Slight surface rust around window area.
 

hello,

On my 83sc, on each side of the window corner,
there is about 1" x 1/2" area of paint that has bubbled
away and I can visibly see some rust underneith.

Is there something I can apply to the surface and then recoat with touch-up paint?

I took it to a Porsche garage today and they suggested to cut the metal away, re-weld a new piece in there and then repaint....at a tune of "a couple thousand dollars".....is this insane?

Can I do this myself or do I really need a professional body shop?
Thanks.

Emmanuel, has the metal rusted all the way through? If not, you can try something like POR 15 or another rust inhibitor. If it's eaten through the metal, the only sure cure is to do like the shop said - cut the cancer out and weld in healthy metal. One of my summer projects will be to investigate some bubbling on the driver's side rear fender just below the window to prevent problems later on.

Emanuel

no, i dont think it's eaten through, just on the surface.

Emmanuel? Working on a rust problem in my '77 Dodge PowerWagon, I asked a neighbor who has a shop & paint booth out back of his place. He told me to go to NAPA, ask about a product called Rust Mort. You might want to check it out...used it before painting the floors of my old pickup, after some wire brush work. The product seems to work...POR 15 might be better though...I'm not sure.

Paul, I've heard recommendations for RM as well (some RROC members are fond of it). I thought of POR15 because it's an exposed, painted area, and I recall some board members saying it could be sanded and painted over like primer for a perfect finish. I can't recall hearing of Rust Mort used on an exterior surface, but if it works, I'd say give it a try as well.

Come to think of it - why is water sitting in those two areas? Does something need to be addressed with the seals before repairs are made?

Emanuel

Emanuel...sorry, but no advice on the seal thing. But Rust Mort? It's kind of a low toxic acid compund. You wire brush & sand the rust. Use a vac to suck everything up. Then use rust mort, and the rust just turns black, has been "killed". Atop that, you use primer and top coats as usual. Not a total sealer, like POR 15. More of a prep for a good looking finish thing...

I would try Naval Jelly first which eats rust to the good metal.

The products that paint over rust leave a rough finish and if the rust is deep it will just seal the top layer and flake off eventually again

I would also take the car to a Dent Pro type shop that specializes in dent removal or repair they are color matching experts and can finish or repair a small area for much less than a regular body shop that would need to respray the whole panel

Good chance your windshield seal is leaking in it's favorite spot to do so. Best thing you can do is have the windshield removed, you'll find the rust all the way up under the seal. A good shop will repair the rust and paint the entire cowl area surrounding the glass and reinstall the glass with a new (OEM) seal.