I posted this on the sheetmetal forum, but thought i would see if it got more lookers here.

I'm asking for advise on how far to go tearing down the body on my 31 Sedan. I'd like to do a good restoration, but I'm not planning on making this a show car. There is some corrosioin on the inside of the sheet metal skins, especially beneath the window openings and at the bottom of the doors. The rust all seems to be on the surface and the metal is very sound. I can clean the visible rust easily enough, but the area behind the wood members is of concern. I have posted a couple of photos at http://bhheloeng.weebly.com/ under the tabs "Interior of Skins" and "Inside of Door Panels". My question is, should I take the body all the way down to the wood frame? That seems like a lot of work that will involve cutting metal. I was hoping to avoid that much disassembly. The wood is in very good condition, apart from the front roof rail and the very forward end of the right roof rail.
This is a new experience for me, so any advise is appreciated.
Thanks
Ralph

I would suggest spraying a conversion coating (converts rust to something else) into the confined areas as best you can and let it go at that. Obviously you can use the conversion coating on the exposed metal also.

Hello Ralph,

I always use a special grease, please check that link:
http://mike.british-cars.de/

http://mike.british-cars.de/rustprevention.htm

It is a special made grease, and it is really a messy dirty work to spray or blow it where it should be, but it works great. It does cover all rust, and if you know a bit about corrosion you know it will stop if it is covered from humid air, and the grease covers it completely, so it will stop to rust more. And in a hot summer park the car in full sun and the heat will melt the grease and it will begin to "crawl" again and you will never again have any problems with corrosion. Before the Chevy I had a split-window VW-Bus T1, and it had a lot of corrosion. I did weld everything and after welding I did spray the "Sander"-grease, this was in 1992, and I did drive the bus all the time, even in winter on salty streets, and from 1992 to 2008 when I sold it I never again had a problem with corrosion. OK, after a hot summer day it might happen that the grease "crawls" out at a hole ore anywehere else where the parts of the body are fixed together, but mainly a drop of grease can be wiped off, but rust cannot...
If you are interested and there are any problems to ship the stuff to US, maybe I can help you.
Feel free to ask more...

Stefan

Well Ralph, your car passed the smile test -- when I opened your page, I smiled. Sorry can't offer anycorrosion advice but I like your car. :-)

Thanks for the suggestions Chipper and Stefan. I will probably go with the conversion coating. I understand it works really well.

Thanks also for the comments on the car Jim. I've about got it torn down enough to take the engine out and the body off the frame. I've found another free web page site that I'm using now that you can post unlimited photos. Here it is if you care to take a look now and again as the project progresses slowly: http://31chevyproject.shutterfly.com/
I like the narative on your site and I think I will do that also. My sedan was purchased by my Grandfather new in 31. It's been in the family ever since.

Thanks again :)
Ralph