hey there, I was just wondering if any of you have ever had a cross member replaced on account of rust. everything on the truck is solid, main frame and all cross members except for one holding the fuel tank in the rear. There is plenty of metal left, but it is severly pitted and starting to flake. Does anyone know what this would cost?

Captain Tim Bland
1986 F150 SWB 4WD
300 I6 1bbl
3.08's
NP 205
four speed

 

Hi, could be someone had bags of salt in the back of the truck???that is the only thing I can think of that might cause just that crossmember to rust. John

 

This past summer, I did a major rehab on our '85 F250. Part of it included removing the bed to redo the frame, fuel and brake lines, gas tanks and such. Although the frame rails were in excellent shape, I noticed the cross members aft of the cab were severely pitted and flaking but still had plenty of steel left. Two brackets that help support the cross member (just in front of axle) and also holds the mid-ship gas tank strap were almost non-existent (don't know how the gas tank didn't fall out). Called Ford and they had both brackets in stock for about $37 each. They also had the cross members but were a bit more $. I just took a needle gun then sandblasted the remaining cross members and frame rails and brushed on 3 coats of some leaded Everseal on it. The truck looked great with the frame painted that glossy military gray- I almost hated to put the bed back on.
...Or you could just clean up the loose rust and brush on that POR-15 every one is talking about.
Just thought I'd share my long-winded experience on this subject.

 

Thanks very much for the response...that's just the info I needed...I did not know ford sold crossmembers like that. I plan to do the project this summer...remove the bed and restore the frame from the rear cab mounts back. I just wanted to make sure those parts were available. Thanks again

Captain Tim Bland
1986 F150 SWB 4WD
300 I6 1bbl
3.08's
NP205
four speed

 

Tim- interesting to see other cross member problems, I thought I was alone on that one. Had to replace the first one after the cab, used one cut from a wrecked truck in the salvage yard. I had always assumed the fault was mine from driving so long with headers and extensions that ended just before that piece of the frame, my exhaust was blowing on that part of the truck. Are the exhaust gasses corrosive, or is it just that stuff rusts faster with the added heat? My rear shocks work fine, but I noticed paint doesn't last on them either. I wonder if I am blasting them as well? DF

 

Rust is the main reason I chose to graft the rear half of a F-350 frame onto my truck. The rear one was especially rusted along with the frame rail where it was attached. My spring hangers were also in pretty sad shape. I think it is just the poor quality of metal used in these components. It used to be that the body of a truck would go long before the frame, now it seems to be the other way around.

DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.

 

Thats the same crossmember needing attention in my truck....the one after the cab mounts....my truck is bone stock and has never had headers or anything. Luckily, I won't have to mess with the frame rails as they are solid. What do you guys recommend I coat the frame with when I'm done?

Captain Tim Bland
1986 F150 SWB 4WD
300 I6 1bbl
3.08s
NP 205
four speed

 

Cap, try doing a search on the bodywork forum. Search for something called POR-15. It seems like the way to go and with less work but a few more dollars.
Skippy

 

I have very good results with Rustoleum Rusty Metal Primer.
You can buy this by the quart, gallon, or spray can. It
really works good to stop the rust and is easy to buy at
the local stores. After this is applied you can top coat
with regular paint or I use undercoating in a spray can.
I know my 1980 is rusty because it's the vehicle that I
drive in the salt all winter. I even had to replace the
plate that the u-bolts go through to hold the axle on.
When I bought my truck for $300 it needed alot of work.
A guy told me I had one of those "happy" trucks. The panels
were so rusted, they waved at everyone as I went by.