I have the frame of my 34 project stripped of all components, getting ready to paint it. The surface rust on the exterior is easy enough to control, but what about the interior. The frame rails are fully boxed, but are open at the front and rear. Any ides on rust proofing the interior of the frame? Or, am I worrying needlessly?

Vince

Powder coating will do the job. Since the powder is deposited onto the metal surface by static charge, the powder will travel far into pipes and other enclosed spaces. Tell your coater to take special care to coat it inside as well as out and your frame will last several millennia!

Doesn't the rust inside the frame need to be neutralized fist before powder coating?

Vince

If you have a lot of rust in there, that becomes problematic. I don't know how you would fix that short of a chemical dip. Otherwise, if you are talking light surface rust with mostly clean steel showing, powder coating will encapsulate it and work great.

Have you used Zero Rust? What is your opinion of POR15?

Have not used Zero Rust, or POR15. The frame is newly manufactured and has only surface rust from sitting in a garage. Currently I am neutralizing the rust with Ospho. I will then go over the frame with a wire wheel brush. A good cleaning with solvent, then a coat of PPG DP74LF epoxy primer. Following that with some PPG K36 to build up to a smooth surface. Finishing it off with a several coats of DuPont Imron gloss black.

The local powder coater wanted $600 to powder coat the frame, absolutely absurd IMO.

Vince

Yes, $600 is WAY too much. I'm getting mine powdercoated very shortly at a local galvanizing plant. They specialize in galvanizing steel power poles and irrigation equipment, but also have a commercial powder-coating shop. I was quoted $200 to sandblast and powdercoat the frame. A local car restoration dealer says he takes all his frames there now, since he can't paint them for less than that, and I've talked to several other car restorers in the area who have had their frames powdercoated there and were very happy. If I were you I'd do some checking around, you should be able to find somebody to do it for a lot less than you were quoted.