I have rust showing up in all the regular places (doors, quarter panels, around wheel wells). I think I would do more damage to the appearance if I tried to do body work and paint. Anyone know of a miracle product that will stop it now before it gets bad?

Sorry their is no miracle in this case. Grinding down to bare metal and painting is about the only solution. Where there are holes either weld in new metal or replace the panal.

Usually its cheaper to replace easy stuff like doors and front fenders. Rockers you have to weld.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

POR, (paint over rust) is a modern rust preventative paint. It is anhydrous, which means it cures in H2O. When cured it is very tough and it does encapsulate rust. It is difficult stuff to work with, very difficult to remove from any place you don't want it, including your fingers. It is limited in colors, black and silver, maybe white. The black POR is rated best to cover rust, but has no, make that none, no resistance to UV. So if it is in the light, it is soon ineffective and flakes off. Buy it in small cans, pour what you think you need in some throw away container, re-cap the container and keep it in the refridgerator, (better tell the wife). Here is a web site that tells you more. http://www.prp-porstore.com/

__________________
Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Go to a body material supply company. They have something you spray over existing rust to reduce it's spread until you can deal with it properly I have been told. My belief has always been that moisture seems to get under the factory primer and spreads the problem faster than most cars.

scrape off loose scale
kill the rust with naval jelly
when that's dry wire brush it again and paint over it with POR-15 or Rust Bullet(superior adhesion) give it 3 coats
sand and paint
rust stopped

Remember you have to get to both sides of the problem, literally, or it will continue

Frame rust, part out car

__________________
'02 BMW 325i
'85 300D 450k
'93 190E 2.6 170k(killed by tree)
'08 Ducati Hypermotard 1100S 6k
'06 Ducati S2R800 14k(sold)

I will see what products I can find and give it a shot.

Wire brush, rust dissolver, phosphoric acid wash, Rust bullet, prime, Paintscratch.com paint, and clear coat. But that's the easy way out.

Personally, I would roll up my sleeves and grind down to metal and do it right.
But, I HATE rust.