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Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option?

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Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #1
poppy Willie Headon Naas, Kildare, Ireland Sign in to contact 1974 MG Midget 1974 MG Midget	Topic Creator (OP) Jul 3, 2015 05:16 PM Joined 17 years ago 239 Posts

Hey y'all,

Back again after many months!

My little midget is showing some rust bubbles at the bottom of the rear fender (wing). I know the best solution is to cut and replace with new metal but I don't really
have the know how or money to pay some one so I decided in a moment of madness to dump a whole bottle of rust converter down there. How effective do you think this will be in holding off the rust spreading?

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Re: Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #4
66jalopy Phillip Jolliffe Lake City, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1956 Morris Minor	Jul 3, 2015 07:47 PM Joined 11 years ago 6,727 Posts

If you clean it from the inside, then rust converter or something like PQ 15, I think it will help. I'm planning same thing with doors and trunk lid. Make sure there is a hole that can let water drain out after you do it.

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Re: Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #5
TeamEvil Thomas C (Disabled) Kingston, MA, USA Sign in to contact	Jul 4, 2015 10:05 AM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 5,815 Posts

If there are bubbles on the shiny side, there is a real mess on the back side. Dirt/leaves/debris/whatever collects, holds the moisture and begins destroying the metal from the inside out. Pouring a bottle of anything down there probably just means that you now have a bottle of stuff mixed in with the crud that's already there.

Time to grind away the bubbles and paint on the panel and look at what's really under the paint. Get a real look at the bare metal and go from there.

It'll only get worse . . .

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Re: Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #6
fairmounter Mike N Philadelphia, PA, USA Sign in to contact 1972 MG M-Type Midget 1975 Dodge B-Series Van	Jul 4, 2015 12:46 PM Joined 15 years ago 2,174 Posts

Can you get to the area behind the rust to clean out the crud? If so treating that area from the back would be a good idea. I would just leave if, if you start grinding you will open a can of worms. Unless you leave it out in the rain it is not going to get much worse

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Re: Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #7
TeamEvil Thomas C (Disabled) Kingston, MA, USA Sign in to contact	Jul 4, 2015 12:58 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 5,815 Posts

Mike's probably right on this one, ignore my previous comment . . .

Unless you're ready to fix the problem for real and forever, either ignore it entirely and hope for the best, or use a Dremel to CAREFULLY grind the bubbles down flat, spot in a bit of rust converter with a Q-Tip and touch up the marks that are left with a little matching paint. and a small fine brush.

Easy Peasy, almost invisible, and will last until you're ready for a re-paint or to move onto another ride.

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Re: Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #8
poppy Willie Headon Naas, Kildare, Ireland Sign in to contact 1974 MG Midget 1974 MG Midget	Topic Creator (OP) Jul 4, 2015 06:01 PM Joined 17 years ago 239 Posts

Hey guys, thank you so much for all the advise!

There is about a 3/4'' gap between the trunk corner piece and the fender panel so enough room to get a scraper, brush or maybe a spray nozzle down there.
I had a good scrape around with a flat head screwdriver and there wasn't much crud in there. Anything I did find was black from the rust converter. I think I managed to clear most of it out with a vacuum cleaner. I'm thinking that maybe if I give it a good wire brushing behind the panel, then spray a rust converter in there or maybe brush in a back to bare metal gel and then spray in wax oil or some kind of protective coating it might do a pretty good job that will last a at least a few years. On the front I might try use the Dremel approach suggested by TeamEvil.

I'm attaching a pict. It's not very good but it might give some idea of what the degree of bubbling is.

Thanks again

WP_20150418_14_57_14_Pro.jpg 44.1 KB

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Re: Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #9
poppy Willie Headon Naas, Kildare, Ireland Sign in to contact 1974 MG Midget 1974 MG Midget	Topic Creator (OP) Jul 4, 2015 08:04 PM Joined 17 years ago 239 Posts

Think that pict I posted is so bad it's better to ignore it. The bubbling is only at the very bottom of the panel. The reflection of the tarmacadam ground surface on the panel could be confused as roughness in the paint finish!

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Re: Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #2
trevorwj Trevor Jessie Louisville, KY, USA Sign in to contact	Jul 3, 2015 05:21 PM Top Contributor Joined 16 years ago 6,280 Posts

Re: Rust bubbles on lower back fender ... is this an option? #3
James E Jimmy Campbell Bedford, VA, USA Sign in to contact 1967 Triumph TR4A 1971 MG Midget MkIII 1973 MG Midget MkIII	Jul 3, 2015 06:02 PM Joined 12 years ago 4,462 Posts

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