What to do about a rusty frame?

[strantor]

How about some pictures?

One man's surface rust is another man's catastrophe. Pictures should show others what you have.

This is bad for a TX truck but I've been out of the state a time or two so I know they can get much worse and still be considered "fine" by loads of people. I'm just not one of them.

 

[strantor]

I decided halfass is better than noass. made up my mind today to just go ahead and put the truck back up on Jack stands, pressure wash, spray with ospho, and paint with rustoleum professional flat black, whatever we can reach. The most complete solution we can achieve short of taking the cab off. I stopped on the way home today and got the paint and some spray bottles for the ospho but they didn't have ospho at home depot or tractor supply. I will try ace hardware tomorrow.

 

[ponytug]

Sounds like a plan.

(If it were me, I would have my long hair tied back to keep it away from a drill...preferably tucked down the hoodie with the hoodie drawstrings out of the way, but that's just me.)

And yes, that's a lot of surface rust in my book. Parked on a swampy area for years?

All the best,

Peter

 

[strantor]

Sounds like a plan.

(If it were me, I would have my long hair tied back to keep it away from a drill...preferably tucked down the hoodie with the hoodie drawstrings out of the way, but that's just me.)

Good call. It's not something I've ever had to think about so I failed to recognize it as a safety issue. I will make sure and address it.

And yes, that's a lot of surface rust in my book. Parked on a swampy area for years?

All the best,

Peter

Previous owner was my dad. He had it parked under a tree outside San Antonio for the past 10 years, not a swampy area. Much dryer than here by the gulf coast where I live. Before that it was owned by an old man who kept it garaged.

 

[ponytug]

Previous owner was my dad. He had it parked under a tree outside San Antonio for the past 10 years, not a swampy area. Much dryer than here by the gulf coast where I live. Before that it was owned by an old man who kept it garaged.

Well, live and learn. Never would have guessed.

I hope that the restoration goes well.

All the best,

Peter

 

[xrjohndeere]

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This is bad for a TX truck but I've been out of the state a time or two so I know they can get much worse and still be considered "fine" by loads of people. I'm just not one of them.

Hose off the loose stuff and paint POR 15 on it. POR is some very durable stuff. I have used it and you can beat it with a hammer and barely scuff it. It is made to go directly over rust. Take the cab bolts loose and barely jack up the cab and you can get to the top of the frame. A half gallon would be plenty. It is thin and gets every where but it makes a nice protective coating. Nice to see a young girl working on her ride. Teaches pride of ownership. Good luck with the project.

 

[MossRoad]

Nice to see a young person working on a vehicle!

And yes, put that hair up in a ponytail, then bun, and a hat, around moving machinery. Even hand tools. I've had long hair all my life, but I got it cut a lot shorter and tied it back when I started working around moving machinery. Had to watch both my girls when they were young as theirs was down past their knees. You don't think about it, but a go-kart ride could result in a scalping. Anyhow, enough of that. You're aware now.

Good plan of attack on the rust. After you do that, it'll last for years.

 

[strantor]

Hose off the loose stuff and paint POR 15 on it. POR is some very durable stuff. I have used it and you can beat it with a hammer and barely scuff it. It is made to go directly over rust. Take the cab bolts loose and barely jack up the cab and you can get to the top of the frame. A half gallon would be plenty. It is thin and gets every where but it makes a nice protective coating.

I saw the reviews on that stuff, it looked really good but spendy. I assumed it would take a couple gallons. Maybe will use that instead, not sure if I can return the paint I bought. So no ospho first? Just por15 directly over red rust?

Nice to see a young girl working on her ride. Teaches pride of ownership. Good luck with the project.

She has really surprised me. This isn't the truck she wanted (she wanted a big lifted one) but I had prepared her for an even bigger disappointment; something like a 15 y/o Ford focus or a Toyota corolla. Since It's at least a truck she digs it. She's never been interested in what I do out in the workshop and I haven't seen her this eager to do anything resembling work before. She's done as much work on it as I have, been right there by my side whole time. I was expecting she would wash it, vacuum the interior, and then pester me about when it's going to be ready. But no, she actually mentioned considering this as a trade.

 

[dodge man]

From the pics it looks pretty good to me, I’ve seen a lot worse. It’s nice you got your daughter to work on the project. Mine wanted nothing to do with working on cars.

