I am about to tear out my interior and replace the carpeting, upholstery, seat belts, and anything else I identify and can afford to replace. I know there is some surface rust on the floor so I am prepared to treat the floor before reassembly. My question is what does everyone think is the best plan?

First, I planned on removing the light rust with emery cloth/steel wool and touse a rust converter/primer.

What type of rust converter?

The next step is the unknown...

1. top coat with paint? I was thinking of rustoleum bush on outdoor paint for the top coat.

or

2. Brush on several layers of truck bed liner. The advantage of this would be durable and sound deadening, but I am concerned with the heat the floor is exposed to and how it will affect both top coats. Is this going to stink FOREVER!?

Any thoughts or experiences? Thanks!

 

Hey Batmobile, you ever try POR, it's hard as nails when it cures and you don't have to be very concerned about cleaning up the rust beforhand.

 

Personally, I'd use a wire wheel on a drill. You can take the surface down to clean. Now you're ready for what ever cleaner, then primer...uh....bed liner coating, (intresting idea ).
Fora cleaner, how about brake cleaner. Ya can wipe up any residue with a rag, and the remainging fluid evaporates away. Thus, clean!
Now, what ever paint or coating you use, you'll get better results in the end.

 

I used the wire wheel on a drill technique and then POR15. If the rust is light it won't take much to get it off and put a good coat of POR down. As Buckshot said you really don't have to de-rust if you prefer not to mess with it.

 

Buckshot has the right idea. Use POR-15, it's the best stuff out there.
I would also go to Homedepot and buy some frost king insulation for under your rugs.
The stuff works great and it's cheap.

 

Thanks to everyone for their opinion and for recommending POR-15!

 

if you decide on the por15 they have a web site if you want to do some research, cant remember the address but it should be easy to find.my 79had what looked like undercoating on the floors. i used paint remover to clean up the floors seemed to work better and cleaner then the wirewheel.

 

this is a bit off topic but if you are already working on the floor, i suggest insulation, old vettes can get real hot inside