The 1991 Mazda Miata from which I am building the exo car has led a rough life. This was especially evident when I finished the chassis cleaning in part 5; quite a bit of surface rust was exposed. Usually, I would wait to address the rust during the fabrication process while fitting the roll cage. But I am building this car in a unique environment exposed to the elements. As a result, I addressed the rust on the chassis before proceeding.
Surface Rust on the NA Miata
The surface rust is present throughout the chassis, with a large patch on the firewall and additional spots throughout. When addressed early, surface rust isn’t a big deal, and numerous products will treat, seal, and/or reform the areas. However, I wanted to remove as much rust as possible before spraying a rust neutralizer on the areas.
Rust Removal
To remove the rust spots, I used several different-sized wire wheels and a drill. As you will see in the time lapse, I worked the areas with the wire wheels until they were smooth to the touch. During the removal, quite a bit of rust was released into the air, so I used a respirator and eye and ear protection. The removal process took around 2 hours in total.
Then, I used a leaf blower to remove any dust and debris the removal process deposited onto the chassis. Once clean, I applied rust-neutralizing spray paint to the entire chassis. I used a flat black from Ace Hardware to get the job done. The results turned out nicely.
Next
Is it finally time to plan and build the roll cage? Yes, but first, I must install a 220v outlet in the work area and set up the tube bender. The race season is also in full swing, so it will be around a week or two before I check in with additional exo car updates.
