Another Rusty Bed Question
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 547
Likes: 11
Wow, I thought I was looking at a pic of my truck bed at first. Nice color
Your bed is in very good shape. Those holes on the front wall look like they were drilled by someone, maybe to secure a toolbox.If you want to keep your bed rust-free after doing all the work then make certain you clean the area between the front edge of the bed floor and the front wall of the bed. This area provides drainage for water and if it's not kept clean...well, you can figure that out. Hit the area with compressed air or a high pressure washer.
Dennis
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 547
Likes: 11
Wow, I thought I was looking at a pic of my truck bed at first. Nice color Your bed is in very good shape. Those holes on the front wall look like they were drilled by someone, maybe to secure a toolbox.
If you want to keep your bed rust-free after doing all the work then make certain you clean the area between the front edge of the bed floor and the front wall of the bed. This area provides drainage for water and if it's not kept clean...well, you can figure that out. Hit the area with compressed air or a high pressure washer.
Dennis
Your bed is in very good shape. Those holes on the front wall look like they were drilled by someone, maybe to secure a toolbox.If you want to keep your bed rust-free after doing all the work then make certain you clean the area between the front edge of the bed floor and the front wall of the bed. This area provides drainage for water and if it's not kept clean...well, you can figure that out. Hit the area with compressed air or a high pressure washer.
Dennis
Here's the area that needs to be kept clean of debris.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 365
Likes: 13
Dang, I wish my bed looked as nice as that. lol I guess "very rusty" depends on where you're coming from.
I'd replace the front bit and POR15 the rest after hitting it with a wire wheel. Bed patch panels I have bought from LMC were thinner than the factory bed. You might consider cutting some bed floor out of a different year truck and use that.
Jess
I'd replace the front bit and POR15 the rest after hitting it with a wire wheel. Bed patch panels I have bought from LMC were thinner than the factory bed. You might consider cutting some bed floor out of a different year truck and use that.
Jess
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 2,766
Likes: 319
From: Mississippi
Dang, I wish my bed looked as nice as that. lol I guess "very rusty" depends on where you're coming from.
I'd replace the front bit and POR15 the rest after hitting it with a wire wheel. Bed patch panels I have bought from LMC were thinner than the factory bed. You might consider cutting some bed floor out of a different year truck and use that.
Jess
I'd replace the front bit and POR15 the rest after hitting it with a wire wheel. Bed patch panels I have bought from LMC were thinner than the factory bed. You might consider cutting some bed floor out of a different year truck and use that.
Jess
Mike
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 12
From: NW Indiana
Sandblast the bed floor. What ever rust you don't remove will grow in the pitting and you'll never know whats happening under the liner.
Blast it till it's white metal, prime with epoxy primer and topcoat with whatever.
Do NOT blast anything other than the floor.
Grind welds with regular disc and then use flap discs to get it smooth as you like.
If it's one of those don't care what it looks like after then by all means.....ignore my post.
Blast it till it's white metal, prime with epoxy primer and topcoat with whatever.
Do NOT blast anything other than the floor.
Grind welds with regular disc and then use flap discs to get it smooth as you like.
If it's one of those don't care what it looks like after then by all means.....ignore my post.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Dang, I wish my bed looked as nice as that. lol I guess "very rusty" depends on where you're coming from.
I'd replace the front bit and POR15 the rest after hitting it with a wire wheel. Bed patch panels I have bought from LMC were thinner than the factory bed. You might consider cutting some bed floor out of a different year truck and use that.
Jess
I'd replace the front bit and POR15 the rest after hitting it with a wire wheel. Bed patch panels I have bought from LMC were thinner than the factory bed. You might consider cutting some bed floor out of a different year truck and use that.
Jess
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,172
Likes: 101
From: darlington
your bed is in great shape,compared to what some of us have worked with,,,,,find a local sandblaster,clean it up and have those holes migged,easy fix,,,seriously
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 308
Likes: 27
From: Fallout Shelter
Sandblast the bed floor. What ever rust you don't remove will grow in the pitting and you'll never know whats happening under the liner.
Blast it till it's white metal, prime with epoxy primer and topcoat with whatever.
Do NOT blast anything other than the floor.
Grind welds with regular disc and then use flap discs to get it smooth as you like.
If it's one of those don't care what it looks like after then by all means.....ignore my post.
