Fiero Spindle MINUS Rust

Well after about 6 hours in the electrolysis bucket, here are the photos of the spindle and the brake bracket (couldn't get it off). I don't think the pictures really give the viewer a sense off how much rust was removed. About the only places on the part where some rust still existed, was in crevices and deep bends. All in all I'm very satisfied with the results and will to continue to use this method when needed. I have already gotten a bigger container to "dip" the parts into and also I have another 10 amp battery charger to be used with the 6 amp one that I experimented with to do this part.

Removing Rust From The Fiero Spindle

After removing the hub/rotor and the brake dust shield from the spindle, I was ready to submerse it in the electrolysis bath. I'm going to give it 2 hours in the "electron dip" and take it out and see how well the process works. I'm going to get a bigger (about 6 gallon container) to do other parts. The 2.5 gallon bucket that I'm currently using (see photos below) will only work with smaller parts.

Rust-B-Gone

How do you get rust and I mean LOTS of rust off old car parts?

Answer: Electrolysis

My son and I are going to build an electrolysis tank and try out the method on the rusty Fiero spindle that I just got in the mail. I'll have to try and see if I can get the hub and rotor off along with the bearings before I dunk the spindle and later the hub/rotor into the electrolysis tank.

Pictures of our setup promised in the near future.

I've included some links below on the electrolysis process:

http://antique-engines.com/electrol.asp

http://vortx.chockymonster.co.uk/content/view/18/39/

http://www.bhi.co.uk/hints/rust.htm

http://www.holzwerken.de/museum/links/electrolysis_explanation.phtml

All these links and probably some more were gathered from Locostbuilders.co.uk forum and this particular topic is one of the top read and responded ones in the entire forum.

http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=9158&page=1

Chemical name for 'washing soda' is Sodium Carbonate, clear or whitish crystals used to 'soften' water. Should be obtainable from your local grocery or drug store.

Online Suspension Geometry Calculator

Check out this online suspension geometry calculator from Racing Aspirations that allows you to see in real time the camber changes of the wheel during bump and droop. A very well done and useful tool.

Gentlemen, start your engines.....

After a few months, O.K. more than a few months, about 12-14 months actually I have been in the pre-design (dreaming) mode and I have finally decided to move forward in 2007 to begin building Neo.

What is Neo? Neo is the name I have given to my future creation. It is a Locost type car that is based on a mid-engine placement versus the usual and typical front engine placement. I plan on using a front-wheel drive Dodge/Plymouth Neon 1st generation donor car to help build the Neo. I plan on using the Neon's engine/transmission (manual), front spindles, front brakes, pedals, instrument cluster, wheels (at first) and any other parts that ae usuable in my build.

Neo means "new" and I would like the help of the North American Locost community to put together a decent reproducible design for a midde (mid-engine) Locost car since there are so many more available FWD donor cars in North America that it makes sense to have a car design like the one I am creating.

So just as the announcer starts the race by broadcasting over the loudspeakers "Gentlemen, start your engines", I'm announcing to the Internet my intentions of starting my Neo project.