How to Fix Rusted Body Panels on a 1981 Chevy Blazer

Cars and trucks get rust for several reasons, usually from water or moisture. While rust on the body panels can be an eyesore, there is a more important reason for removing rust. The rust on the body panels can spread and worsen, leading to rust holes which can impair the structural integrity of the vehicle. At that point the door panels need to be replaced. Removing surface body rust on your Blazer should be a part of regular maintenance and can be accomplished easily with no specialized tools.

Things You'll Need

• Wire brush
• Lemon juice
• Borax
• Scrubbing pad
• Naval jelly
• Paper towel
• Work gloves

Instructions

1. Scrape off the surface rust with a wire brush.

2. Create a paste using a mixture of one part lemon juice and two parts borax. Use a paper towel to apply the paste to the rust on the truck. Wait 30 minutes and scrub off the rust with a scrubbing pad. Clean the door panels with dampened paper towels.

3. Put on work gloves. Apply naval jelly using a paper towel. Let the naval jelly sit on the rust for 10 minutes. Wipe away the rust on the panel with a damp paper towel. Naval jelly is very effective in removing rust because it contains phosphoric acid. It can be purchased from a hardware store.

References

• Metal Web News: A Primer on Rust
• Second Chance Garage: How to Install a Patch Panel to Restore a Rusty Quarter Panel