[ant_8u]

Ive seen some cheap replacement panels on eBay

Theyre New Old Stock, so they've never been fitted, but have surface rust on them

If I bought them how should I prep them?

Should they be epoxy'd before welding, or is it not possible to weld through epoxy?

[302 Z28]

Surface rust is not a problem, sand it off and get with it.

Vince

[jeffery wells]

don't weld threw epoxy, BIG MESS and a welder needs a clean surface for it to stick, just sand off the rust, clean the surface, and prime. pretty simple.

[ant_8u]

Thanks guys

[200horse]

you can use rust remover i use tnt gel and scuff pads works well i think there website is tntrustremover.com I bought a gallon and did entire car that i stripped and left it to get rusty

[302 Z28]

If all you have is a light surface rust I would not use any rust remover products. If they are not removed or neutralized totally you can risk adhesion problems developing with your finish.

Vince

[ant_8u]

I plan to remove all rust prior to fitting

But, it may be a while before the car gets painted so I was just wondering what the best approach would have been

[jeffery wells]

i know this sounds crappy, but if it's going to be sitting a while longer, sand it down, and wall-mart primer. you can sand the primer before laying down a good primer for paint, dont paint over wall-mart primer, it will simply preserve it so it dont get worse.

[boatbob2]

Hi,fit the panels first,then sand the rust off the panels, then prime using a good EPOXY primer on both sides of the panel,before you weld,sand the primer off,to clean shiny metal, from the edges of the panels about 1 inch all around.

[302 Z28]

Above advice is "spot on", use a good quality epoxy primer like SPI. DO NOT use any primer from Wal-Mart or any primer in a rattle can for that matter they all will absorb water and eventually rust through. Your best long term protection is with a good quality true epoxy primer.

Vince