Well that looks excellent. Great job. Mine won't look anywhere near that good. My starting point was a lot worse, and I didn't want to sandblast anymore than I had too. I hate sandblasting.
My goal was really just to extend the life of the frame so that it lasts another 5-8 years. Since the factory paint was gone it was rusting away at an alarming speed. I figured at the rate it was going I'd have holes in the frame in 1-2 years.

Alex, remind me, and every spring after the road salt has punished it for 4 months I'll take a picture of it.

 

I got you Phil! The power of technology will remind me!
I love google...

 

Here is the last coat of paint for the frame.


I'm happy with the way it turned out.

I still have to prep and paint the skid plates, etc.

 

That's looking good. Personally, I've had good results with flap-discs, wire wheels, and sanding - but I know my show truck is getting the blast treatment this winter to really straighten things up once and for all. The OBS will probably get similar treatment too.

 

No, that is a F550 i restored a couple of years ago.

As for 2 products on each half of the frame, that would be pointless. the drivers side always gets it worse
The f550 before , during and after

 

Looks good man! Get some photos of the dirt catchers and places it rusts first then you can compare later.

Hell of a transformation Brad! Do you do this as a side business or just for funzies? hah

Also, why does the driver side get it worse? Is there something there that catches more than the passenger side?

 

man, those frames look good - i'm going to be checking back on this thread as i attempt to make mine look that good!

do you feel the paint penetrated into the crevices where the cross-members are riveted the frame rails? i'd think that'd be the first place rust would start again? or maybe the factory paint was still OK there?

 

No I don't think it penetrated between the parts that are riveted to the frame. The factory was gone but the decay in these areas wasn't even close to the worst areas. I'll be sure to get some pictures in those spots too for comparison later. If I were doing a full restoration, not just delaying the inevitable, I would have probably replaced the cross members and painted them before assembly.

The worst rust decay I found was where my DMI bumper hitch bolted to the frame and the rear-most cross member above the front fuel tank.

Brad is right about the driver side being worse, much worse. I don't know why, but its definitely true.

 

It is my hobby

The drivers side gets it worse due to the constant splash from opposing traffic

 

Do you still have all of the factory riveted on leaf spring mounts?
The PO had already replaced my rear mounts with some heavy duty bolt on ones. They have a nice drain hole and everything.

Awesome thanks for the info! Makes sense to me.

 

The front mounts are factory. I'm replacing the rear ones. The one's I bought do not have a drain hole. I thought about adding one though.

 

Look what the cat dragged in

 

I like new parts

 

Nice!! Superduty springs?

 

New parts are cool. I'm cuing up to buy SD springs myself.