Cab corners
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Cab corners
Got a nice solid 90' IDI 5 speed 4x4 about a month or so ago with 49,705 miles. It's rusty, but absolutely no rot anywhere. So I coated underneath with waste oil as I don't have time to paint it now; but eventually it'll see fresh paint all around. I didn't plan to drive the truck in the winter because of salt and what-not, but I might have to. I plan to coat the truck with possibly Krown or something again before next winter, but it seems the cab corners rot from the inside out? I noticed it on our 87' and 91' both did that. My question is how do I prevent it? I Know all the other spots that normally rot out sooner than others; like just forward of the pedals on the cab in that little crevice, and the core support. I'm confident that I can stop rot there, but these cab corners are making me a bit nervous, as it seems they rot from the inside out like I've said.
And, would it help to put full-length side-steps on it to "deflect" the salt a bit?
I also plan on driving this in the salt for maybe 3 years. After that I hope I'll have a winter truck.
I know a lot of you know your way around these trucks, so any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Matthew
And, would it help to put full-length side-steps on it to "deflect" the salt a bit?
I also plan on driving this in the salt for maybe 3 years. After that I hope I'll have a winter truck.
I know a lot of you know your way around these trucks, so any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Matthew
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,303
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From: NJ
Pull the interior panels and carpet/vinyl out and take a look. The rot from inside out because after 20-30 years all the dirt and such from inside accumulates there. Vacuum it out, blow it out with compressed air, knock any rust off, spray rust converting primer and paint. Once it has cured spray some WD40 or whatever down there for good measure. Just my thoughts, but every truck I've had the inside corners are full of dirt, over winter particularly it gets wet and holds moisture. Once you get a pinhole to the outside or starts bubbling up it rots that much faster.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
What ^^ He said, also, the rot from inside IS caused by the rain gutters on top of the cab leak, the water runs down the corners, ends up there, stays there and rots it out from the inside, same thing happened on my 94 F150. I siliconed the rain gutters from one end of the other, all the way down to the back window, and siliconed the top half of the back window seal.
I did this 3 years ago, and Krown the truck every year (it is only a winter beater, not used in summer) and truck still looks the same as did 3 years ago when I first got it. Rust completely stopped with the help of Krown.
What area are you in? If your anywhere near Ottawa, ON I can get you awesome deals on Krown as I use to work there, and I keep good contact with the owner.
I very very strongly recommend it.
As for protecting the cab from salt spray, running boards are the worst thing, as salt will get inbetween the rocker and running board. You can use them, but make brackets for them, that fully support them from the frame, and make sure they do not touch the cab, that be the best thing to do.
Along with long mudflaps front and back to protect rockers and cab corners, and rear box corners from holding in slush and salt.
I did this 3 years ago, and Krown the truck every year (it is only a winter beater, not used in summer) and truck still looks the same as did 3 years ago when I first got it. Rust completely stopped with the help of Krown.
What area are you in? If your anywhere near Ottawa, ON I can get you awesome deals on Krown as I use to work there, and I keep good contact with the owner.
I very very strongly recommend it.
As for protecting the cab from salt spray, running boards are the worst thing, as salt will get inbetween the rocker and running board. You can use them, but make brackets for them, that fully support them from the frame, and make sure they do not touch the cab, that be the best thing to do.
Along with long mudflaps front and back to protect rockers and cab corners, and rear box corners from holding in slush and salt.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I did a thread many years ago on winter maintenance you can do to help protect your truck, have a read through it.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...your-ford.html
Now I'd need to update that since I've changed alot of things to make it better, like I don't use that clear vinyl on the floor anymore, I use industrial floor rugs (like you see at the entrance of stores and malls) they have a rubber backing, and colored carpeted top, so looks nicer, and water doesn't go through.
And added chrome weights to my mudflaps to keep 'em straight even on highways to make sure salt and slush doesn't spray on my rockers/corners.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...your-ford.html
Now I'd need to update that since I've changed alot of things to make it better, like I don't use that clear vinyl on the floor anymore, I use industrial floor rugs (like you see at the entrance of stores and malls) they have a rubber backing, and colored carpeted top, so looks nicer, and water doesn't go through.
And added chrome weights to my mudflaps to keep 'em straight even on highways to make sure salt and slush doesn't spray on my rockers/corners.
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Wow thanks for the replies. This site never stops amazing me. First off, its a regular cab, and I'm in Mass. Never though about the dirt accumulating between the vinyl floor and cab. I'll definitely have to do that. And in hopes to make this thread useful to other members also; here's a thread on gutter rail sealer repair https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...al-repair.html
I don't think mine are leaking, but is there anyway I can tell other than visually inspecting it?
