Wow, Those running boards are sweet!
Julie i was thinking about dragging a anode behind the truck when it rained LOL

 

Were did you get the long ones in the bottom pic. DON ?

 

Don't laught Bob. I have 4 "zincs" on my truck and they work like a charm!

(everyone else is saying "what?) LOL

 

Did you get your zincs at just a local boat shop? Also I'm going to spray bottom of step plates with plasti coat to be sure i get no alum. to iron contact, Can't hurt.

Plasti Dip Protective Coating Products | Synthetic Rubber Dip Coating

 

Having been in the marine business I can tell you zinc plates are expensive and I also am dubious about their effectiveness in this kind of application.

In a vessel, corrosion is caused by electrolysis that is the reaction of the steel with the salt water creates an electric current which will cause the steel to corrode or rust. A zinc plates will corrode before the steel so it acts as a "sacrificial metal" It corrodes first leaving the steel protected.

Another way to fight the electrolysis is by passing a low voltage current through the steel. This is called cathartic protection.

But back at a Ford Trucks, since it isn't dipped in salt water I can't see how zinc would help. Also, "pot metal" was used for automobile ornaments and pot metal is zinc. If it was a rust preventative, the ornaments and medallions would have corroded. Not that they didn’t corrode but not because of the electrolysis.

As several others have said, don't let miss-matched metals contact each other or you have created a battery and therefore corrosion. As Julie suggested, I would use nylon washers to isolate the aluminum from the steel.

 

LOL, I was being sarcastic with boaterbob about the zincs.

(Not that these trucks don't drive like a battleship sometimes though)

 

That'll teach me. Never trust a women from San Diego! I think all that sunshine makes them way to crafty.

 

I made them

 

Make me some !!!!! no joke !!!

 

Hi Don,
I'm looking into step plates for my truck and like both the single plates that you removed AND your new ones in the picture on the right. Please let me know where you purchased the new ones so I can see better pics of the product and find out cost. Also, please let me know if you have the old ones still. Thanks! George famouscarz@att.net

 

D'oooooh! Must not have had enough sleep... just saw the note about your craftsmanship. Nice work!