Revision as of 00:31, 19 November 2018

Like any steel-bodied car, the Datsun 1200 is prone to rust. Unlike the Datsun 1000, the body panels are not galvanized but only painted on the inside. Eventually rust will attack your car, sometimes from the inside out. This means that keeping the car's paint waxed -- though it will help -- will not prevent rust.

1 Rust Treatment Methods
2 Fender Corner Rust
3 Floor Rust
4 Engine
5 Battery Tray Rust
6 Water Box Rust
7 Fuel Tank Rust
8 Wheel Well Rust

Rust Treatment Methods

Rust treatment is not specific to the Datsun 1200, you treat it the same way as any other car. So look for rust treatment guides here: Rust Treatment google search

The best solution is cut the rust out and replace with sheet metal patches
The best treatment is POR15, perhaps

Fender Corner Rust

Floor Rust

Lift the front mats to examine the floors.
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Typical floor rust -- very common
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A lot of rust and a few holes
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Rust around the taillights is another area to inspect
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Bottom of suitcase full of rust & holes, [need] more new sheet [metal]
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More rust & holes
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Engine

Engine with water damage to the bores must be re-honed
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Battery Tray Rust

Grind it off, sand it down, and cover with primer paint
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Water Box Rust

The most common "hidden" rust problem is with the "water box" -- the part of the firewall/cowl where fresh air enters the cabin.

Discussion: ^POST water leaks

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See Firewall for how these panels fit together to form the 'box'.
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Water normally comes in though the air vents behind the bonnet, hits the baffle and runs down to a drain hole. If any part of the body in the area is rusted, water will instead leak down onto the fenders. You will only see this drain hole when a welded section is removed from inside the inner guard.
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