Cleaning out inside of radiator support cross member

[wareagle]

What is the best way to accomplish this? There are the openings in the front that I want to take down to bare metal and paint.

[Greg'66 5.0]

It's tough to get everything out of an enclosed space like that. As long as there are two openings, what I do is put a shop vac hose at one opening and then use compressed air to blow in the other opening. The compressed air will stir up anything loose into a dust cloud, and the shop vac will suck it out before it settles. You can also make a think flexible extension for a shop vac using a piece of vinyl tubing. A little duct tape will attach it to the vacuum hose, then you can just stick the vinyl tube through an opening and kind of use it as a probe to hit all the hidden corners. You'll probably get all the loose stuff this way.

[wareagle]

Thanks Greg. Once I have all the crap cleaned out am thinking I will use something like this product to encapsulate the interior of the cross member

Eastwood Rust Encapsulator w/ext Nozzle Black

[Greg'66 5.0]

I've used the Rust Encapsulator and also the Interior Frame Coating - both seem to be good products. I used the frame coating in the front and rear frame rails and also inside the rockers.