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MG MGA - Pissed at myself

I'm pissed at myself. I haven't been good at covering the car during the off season.

As a result the grille and headlight rings are starting to have rust coming through the chrome.

I tried the "tinfoil" method but found it scratched the chrome. Does anyone have a suggestion solution?

Ultimately I'm going to have start replacing the various bits.
Tysen McCarthy

I have a mix of original chrome and new chrome pieces on my A. On the new pieces I use a "Blackfire" product to seal the surface & prevent rust thru or pitting; see here:

http://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-all-metal-sealant.html?productid=blackfire-all-metal-sealant&channelid=BIZRA

On the original chrome pieces which are somewhat worn and periodically show a bit of rust, I start with "Noxon 7 Metal Polish" and then finish with the Blackfire sealant; sealant lasts a long time; see here:

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1418968

I just do the cleaning & sealing once a year and even the original pieces continue to look good.
Nick Kopernik

Maybe its gone too far but you should just oil chrome with clean engine oil. Chrome it micro porous so it absorbs whatever is prevalent, moisture being the bad guy. Just wipe the oil over it a couple of times and it will get absorbed which you will see when you wash the car the water just falls off. Never use chrome cleaners as they are abrasive and while it looks good for a while it soon needs cleaning again so yet more abrasive. Clean engine oil is the way to go and no it doesn't attract dirt.

Regards
Alan
AR Terry

Before you "cover up" for the winter, just lightly spray all chrome with WD40...can be wiped off when summer arrives....works brilliantly.
Gary Lock

Better yet get one of these and put in a couple of damp rid containers. Comes out perfect in the spring. Mine has spent just about every winter in one since '86. Couple of times it has spent several years at a time in there. The brake disc's even come out shiny. But of course you have to put it in one first. http://www.carbag.com/products/carjacket
gary starr

Its a little too late on the prevention side. The pimpling has started. I need an interim solution until I can buy a new grille.
Tysen McCarthy

Tysen,
I stored my MGA in a leaky old garage that was always damp for about 8 years. It dripped water in through the roof.
I installed a transparent plastic tent inside the garage called an "Airchamber".
This is a simple un-heated frame tent but which has a couple of standard computer fans at one end and a small vent at the other.

The fans send a constant gentle flow of air over and beneath the car and and this prevents the formation of condensation on any part of the car. I used to keep the bonnet and boot open a little to let air flow everywhere around the car.
This works by keeping the temperature of the cars bodywork the same inside and out and so no condensation forms.

So the car is always dry and this is the secret of preventing rust forming. (apologies for using the "R" word)

The airchamber was so effective at keeping the car dry that I could drive the car into it wet and it would be completely dry by next morning.

I now have a new brick garage which is still un-heated but well ventilated and so I dont use the airchamber anymore.

I am though, still considering fitting a couple of tiny fans into the walls to increase the ventilation to the Airchamber standard.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

You can clean the chrome using a polyester pan scourer - use the ones that claim to be safe to use on non-stick. I moisten it with oil as others suggest.
It's hard enough to clean the rust off but won't damage the chrome.
Dan Smithers

Try using a phosphoric acid based material (Naval Jelly etc). Keep it off the paint.
The PA will passivate the iron and prevent it rusting, for a while.
Art Pearse

The best solution is to rub it down with fine steel wool, then seal it with your choice of chrome polish.
A Bowie

This thread was discussed between 10/05/2017 and 15/05/2017

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