I've been kicking around the idea to just have my truck undercoated with linex at the local truck outfitter, its only going to be about $350 but the thing is I dont have that kind of money right now. Plus my truck is an '87 and has cab corner rot, floor boards have already been replaced and will need to be replaced AGAIN soon, bed fenders are rotting too but not too bad yet. Theres a small hole right behind the drivers side reaf leaf spring shackle too.

Last summer (2010) I grinded down as much of the frame and under side as I could with wire wheels on a power drill then spray painted everything with rustolem. Half the frame is already rusted up again and needs some attention ASAP before it gets cancerous.

My question is should I go ahead and have it linexed or just grind it down again and paint it with rustolem, and if I do that, what is people's opinions on sand blasting? I know its bad to do it around the gas tanks because of static build up and could ignite my fuel (fire=bad day).

I read some other articles on here about possibly painting it with used oil, ATF, diesel, linseed oil, etc. My only problems with anything like that is on hot summer days it drips on the driveway then it would get tracked through the house (my dad experienced this when he had his old van sprayed with greese).

So my question is, what should I do? Linex? Rustolem? Oil/diesel/linseed oil?

 

Grind yourself down and use the right stuff this time.... buy a can of Por15 or Chassis Saver off the internet and cover yourself up with that. It will last WAY LONGER!

 

Thanks, I'll look into it. How much will I need? I got a standard cab and 8 foot bed

 

I used the Chassis Saver on mine, and brushed it in spots where I could not spray. After applying two coats of the Chassis Saver, I applied one coat of black Rustoleum. I also used some black Epoxy Primer in spots where I could spray. I've read that the epoxy primer is just as good or better, and the quality body shops use it as well.
Here is a link;
http://www.southernpolyurethanes.com/index.htm
or here;
Product Lines

 

spend the $100 and get a gallon. if you keep the extra covered up good you can use it on the outside of gas tanks, under side of the bed, total under carriage, and other nooks and crannys like under the carpet inside your bed. the chassis saver hardens when it hits air or moisture... can't remember which... so keep the extra sealed up tight or under syran rap...

 

chassis saver can be thinned an sprayed on with an air gun to if you do it right...

 

ok thanks, sounds like a great product, I def want to do the total undercarriage and inside the cab when I go to replace the floor boards

 

spray your undercarriage with the thickest motor oil you can find.

its the easiest and best way to stop rust. oil based paint will do it also, but the prep work is insane (cleaning etc). put oil in a spray bottle, go to town once every 3 months and douse it. 15 min job for the best results.

 

Ive seen that done too.
Wait for a dry day
Spray the bottom of the truck, then find a dirt road that's really dusty and drive it like ya stole it to get the dust into the oil. Less drips off that way.

 

not to grind on you two but hmm...

Lets add it up...

guessing you use about 1qt for this every 3 months...

1 qt of super tech (wal-mart 20w50) = $3 minimum

$3 x 4 (12 months/3month intervals=4) = $12/year in oil to cover...

My way:
1.) pull the bed (cost = new bolts $20)
2.) power wash underside of bed and chassis ($1-$10 depending if you own a power washer)
3.) let dry and drink a few beers ($2-$5 depending on beer)
4.) coat underneath with chassis saver (1gal: $84 + $15 S&H = $99)
5.) reassemble and forget about it for 10+ years! ($0)

Total = $130ish plus some time...

Cons of my way: It would take 10.833 years to overcome the inital cost vs the oil method. IF, it only cost you $3/qt and IF you only use 1qt per application...

Pros:
Do it once and forget about it for many many many years.
Beds off to do other maintence items... bonus...
Top of gas tanks sealed with under coating...
No oily coating on everything when you need to work on your truck
No reapplication every 3 months
Lets face it... it also just looks better!
Increases resale value to next owner if ever you sell it

 

I like your thinking. I absolutely hate to work on a filthy vehicle. I try to clean my vehicles before and after every time I work on them for anything. Besides, if they are already clean you can see if, when, and where they develop any leaks. Oh yeah, and the beers don't hurt either.

 

beers are usually an addition I make to any project... (I brew my own beer at home!)

 

Sounds like a good plan. Next time i get some money I'll start buying what i need and take a weekend and get er done. Drinking beer while I'm working on the truck usually turns into more beers and less work, if you know what I mean. haha

 

If you want to stop it forever chassis saver or similar. If you want to coat it with an oil and basically not have to worry about it for a long time-buy a product called fluid film. It is not motor oil, its some kinda thick, nasty greasy kinda of product you can spray on and it will not come off without some kinda of assistance. I coated all kinds of stuff with it, no rust.

OR

Go to home cheapo, buy some rustoleum rust converting paint and a few cans of satin black paint. Clean off as much rust as you can by hand, then spray the rust converter on, then wait and spray on the satin. I did this to a severely rusted toyota frame and maybe 1 small spot of surface rust come back.

 

Its interesting to me to hear the conflicting results of using rustoleum.

I have been cleaning my frame, and front and rear diffs, and was going to blast some tremclad on them, but if the rust comes back fairly soon, I might just save my bucks!

My truck sees nothing but gravel, so chassis saver, as well as por 15 I believe would just get ripped right off.


I dont mean to hijack either!