Cleaning the rust and Painting the internal parts of the Ford Model T

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
Wwbbim
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:00 pm
First Name: Jace
Last Name: Jensen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1922 Roadster
Location: Robstown

Cleaning the rust and Painting the internal parts of the Ford Model T

Post by Wwbbim » Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:05 pm

I recently got a broken down old Ford Model T. The rust isn’t horrendous by any sorts, but I would like to clean it all off. I could use a sand blaster or a hand sander(for drill)
To clean it off. Which one should I use or any better options? Also, is their any good paints for the internal parts that would work well with it?[image][/image]

User avatar

abcarswell
Posts: 51
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2019 8:58 pm
First Name: Bruce
Last Name: Carswell
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Model TT
Location: Lubbock, Texas

Re: Cleaning the rust and Painting the internal parts of the Ford Model T

Post by abcarswell » Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:25 pm

I had good luck with this tool from Eastwood. The previous restoration had gone really crazy with the amount of bondo on my TT. I did not want to really go to the full extent of media blasting as I was doing selective stripping down to bare metal without full disassembly. I hooked my shop vac up to it which helped keep the dust down.
https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-contour-sct.html
Attachments
69BDB271-7380-4DC2-94B2-16A802CE179F.jpeg
118CB8D7-11F9-4EBF-9720-3A08F5FF70DB.jpeg
84D397C5-1292-44F7-B480-70E1A1FEF05C.jpeg
0BC8B4C0-1536-46FE-9D62-DB411C8EBF1D.jpeg
6F299692-77F4-4347-B833-C166356EACB4.jpeg

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6452
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Cleaning the rust and Painting the internal parts of the Ford Model T

Post by Steve Jelf » Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:35 pm

For most parts blasting is fine. For many parts a power wire brush is also good. These will remove rust and old paint. There are also chemical rust removers like molasses and Evaporust, but they won't remove the old paint. A word of caution: don't blast a complete assembly (like a carburetor or a rear axle) because no matter what you do some of your blasting medium (sand, soda, whatever) will get inside. I would blast only disassembled parts. One exception is wheels. I wrap the wood in a few layers of duct tape and blast the metal parts.

I don't have a car earlier than 1915 or later than 1923, so I use black paint. For chassis parts I use satin black Rustoleum. I think glossy chassis parts look ridiculous. YMMV.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


Russ T Fender
Posts: 404
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:39 pm
First Name: Val
Last Name: Soupios
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '10 touring, '12 touring, '13 hack, '14 runabout, '14 touring, '14 speedster, '22 centerdoor, '27 touring
Location: Jupiter Florida

Re: Cleaning the rust and Painting the internal parts of the Ford Model T

Post by Russ T Fender » Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:54 pm

You can look into using Ospho. It neutralizes rust and provided a paintable surface without having to wash it off. It can be used over paint, rust or bare metal so you don't have to remove all the old paint if you don't want to. If the paint is not flaking, peeling and is otherwise sound you can just feather the paint into the rusted bare metal and apply Ospho right over everything before you top coat.


jiminbartow
Posts: 2193
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:55 pm
First Name: James
Last Name: Patrick
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Coupe
Location: Bartow, FL
MTFCA Number: 50126
Board Member Since: 2001

Re: Cleaning the rust and Painting the internal parts of the Ford Model T

Post by jiminbartow » Fri Jan 17, 2020 3:27 pm

Sandblasting should be avoided at all costs on body parts, as it can warp them irreparably. I don’t like to sandblast any parts because it makes the surface of any part you blast, very rough. Though many will disagree, in removing rust, For the last 40 years, I have always had the best results with muriatic acid. Jim Patrick.

User avatar

Jim_PTC_GA
Posts: 176
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:18 pm
First Name: James
Last Name: Fisher
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924, 1925-ish
Location: Pine Mountain Georgia
MTFCA Number: 31822
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Cleaning the rust and Painting the internal parts of the Ford Model T

Post by Jim_PTC_GA » Fri Jan 17, 2020 5:13 pm

Cleaning rust has become one of my favorite things. I find it almost meditative. I use a Chicago rotary tool from Amazon for about 35.00 and buy the wire brushes off eBay at about 2.00 a piece when bought in quantity of 20. If you use this method wear a respirator and saftey glasses plus gloves. The rotary tool spins at 20k rpm and throws the bristles out hard enough to puncture skin. A tetanus shot would be a good thing too. I love cleaning rust.
Attachments
20181113_102851.jpg
Just give me time to Rust and I'll be good as new. :) Wabi-Sabi

User avatar

TRDxB2
Posts: 5371
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
First Name: Frank
Last Name: Brandi
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
Location: Moline IL
Board Member Since: 2018

Re: Cleaning the rust and Painting the internal parts of the Ford Model T

Post by TRDxB2 » Fri Jan 17, 2020 6:32 pm

There are several "Rust Remover" or "Rust Restorer" products that basically are phosphoric acid based (always read the label for what it is supposed to do). Phosphoric acid has a unique characteristic of dissolving rust speedily. It can also leave a coating of iron phosphate which prevents further rust corrosion in the future. More importantly, it will make the metal surface of your part shiny with a hard and bright metal finish. AND Yes even Coke-a-cola contains phosphorus which gives it its tangy taste (and you know what it can do to car paint). I prefer products that claim they leave a coating on them even though I wire brush it off - there is still signs of a chemical reaction as the part has a blush tinge (nor bluing) to it. I use PVC pipe for long parts, pails or tubs for soaking. You can even place wet paper towels or rags on the surface and cover to keep the solution from evaporating. Products often recommend 1/2 hr soak. So while the price may shock you, the solution can be reused many, many times. I usually decanter the good stuff and discard the residue on the bottom of the pail. Parts should be washed and de-greased before hand. It will take loose paint off - even paint you didn't think it was loose. Picture sequence Before, blackened residue washed off, wire brushed.
Attachments
IL 1-5.jpg
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic