71 Coupe Torsion Tube

[RD911T]

Working on putting suspension back together and was going to treat some surface rust at the front of the body. I hadn't finished removing the right torsion bar as it was stuck in the springplate. I got it out this morning and found some rust flakes in the bottom of the tube. Here are some pics I took:

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]


I think the pictures make it look more dramatic than it really is, but I need some help in figuring out how to treat it before I put it back together. I'm really intimidated by body work and such, so a step by step would be helpful. By the way, this is the right side. The left looks much better with only a few flakes of rust. On both sides the rust seems to be originating from the top of the torsion tube just inside the stop the spring plate bushing sits against. Visual inspection of the top of the torsion tube on the outside doesn't show any rust at all.

TIA,

Tom

[Dave Kost]

Looks like the rust is from the torsion bars not the torque tube. How does the torsion bars ?

[jpnovak]

This is pretty common. You need to vacuum out all the stuff and then wire brush it clean. I use a grill brush taped to an extension handle. Then you need to paint and/or seal the inside of the tube. Spray cold galvanizing works reasonably well.

Make sure you use a cup brush to clean out mating surface or the new bushings will not fit back in where the crud is built up on the lower portion of the opening. This is especially important with ER or RSR bushings.

[RD911T]

JP, thanks for the advice. I spent the day prepping what I could reach with the first two steps of the POR-15 process (Marine Clean & Metal Ready). I'm concerned that the POR-15 paint is too thick and will make for issues with the bushings fitting. I will plan to spay the inside of the tube with the Cold Galvanizing product.

[RD911T]

Dave, the torsion bars were well greased and not rusted at all. There was some corrosion at the top of the torsion tube, just inside the tube. The pics don't show it.

[jrsully]

who sells Cold Galvanizing spray.? Thx

[june82000]

Eastwood (among others) sells a POR-15 equivelent Rust Encapsulator with a 360 degree extension nozzle attachment for spraying enclosed areas like this. It's what you need.

Eastwood Rust Encapsulator w/ext Nozzle Black

[RD911T]

Sounds like I need to paint the areas I treated yesterday with a couple thin coats of Por-15 and get some of the Eastwood rust encapsulator to spray in the torsion tubes.

[june82000]

Originally Posted by RD911T

Sounds like I need to paint the areas I treated yesterday with a couple thin coats of Por-15 and get some of the Eastwood rust encapsulator to spray in the torsion tubes.

The only other thing I would add is to get a good stiff bristle brush in there first and then blow it out with compressed air before applying any paint, otherwise it will just flake off. A round steel brush on a pole similar to a stove pipe brush. You may have to get creative...

[Classic]

After painting mine I spayed techtyle (cavity wax) in the tube to lock out any moisture.

Just put a rag in the centre spines as you want then not to get coated, as said above.

[RD911T]

I didn't see anyone mention keeping stuff out of the splines, but that's a good suggestion. I got the Por-15 on last night. Looking for brush options to clean out the torsion tube before I spray it with the Eastwood rust encapsulator.

Where do I find the cavity wax? What kind of spraying equipment is needed?

[Classic]

Shop vac is what I used

[wayner]

If you can't find cavity wax, try a motorcycle shop for spray cans of chain wax (chain lube)

[RWebb]

would Fluid FIlm be a good substitute for cavity wax?

I'd also slide a stick or something in there to use as a marker to make sure your camera can see all the way to the center of the tube

[RD911T]

Shop vac is what I used

How did you spray it with a Shop Vac?

[Classic]

Looking for brush options to clean out the torsion tube before I spray it with the Eastwood rust encapsulator.

I used a shop vac to clean out the tube.

[Classic]

Tectyl 506

I attached a pressure pot to a cavity wand with one of the 360 degree spray nosils, and just played around with the pressure to get the spray pattern I wanted.

[RD911T]

Originally Posted by Classic

Looking for brush options to clean out the torsion tube before I spray it with the Eastwood rust encapsulator.

I used a shop vac to clean out the tube.

Got it, sorry I'm a little slow!

I don't have any spraying equipment. I wonder if I could attach the Eastwood wand that comes with the encapsulator to another spray canister?

[june82000]

Originally Posted by RD911T

Got it, sorry I'm a little slow!

I don't have any spraying equipment. I wonder if I could attach the Eastwood wand that comes with the encapsulator to another spray canister?

Maybe, depending on how proprietary they made the can design. Do you have a Harbor Freight store near you? You can probably find something to work for you there. If you're going to the effort, then I would still recommend using a brush before vacuuming out the tube.

[Classic]

You can buy it in a can, if you cover the splines, I guess you could try just bombing it in there, as I don't think they come with any substantial type of wand.