I bought a 71 Challenger convertible that sat for years stripped of paint and has lots of surface rust. I tried blasting the car which removed most rust but some panels are pitted and I'm sure there is still some rust in the pits.

What's the best way to handle this so rust doesn't comeback down the road. After blasting everything, I was going to spray the car with Eastwood Rust Encapsolator or Rust Bullit. Any other recommendations to insure the rust doesn't come back?

In this case, I think there is only one 'right' way to get the metal clean and that is to have the car dipped. Trying to seal the rust in is akin to putting a band aid on a gunshot wound.

I had a similar issue on Dad's 65 Barracuda, the previous owner had used a DA on it 30 years ago. It was horrible.

I used a Ditzler metal prep, that you mix with water and wipe it down. It turned the rusty metal a blue color, similar to metal that had a torch put to it. Rust was gone! I am not at home, but if you are interested, I will get the part number.

*edit* I did remove as much as possible, prior to using the stuff

LOts of metal prep and/or navel jelly and lots of hand scrubbing will remove the surface rust and neutralize the pits.

Then a good coat of epoxy or if it's really pitted a polyester primer.

Dip it, etch it and skim it!

Yep, that's a car to dip.

A**holes. I've seen this done to a '69 Charger and a Superbird. Sandblasted bare and left to rot.

PPG says "Metal treatment is not recommended or advisable on sandblasted metal." Anyone know why? This is the Ditzler metal prep referred to earlier. Here's a link: PPG DX treatments

maybe because fine particles of silica (sand) imbed themselves in the steel?

Just a thought, how about soda blasting the car.

Is it on the exterior, interior or both? If it is just outside sheetmetal I woul recommend Rust Blast from KBS products. I used it on my car after I made the mistake of having it soda blasted then it sat in a garage that was damp. I used the Rust Blast and a pressure washer and it came out great. After the product dries it leaves a zinc like cating that can be etch primed with any quality etch primer. I did mine and used their Rust Seal product and it worked great. This product will get down into those pits and get that rust out. Just my

I read in Mopars Collectors Guide ( Feb 05 ) a guy had a 67 Charger in the same condition. It had sat outside in Nebr. for 8 years and was completely coated. The guy did repeated applications of muriatic acid. It took off all the rust and left all the good metal unharmed and was cheap to boot. It "looked like white washed bare metal" was the quote. Hope this helps!