how to slow rust

[1972chevyowner]

it looks like im not going to get started on my truck for awile it has the typical rust in the cab corners,floor pans so how do i slow the rust till i can fix it??
i was thinking spray the hell out of it with rust preventative anyone have a better idea
thanks

[skip99]

picklex 20...

[pat 70/71]

I wouldn't worry about it if you plan to repair it later. how long do you anticipate waiting? (a year or two wont matter that much) cheers, Pat

[primrrd]

Agree that a few years probably wont make that big of a difference.
That said, if you want to do something: cut out the old rust and treat what is good to keep it from getting worse.
A lot of times there is rust because of something holding water, ie: the cab corners filled with dirt, mouse droppings, bird nests and old rubbers and the drains are plugged and the whole mess turned into a big sponge to hold water and encourage rust due to the excessive moisture. If you Were to clean that stuff out, chip out the really crusty stuff out and wire wheel it, you could treat what's left with some converter and wait for the restoration. Or simply cut the rust out to good metal that you will eventually weld patch panels to, and then treat/paint it around the metal that is still good. When you are ready you should be able to pick up where you left off later.
A word of caution: I did that once to some Mach One lower rear quarter panels but I cut them too high. When I LATER bought the patch panels they were about an inch too short on covering the hole I had already cut out.
Not the end of the world, but a lot of extra work.
So..... moral of the story is;
- You can do nothing,
- you can do a little bit to remove the moisture that is causing the rust,
- or you can excise the evil cancer al together. Out damn (rust) Spot!
(But easy does it with the sawzall, Lash Larue, unless you already have the patch panels!)

[mbgmike]

Spray it with some rust preventative. I have been messing with cars for around 45 years now. I am an old timer now but one old restorer told me. If you can't work on it and If you park it outside, paint it with something to slow the rust down. It does not matter what color just paint it. Anything will help.