I have cut the bed bolts on my 2007 with a rotten box in preparation for a swap with a 2013 bed. Once i have the old bed lifted off, is there any maintenance I should do now while access is easy?

Truck has 175k miles and had a sander/salt spreader in the back before I got it. I was going to hit the frame with a knotted wire wheel and throw on some rustoleum Rust Reformer wherever practical. Top off with some Ag enamel paint.

I do have new driveshaft u-joints. I figured this is the time to put them on. Anything else?

Is there something I should do to the bottom of the new bed to make it last longer? It is rust free at this time.

Mike

 

Rust reformer alters the rust, doesn't stop the base metal or the adjacent areas from rusting.

Wire brush everything you can, rails, axle, everything.
Spray it down with Purple Power or Super Clean, scrub where you can to get it clean and grease free, rinse it off until it stops sheding suds. let it dry
Next hit it with Phosphoric Acid, keep it wet for 30-45 minutes with the acid, then wash it off and let it dry, wire brush it to knock off the white crusties that will form
Now paint it with Chassis Saver from Magnet Paint. Seals the bejesus out of the metal. Works best if you get it right on raw metal that's been acid cleaned. Expensive (90/gal) but worth it

 

While you are there I would check the winch for the spare tire - if it was a salt spreader I suspect that the winch could also be on its last legs. I would also use the opportunity to at least replace the primary brake line that runs along the driver's side frame rail since it is a lot easier to get to with the bed removed.

 

I have no idea where I could buy a gallon of phosphoric acid. I will look around. I do have a pressure washer and a gallon of purple power. I will look into Chassis Saver. Thanks.

 

Good point. I found the winch was jacked several months ago. I dropped it, cleaned and greased it. All is well with it now.

I will definitely inspect the brake lines. Good call. Thanks.

 

Fuel pump sensing unit/gas filler and vent hoses rot away/vent lines from gas tank to frame rail connections also rot away/dirt buildup on rear shock mounts to frame (no drain holes so it rots through the frame)
for the gas filler vent hose use 5/8" marine boat gas line, its a perfect fit

 

Phosphoric acid is found in the paint area of HD, Lowes, Menards, any good hardware. Its used to clean and prep metals and concrete for paint. Left on wet for time and it will eat rust away and etch the base metal without removing much at all, unlike Muratic (weak hydrochloric) which can do the same job, but its wayyyy faster and alot more dangerous fumes and chances to get it on yourself or splashed on your skin or worse in your face when rinsing it away. We've used the phosphoric trick for years and it works really well.

Chassis saver is a hydroscopic urethane paint, it hardens when exposed to moisture in the air. Always pour out a little paint into another cup and put like a 1/2 an ounce of thinner back in the can to cover and protect the paint from air exposure. I will warn you ahead: It is IMPOSSIBLE to not destroy the lid of the chassis saver can when you remove it for the first time. Sooooo buy a gallon paint can and lid when you get the acid, and when you open the chassis saver pour the can into the new can with the nice sealable lid, but before sealing it, lay saran wrap or a plastic trash bag over the can then bang down the lid. If you don't, and any paint is in the lip, that can is sealed solid, that lid will NEVER come back off again. You'll be punching a hole in the can to get the paint out into a new container.

2 layers of chassis saver and god himself will need to intervene on behalf of rust. It might start rusting at the very edges, but mid span, impossible. Prep correctly and the paint will do its job every time. We've used rust bullet, KBS, Por-15, 2 part epoxy sealers and for the money Chassis Saver is the best deal and works as good if not better than the others.

 

I found the acid. Still looking for the Chassis Saver paint. Supposedly there is a distributor an hour from me. I will call them in the morning.

I broke the first Torx+ bit on the first bolt. All of them save 1 that was rusted through the bed had to be cut with a cutoff wheel. Parts of the bed supports just stayed behind when we lifted it off. I have a bed, bumper, receiver hitch, B&W turnover hitch and a step tailgate all from a 2013 f350 diesel to put on. I will just find a blanking plate for the DEF hole in the gas door opening. The receiver hitch looks similar to what is on my 2007 F250 but less rusty. Might be higher capacity as well but my tiny camper is about all the 5.4l can handle anyway. The bumper is full of backup sensors I will remove and plug. It is in much nice condition than mine so hopefully it bolts up also.

 

Eastwood has all the stuff you need to rust proofing and under chassis coating.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40295073341...cAAOSw5CNg1~~Q

 

Reporting back:

I used Klean Strip Metal and Concrete Prep I bought from Home Depot. Full strength and brushed on. Dried overnight and power washed off. Painted the Chassis Saver gloss black onto the frame with a brush in every place reachable on the rear frame. I will need to get the truck up in the air and a creeper to paint under the crew cab.
I split the gallon of paint up into 4 quart cans I bought from HD. I just opened each quart can and painted metal until I ran out. Maybe it was a bad idea but I painted the entire underside of the '13 bed as well. Hopefully that prolongs its life.

Ford tried to sell me a $1300 fuel pump last time it was in the shop for an unrelated issue. They said it was "failing when hot". I put in a Delphi pump from CarQuest while I had access.

The chassis saver looks spectacular. The can says it is not UV resistant but this is under the truck so will I need to topcoat it with a primer and paint? I don't look forward to scuffing it all by hand if that is the case.

Thanks

 

No, all sun will do is fade it to dark grey. You can direct paiint, no primer needed. Rattle can or brush any color you like.