Topic: Hood latch restoration

[sparky65]

Trying to figure out how to restore the hood latch.  It is full of crud.  It doesn't look like it can come apart.     Right now I am soaking it in paint thinner hoping I can wash some of the grease sand mix out of it.  Don't know what to do with it after that.  Really need to clean the rust off of it some how.

[CharlesTurner]

The original finish was phosphate/oil.  To do it properly, you'll have to strip the part to bare metal and refinish.

[sparky65]

To do it properly, you'll have to strip the part to bare metal and refinish.

That's the part I am looking for advice on.  I could sand blast it but that's only going to fill the mechanism with more sand.  Maybe I can give it to my Dad to soda blast.  Soda blasting doesn't get the rust off very well but at least the soda will wash away with water.  Any other ideas?

[CharlesTurner]

You might try soaking it in Evaporust.

[sparky65]

Evaporust worked great.  Never tried the stuff before but it cleaned it up real well.  It operates much better now.