And can I use the Krown over waste oil? Also, I didn't remove most of the rust before I put the oil on because of time constraints, but should I've?
Thanks again
I don't think mine are leaking, but is there anyway I can tell other than visually inspecting it?
And can I use the Krown over waste oil? Also, I didn't remove most of the rust before I put the oil on because of time constraints, but should I've?
Thanks again
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
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From: Madison, WI
Sliding rear window, by any chance?
As for the drip rail seam sealer, you'd have to remove the interior trim to check, but then just spray or drip water along the rail, and see if it enters the inside of the cab. We thought we had a windshield (Safelite installed) leak. Took it into Safelite, they did this test (we already had the trim off on that side) and showed us how it was leaking through the drip rail.
I would DEF use something other than waste oil. Engine oil becomes acidic with usage; plus, it has god knows what suspended in it (the filter doesn't catch everything). Krown or Fluid Film would be good. I thought Krown was only available in Canada.
As for the drip rail seam sealer, you'd have to remove the interior trim to check, but then just spray or drip water along the rail, and see if it enters the inside of the cab. We thought we had a windshield (Safelite installed) leak. Took it into Safelite, they did this test (we already had the trim off on that side) and showed us how it was leaking through the drip rail.
I would DEF use something other than waste oil. Engine oil becomes acidic with usage; plus, it has god knows what suspended in it (the filter doesn't catch everything). Krown or Fluid Film would be good. I thought Krown was only available in Canada.
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Sliding rear window, by any chance?
As for the drip rail seam sealer, you'd have to remove the interior trim to check, but then just spray or drip water along the rail, and see if it enters the inside of the cab. We thought we had a windshield (Safelite installed) leak. Took it into Safelite, they did this test (we already had the trim off on that side) and showed us how it was leaking through the drip rail.
I would DEF use something other than waste oil. Engine oil becomes acidic with usage; plus, it has god knows what suspended in it (the filter doesn't catch everything). Krown or Fluid Film would be good. I thought Krown was only available in Canada.
As for the drip rail seam sealer, you'd have to remove the interior trim to check, but then just spray or drip water along the rail, and see if it enters the inside of the cab. We thought we had a windshield (Safelite installed) leak. Took it into Safelite, they did this test (we already had the trim off on that side) and showed us how it was leaking through the drip rail.
I would DEF use something other than waste oil. Engine oil becomes acidic with usage; plus, it has god knows what suspended in it (the filter doesn't catch everything). Krown or Fluid Film would be good. I thought Krown was only available in Canada.
I don't know if Krown isn't available in the US, I was just using it as an example as Fluid Film wasn't coming to mind at the time.
Thanks
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I didn't know either Krown made it's way to the States, but I do know you guys have Fluid Film, and honestly, it's just as good, and also need to be re-applied regularly. Krown is once a year (more on rust spots like I do), I imagine Fluid Film be about the same thing.
On my dads 89 F150 Custom (has no interior panels, it's right on the bare metal, we saw the water running down the back wall and sides, and the rain gutters looked fine, after siliconing them, no more water leaks.
Luckily we caught that one before it made any damage to the cab.
Does happen the rear window seal (slider or not) leaks, and gives the same results as leaky rain gutters.
When I first heard on this site about these leaky rain gutters about 4-5 years ago, the first thing I did was re-seal each of every one of my 10 Fords. And everytime I buy one, that's usually the very first thing I do to it.
On my dads 89 F150 Custom (has no interior panels, it's right on the bare metal, we saw the water running down the back wall and sides, and the rain gutters looked fine, after siliconing them, no more water leaks.
Luckily we caught that one before it made any damage to the cab.
Does happen the rear window seal (slider or not) leaks, and gives the same results as leaky rain gutters.
When I first heard on this site about these leaky rain gutters about 4-5 years ago, the first thing I did was re-seal each of every one of my 10 Fords. And everytime I buy one, that's usually the very first thing I do to it.
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Yes I'm definitely going to inspect the seal and test it to see if it's leaking. I think I'll just use caulking for a sealer until the truck gets a new paint job. Also, is there any way I can tell if water is in the cab corners or no? And if not, how could I get it out?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,476
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From: Madison, WI
You'd have to take the interior trim out and start nosing around. Shop vac with an adapter down to a small hose would get it out, or just shove some rags in there to soak it up.
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Ok thanks. I gotta shop vac so I'll need a right adapter for it. Thanks a lot you guys. Other than the above, I should be good to go.
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