the un-prepared surfaces? Thanks!

W00t! nothing like a smooth running weber! :burnout:And good friends that make it that way! I'm going to get mine dialed in at a local shop (once I can afford it), I got it 99% already, but I want to squeeze that extra 1% to get some more power & mileage. :Flame:I still seem to have a small problem with mini-backfires or something that I can't even detect except that I seem to toast power-valves every-other year.

Yes, hehe good one, I have to admit tho my Subie has been neglected a bit for some hunting toys, but hey, they do go together well And nice lift!!!! :slobber: very clean, wish I had done it that way with mine, maybe I wouldn't be doing some much rust removal now .. Montana was spoiling me ... now been back in Oregon for a while and all the rust is going like crazy. Now I just gotta wait on the POR 15 to cure ...

Bingo, mine never gave me any problems (that I know of ) until the trans mounts of the same vintage started letting it rock and roll, but I couldn't figure out why I was popping out of gear while trying to help pull Nells out of the snow and really funny part was, I had tons of clearance and not quite enough power with the 27 x 14 super swampers and his lego had pleanty of power but wasn't really lifted much (2" at the time I think?) and he was bottoming out! Good times! Thanks for the Tip on just putting a bolt through, that makes sense, I will hang onto the old one and use it if this one starts to go south prematurly, but I think it will probably last just fine long as I don't let the trany mounts fail before I notice.

Oh man! that is too funny! I have heard that term used too, I forget where .. what was her initial reaction? Was she just shocked or?

Yeah, it is kinda scary, my nephew is has been living a rather sheltered life (riding around in a 2007 Saturn Vue) and was never really comfortable listening to my suspension components chatter to each other as we bounced a bit at every bump on the freeway. Now he's not even hesitant to go with me in the brat. I'll have to take him to brown's camp again soon so he can see what I spent all this time for.

:headbang:Sweet! I know your going to get them for us soon but ..... I guess not having the pics up yet means unlike me, you actually have a life!

Well, I got my new shifting linkage bracket, but I was thinking as I left the dealer, what if I had asked for it by name from the parts girl? We all know what these are (new one on top, old one that is in two pieces on bottom) but I looked at the bag and it's called a CUSHION RUBBER?! :-p Good thing I just came into their office and identified it from the blow-up of the linkage on her computer, if I had asked that at the counter she might get the wrong idea!

My squeak, rattle and roll?!! (shake would have sounded too dignified for the sound of the old rear struts! ) I am amazed at how much difference it made just to replace the rear struts I have been putting off for years he he. :-p And once I replace the valve cover gaskets and it stops leaking a little oil the REAL question I have is .... will it still be a bonafide ole' skool subaru?!