You can get rust paint, which stops the rust from progressing any further. Basically, you remove what rust you can with a wire brush or file, paint it on, and then putty and paint over it.
Or, an angle grinder, and grind or cut off ALL the rust, then fabricate some repair panels, weld in, file, putty if necessary (or lead fill if you're old-school), sand, paint.
What sort of car is it? Some vehicles have rust repair panels already available (like sills, floor pans, quarter panels, etc), for a lot of classics (or some panels like sills or floor pans can be cut down and modified to fit a different car). Or, take him down to pick-a-part, or jollys, or somewhere like that, with a few tools, and he can remove the good parts he needs from another car. This is a great way to get interiors, and little clips that you always seem to lose at home, not just panels. One note for those places: NEVER LEAVE YOUR TOOLS, EVEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAR YOU ARE WORKING ON. KEEP THEM WITH YOU! But, having said that, they are great places to take cars apart.
PM me if you want, and I'm sure that DS16 can correspond via email with the Man on the topic. The Man has restored numerous cars, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind passing on some of his knowledge to another eager student.
Wow, you know your cars. He bough a HG Kingswood and wants to restore it from scratch. It has a good motor but that's about it. Interior needs to be fully done, he's got a transmission to put in so he's a got a lot of work to do but he's so excited and loves this car so much. Hun, he would have a million and one questions for your Man, I will PM you and thanks for the tips on the rust.
No worries Dianne. And compared to the Man, I know very little! As for the old HG, again, , cool choice. A good motor is about a good place to start as any. I bought my first car, a HQ Statesman, purely for its motor (I was going to put it into a panel van). Then I fell in love with the rest of the car! If he hasn't got one already, spoil DS with a HG manual, like a Gregory's or something like that. And, if he's truly in love with them, keep your eye out for original books and the like on ebay.
I'm pretty sure also that there are motor trimmers that will be able to re-trim the seats in original pattern vinyl/fabric. I know they do it for a lot of the old falcons (XK-XP), so I'm sure there would be some with Holden materials too.
He'd love to save the back seat, it's the original leather but has a few tears otherwise ok and apparently the roof has the original leather on it in perfect condition. A manual sounds like a great idea, thanks. He was quite impressed last night, he'd put some photos up on facebook and received two offers to buy it. This is going to be a great project for him.
Definitely a great project says the Man, and I agree. I just spoke with the Man, and he said that cos it's a HG, it needs him to come out and look at it, and he would love to spend a Saturday afternoon helping your DS with anything (I think he just misses having a project to work on, and we're not too far away yet). Also, he has a HG book that he would be more than happy to lend him, and that there is NOTHING you can't get for a HG.
Helle, I didn't want to scare Dianne with Rare Spares! They have everything an eager young (or old) enthusiast can wish for! (Unless of course you've got a mark 2 escort, then its make your own rust panels!) lol
Netix, you have made my boy super happy, he would love to show off his car and he needs all the help/advice he can get. He's been looking on e-bay just to see what's around, I'll give him that web site, thanks. He needs to start saving again before he can buy anything, the car only cost $500 but that was all he had. He wants to try his best and restore it to its original condition.
Any old car it seems (I'm talking 1960-1978ish, fords, holdens and chryslers), that you buy for under a few grand (at the very least) need major work, so unless he had about eight thousand to spend, he'd have to be doing work! And that eight thousand still wouldn't guarantee him a good car. $500 is a pretty good place to start.
Rare spares are a great place, unfortunately sometimes the people that work there don't know about old cars, its just a job (just like anywhere). So, if he goes to RS, I hope he can find someone passionate, or at the very least, knowledgable and willing to help.
Also, it'd be worth joining a car club, I'll talk to the Man, see which one he thinks would be best. Most clubs now are very family based, and you'll often see a bunch of kids piling out of cars at runs, or baby seats bolted in the back of old monaros and the like at car shows. They also love to share info, and sometimes you can come across parts that you need that can't find anywhere else, etc. And finally, when the HG is going, and he has his licence, I am positive that DS will love going on club cruises here there and everywhere, in a convoy of similar classics, turning heads, and getting waves and smiles.
I, and the Man, are more than happy to talk and work old cars, all day. Glad to share the love!
Removing rust
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No worries Dianne. And compared to the Man, I know very little! As for the old HG, again, 
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