I just recently purchased a 1988 oldsmobile from a guest where my wife works. It is a really good deal. I bought the car for $600. He was an older man who only drove the car in the winter when he was here and parked it during the summer when he would go back to Iowa. I believe the car was parked in the sune during the summer months, and being originally painted black didn't exactly help either with the Arizona heat. So the clear is getting damaged on the trunk. But my main concern is the top. The sun ate through the clearcoat, paint and prime and is rusting the top. I believe it to be surface rust. I haven't really messed with it too much, but would like to start working on it. I am a 4year detailer at a local dealership so I know a little about body work. T he trunk I was going to wet sand down and buff what I could and have a friend shoot a couple coats of clear on it. But I have never had to deal with rust before. Is my mind heading the right way with my idea, or am I in over my head? I do understand the rust is like cancer how it spreads and whatnot. Should this idea work?

If it is surface rust ONLY, you can sand it, prime it and then use a surface filler putty. Wet sand, prime and paint. If it is through the metal, you cannot successfully sand it out, you will need to cut out and patch, bondo and then follow as above. If you do not get all the rust out, the paint will not hold.

So long as the rust hasn't eaten through then you should be albe to sand it smooth and use a rust converter on it then prime it for paint. Really what you might think of is painting the entire car so it all matches.

Thank you guys. I just went out and it doesn't appear to have gone through the metal. Like I said the rust is just on the top of the car. I went to auto zone and got a littl e jug of rust remover, and it came with a little scrub pad. Since I have the rest of the day off and most of tomorrow, I think I know what I am doing. The bottle said it is acidic, so I will have to watch it around the windows. Again thank you guys for the help.

Osphoric Acid is what used to be available, last I looked, I had heard it was no longer available?(health risk)?
Don't know of the replacement.
Did find Ospho, just not where to buy:
http://www.ospho.com/

Phosphoric Acid, Aluminum brightener, will etch metal

Ospho website says it is Phosphoric Acid.

ma0641, So you are saying don't use it?

ma0641, So you are saying don't use it?

Wrong, Strat! Do use it!
It is designed for exactly what the original post is looking to do: prep the lightly rusted surface for cleaning and priming, then paint.
Excerpt from Osho website (misspelling included):
"You do not have to remove tight rust. Merely remove loose paint and rust scale, dirt, oil, grease and other accumulations with a wire brush - apply a coat of OSPHO as it comes in the container - let dry overnight, then apply whatever paint system you desire."

Captain, I would use it, I was confirming ma0641 weather they were trying to say use it or not.
The stuff works great.

Read the label concerning the use and hazzards.