Blast it till it's white metal, prime with epoxy primer and topcoat with whatever.
Do NOT blast anything other than the floor.
Grind welds with regular disc and then use flap discs to get it smooth as you like.
If it's one of those don't care what it looks like after then by all means.....ignore my post.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Might as well throw my .02 in since I have a lot of experience with this type project. What this guy said is definitely the best way to prevent the rust from returning. But If you don't have access to A blaster or don't want the mess A close second is wire wheel (angle grinder) it as much as you can to bare metal then apply a product called OSPHO with a scotch brite pad or similar. It does a very good job of converting the left over rust to a blackish primer. Follow this up with a good epoxy primer and your all set. Been doing this for years even on frames with zero problems and when done right rust will definitely not return. Others may argue and I could care less....but I can tell you it definitely works when properly done.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 207
Likes: 1
Have you checked the cross member under the front of the bed? My bed was in OK shape, some rust holes, but the cross member was rusted out. Worth checking.
As mentioned, I have not seen replacement beds for shortbeds. I found that 1973-1994? I think shortbeds all had the same dimensions, so they can all work as donors for sheet metal. The problem, is that after '79 they changed the bolt holes spacing. Long story short, I used a '94 patch and front cross member, and had it welded in place. The front two bolts do not fit the frame now, and I will address that later. I figure 6/8 ain't bad for attachment.
I was a fairly new at this, and I derusted with a wire brush and used POR topcoat. If I had to do it again, I'd get a sandblaster. Yes it is more expensive, but the wire brush/chemical ways never work as well. IveI got a shameful nimbnu of hours spent cleaning parts with a wire brush, sandblasting is 100x faster and a better result .
As mentioned, I have not seen replacement beds for shortbeds. I found that 1973-1994? I think shortbeds all had the same dimensions, so they can all work as donors for sheet metal. The problem, is that after '79 they changed the bolt holes spacing. Long story short, I used a '94 patch and front cross member, and had it welded in place. The front two bolts do not fit the frame now, and I will address that later. I figure 6/8 ain't bad for attachment.
I was a fairly new at this, and I derusted with a wire brush and used POR topcoat. If I had to do it again, I'd get a sandblaster. Yes it is more expensive, but the wire brush/chemical ways never work as well. IveI got a shameful nimbnu of hours spent cleaning parts with a wire brush, sandblasting is 100x faster and a better result .
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Have you checked the cross member under the front of the bed? My bed was in OK shape, some rust holes, but the cross member was rusted out. Worth checking.
As mentioned, I have not seen replacement beds for shortbeds. I found that 1973-1994? I think shortbeds all had the same dimensions, so they can all work as donors for sheet metal. The problem, is that after '79 they changed the bolt holes spacing. Long story short, I used a '94 patch and front cross member, and had it welded in place. The front two bolts do not fit the frame now, and I will address that later. I figure 6/8 ain't bad for attachment.
I was a fairly new at this, and I derusted with a wire brush and used POR topcoat. If I had to do it again, I'd get a sandblaster. Yes it is more expensive, but the wire brush/chemical ways never work as well. IveI got a shameful nimbnu of hours spent cleaning parts with a wire brush, sandblasting is 100x faster and a better result .
As mentioned, I have not seen replacement beds for shortbeds. I found that 1973-1994? I think shortbeds all had the same dimensions, so they can all work as donors for sheet metal. The problem, is that after '79 they changed the bolt holes spacing. Long story short, I used a '94 patch and front cross member, and had it welded in place. The front two bolts do not fit the frame now, and I will address that later. I figure 6/8 ain't bad for attachment.
I was a fairly new at this, and I derusted with a wire brush and used POR topcoat. If I had to do it again, I'd get a sandblaster. Yes it is more expensive, but the wire brush/chemical ways never work as well. IveI got a shameful nimbnu of hours spent cleaning parts with a wire brush, sandblasting is 100x faster and a better result .
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 217
From: Northern VA
No need to replace this bed at all....yours is in solid condition!
I would wire wheel that rust off(top and underneath!), treat it with rust neutralizer acid, weld in small patches/plugs and paint with POR15 or chassis saver, finally you can have it rhino lined afterwards.
I would wire wheel that rust off(top and underneath!), treat it with rust neutralizer acid, weld in small patches/plugs and paint with POR15 or chassis saver, finally you can have it rhino lined afterwards.
