Thread: Rust treatment for body seams

I've had similar issues. This is what I did:

• wirebrush with angle grinder
• rust converter, rinse and dry really well with a heat gun to ensure all moisture out of the seam
• spray Penetrol over/into the seams (buy the aerosol can with the plastic straw)
• let the Penetrol cure for a few days then brush an epoxy enamel over the seam
• Sika 227 seam sealer wiped over the seam with a finger
• Painted the 227 in topcoat to match firewall

All the seams still look good 4 years later.
A simpler option might be to wirebrush, Penetrol than apply a coat of lanolin spray.
Whatever you do, I suggest Penetrol should be part of the solution.
Checking and rustproofing Defender firewall and door frames (remove door trims and spray inside box sections) every few years is good insurance.

I'll try the wire brushing & Penetrol I think. I'm not too sure about the seam sealer at the moment. It'd be good to seal the area off but I might leave it open & remove the dash in a couple of years time again just to monitor the rust. If it looks good then, I'll seal it up.
I'll look around for a decent cavity wax to use as a sealer.

I'll also tackle the seam with the car sitting at around 45deg. Hopefully I won't end up with the engine/gearbox contents on the floor.

I'd consider also using rust converter but one has to remove the excess. That might be hard inside the seam.