 

[Egon]

I decided halfass is better than noass. made up my mind today to just go ahead and put the truck back up on Jack stands, pressure wash, spray with ospho, and paint with rustoleum professional flat black, whatever we can reach. The most complete solution we can achieve short of taking the cab off. I stopped on the way home today and got the paint and some spray bottles for the ospho but they didn't have ospho at home depot or tractor supply. I will try ace hardware tomorrow.

Some of this should do for a phosphate replacement.I have used a product that dairies used to clean their milk lines. It contained phosphoric acid and was reasonably priced. I can’t get it anymore.

 

[strantor]

Just paid $130 for 2 quarts of POR15. Only in my younger years when I paid for liquor by the shot with a tip, did I ever pay so much for any kind of fluid per volume. Sure hope Home Depot accepts returns on unopened paint or else I'll have to wait for payday to get brushes to apply the stuff!

 

[jjeff]

Just paid $130 for 2 quarts of POR15. Only in my younger years when I paid for liquor by the shot with a tip, did I ever pay so much for any kind of fluid per volume. Sure hope Home Depot accepts returns on unopened paint or else I'll have to wait for payday to get brushes to apply the stuff!

Curious, can por15 be thinned and sprayed?

 

[strantor]

Curious, can por15 be thinned and sprayed?

Good question. I probably should have thought to ask it before I left the paint store.

 

[crashz]

That frame is like brand new for a truck in NH!

But its a good time to clean it up, paint and seal it. I like to knock the big stuff off with a wire wheel or something first. I used POR15 on my fathers truck and just didn't have a very good surface for it to adhere (left some of the factory undercoating on). It peeled off in a few years.

I have had great luck with Fluid Film. It does soak into porous rust and stop the rusting process. It also wicks into crevices that you cannot see. That wicking nature actually makes it a good penetrating oil too. But that might be over-kill for TX and there are some downsides. 1) It smells like sheep since its lanolin. The smell sticks around for a while too. 2) It makes the entire underside greasy, which is the point. But if you have to follow up with any chassis work, it can get sloppy. 3) It attracts dirt and dust. I routinely pressure wash and re-apply. 4) It doesn't last forever, so annual or every two year applications are needed here in the rust belt.

 

[Rockbadchild]

just oil spray it (rust check) do it every year and it will slow the rust right down.

 

[DK35vince]

just oil spray it (rust check) do it every year and it will slow the rust right down.

Thats what I would do, spray it with oil or Fluid Film.
Fast, easy and will nearly stop the rust.

 

[xrjohndeere]

I saw the reviews on that stuff, it looked really good but spendy. I assumed it would take a couple gallons. Maybe will use that instead, not sure if I can return the paint I bought. So no ospho first? Just por15 directly over red rust?

She has really surprised me. This isn't the truck she wanted (she wanted a big lifted one) but I had prepared her for an even bigger disappointment; something like a 15 y/o Ford focus or a Toyota corolla. Since It's at least a truck she digs it. She's never been interested in what I do out in the workshop and I haven't seen her this eager to do anything resembling work before. She's done as much work on it as I have, been right there by my side whole time. I was expecting she would wash it, vacuum the interior, and then pester me about when it's going to be ready. But no, she actually mentioned considering this as a trade.

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Just power wash the loose rust flakes and dirt. Let dry and go directly over rust. No need for anything else. It’s good for the rear axle housing too. Anything rusty. Back in my younger days I installed a 350 v8 in a 4 wheel drive s10 I had. I made all my own adapters and mounts. Built the engine and my brother built the transmission. I used a factory serpentine belt system and made it all look factory. It was a sleeper.

 

[xrjohndeere]

Just paid $130 for 2 quarts of POR15. Only in my younger years when I paid for liquor by the shot with a tip, did I ever pay so much for any kind of fluid per volume. Sure hope Home Depot accepts returns on unopened paint or else I'll have to wait for payday to get brushes to apply the stuff!

Open one quart at a time. If one quart does what you need take the rest back. Once it is open it has a shelf life. Use plastic wrap between lid and paint can. Lid stuck with dried POR will not come off.

 

[Boss 302]

POR-15, it's a solution to your situation.

 

[oosik]

The entire frame and underbody on my 2018 Ram Power Wagon is coated with LineX undercoating. Came from the factory that way. So far no rust. Forty years out here and I've never seen frame or body rust. It has a LOT to do with our very dry climate.