I have bought a little project 2003 Ford Ka in Silver for next to nothing.  It's cost a few more quid to get through the MOT but really not much.  I had another project Ka a few years ago and managed to double my money on it, I'd like to do the same on this one!!  My question is that this has some bubbling of rust around the fuel cap which look rubbish.  I don't want to go to the expense of a panel respray, so I'm thinking of sanding the area back, fill, sand, etc and then leaving it with a few coats of grey primer, or am I better off just leaving it as bubbles?

 

The whole rest of the car will get a full detail and machine polish so it will look good.  I did this to the previous project and the person who bought it thought it has been resprayed!

 

Anyway, what do you think?

I think if you leave it as primer it'll rust again pretty quickly and grey primer always looks bad and is likely to put a buyer off.  If it is only a small area could you do it using a silver touch up or blend it in within the panel using some rattle cans?  The filler is circular so if you masked off a circular section and sprayed then cut it back in it might look OK.  Either that or do it at a swage line or sharper curve on the panel so it's less noticeable?

Edited 25 September, 201411 yr by skomaz

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-KA-RUST-RINGS-REPAIR-COVER-SCREEN-FUEL-FILLER-CAP-WIPER-SURROUND-HOLE-/251650682937?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&var=&hash=item3a978cb039

I would leave the rust bubbles, you could potentially open up a can of worms by attempting it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-KA-RUST-RINGS-REPAIR-COVER-SCREEN-FUEL-FILLER-CAP-WIPER-SURROUND-HOLE-/251650682937?pt=UK_Car_Parts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET&var=&hash=item3a978cb039

Think fubar found a solution there

I need to work out how much rust I actually have!!

 

Might do a repair and then if it looks naff cover it with one of those.

Leave it as it is, silver is a bugger to blend.

 

All Ford Ka's rust around the filler cap so yours won't be alone.

 

It shouldn't put off first time buyers looking for a bargain!

I like the Ebay rust Ring special, damn good idea.    My mate is always buying cheap Ka's and rejuvenating them,   they are also very easy to sell on to new young drivers.  I guess you have already found that out

I got a project car too! It's a micra k11 with 4 yrs of mods under the bonnet.... yes I know, it's a micra, but I gotta say the micra forum is full of great friendly people, as briskoda of course There is nothing quite as satisfying as sticking wide wheels on a shopping trolley and transplanting a 2.0 primera gti engine into something that weighs 800kg. It handles like a go kart. I even have a nodding dog in the back and it looks bog standard at a quick glance. I don't drive it fast as a rule, but I had a funny moment the other week when a lotus Elise driver wondered why he wasn't able to pull away and that's even in the bends..it's only a bit of fun, but no better car to surprise people in. Sleeper cars are great fun, and the best part, it cost me 500 quid!

I got a project car too! It's a micra k11 with 4 yrs of mods under the bonnet.... yes I know, it's a micra, but I gotta say the micra forum is full of great friendly people, as briskoda of course There is nothing quite as satisfying as sticking wide wheels on a shopping trolley and transplanting a 2.0 primera gti engine into something that weighs 800kg. It handles like a go kart. I even have a nodding dog in the back and it looks bog standard at a quick glance. I don't drive it fast as a rule, but I had a funny moment the other week when a lotus Elise driver wondered why he wasn't able to pull away and that's even in the bends..it's only a bit of fun, but no better car to surprise people in. Sleeper cars are great fun, and the best part, it cost me 500 quid!

Awesome. *runs off to see what I can do to a 1.3 auto*

What forum? I've got a couple (more) odd jobs to do on it.

Have to admit the thought of dropping an ST170 lump into it has passed my mind a few time, either that or an Focus RS!!

My mate loves his sport ka