Bad frame.. need advice
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Bad frame.. need advice
It's something that has always stuck in the back of my mind. The forward section (under the cab) of my frame is in great condition, just surface rust.
but towards the rear of my frame it is starting to look a bit rough. The rear cross member is rotting away, I have a couple of holes towards my driver's side leaf spring, though the general area seems strong enough.
The jerkoff who had the truck before me cut around a couple of bolts that holds the bed on.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...169964&width=1
Sort of got some of the frame but I don't think the picture helps much.. I tried painting over rust to help a tad with protection (I sanded it lightly), the paint has held for a few months through a lot of weathering so it is helping somewhat.
Should I try to find another truck to dump this power train into? Or should I try to salvage this one? and is there any way I can protect the rear of my frame with my bed in the shape it is.. the floor of my bed is fine but one side panel is rusting away, the strip of metal on the floor towards the cab is where all the water drains.
im about to throw some big money into it.. I don't want to put money into suspension and body just to find out it was all a waste because the frame was beyond recover. I'd wait on the bed until summer (when body work would be easier) but I'm wondering if that's the cheapest way to protect my frame.
but towards the rear of my frame it is starting to look a bit rough. The rear cross member is rotting away, I have a couple of holes towards my driver's side leaf spring, though the general area seems strong enough.
The jerkoff who had the truck before me cut around a couple of bolts that holds the bed on.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...169964&width=1
Sort of got some of the frame but I don't think the picture helps much.. I tried painting over rust to help a tad with protection (I sanded it lightly), the paint has held for a few months through a lot of weathering so it is helping somewhat.
Should I try to find another truck to dump this power train into? Or should I try to salvage this one? and is there any way I can protect the rear of my frame with my bed in the shape it is.. the floor of my bed is fine but one side panel is rusting away, the strip of metal on the floor towards the cab is where all the water drains.
im about to throw some big money into it.. I don't want to put money into suspension and body just to find out it was all a waste because the frame was beyond recover. I'd wait on the bed until summer (when body work would be easier) but I'm wondering if that's the cheapest way to protect my frame.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Colorado Springs
looks minor, if you repair it, coat the frame in por 15. this stops rust. or take it to a powdercoater. if you have an entire section that needs to be replaced, get the section from a salvage yard. it seems much easier to repair a section of frame than to start swapping drivetrain around.
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none at the moment.. Ok, so rusted frame isn't THAT bad then? I always considered welding on some tubing on the inner portions of the frame for extra support if I thought it might be weak (if I ever learn to weld).
should I sand it down and then coat it? or do I need to do some heavy grinding?
oh, instead of asking in another thread cluttering the boards.. should my bed be directly bolted to the frame or should I have rubber bushing to the bed as well? In my manual it acts like there should be setups very similer to what is holding my cab on, however my bed just has about 4 total bolts directly into my frame.
should I sand it down and then coat it? or do I need to do some heavy grinding?
oh, instead of asking in another thread cluttering the boards.. should my bed be directly bolted to the frame or should I have rubber bushing to the bed as well? In my manual it acts like there should be setups very similer to what is holding my cab on, however my bed just has about 4 total bolts directly into my frame.
Last edited by ErrorS; Feb 11, 2008 at 02:02 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Hedgesville WV
The bed should be bolted directly to the frame with 8 bolts for a long bed. You should sand/grind away as much of the rust as you can and coat every thing you want to protect in por-15 or rust bullet
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
I did not see anything particularly exiting in that picture in the way of bad rust/cancer. how thick is the good metal that is left, and did you chip away/wire brush all of the rust prior to the paint? I would venture a guess that some pitting wont hurt anything, but if you have alot of it, or any rusted thru areas, I would consider at the minimum finding another frame. You can do all of your suspension modifications to that new frame, and transfer your good running gear/body over to it, never have to worry again.
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I have one hole near my driver's side leaf spring, that's the only real hole I know of.. but the cross member is rotted, I know it can be replaced but it shows that this frame has seen quite a bit of weathering.
If I sand it down what am I looking for? when I sanded it prior, it was just to smooth the surface a bit, I didn't do very much (was all hand sanding)
none of it seems flakey exactly, just more rough to the feel than the front of my frame, which I assumed was really bad.
If I sand it down what am I looking for? when I sanded it prior, it was just to smooth the surface a bit, I didn't do very much (was all hand sanding)
none of it seems flakey exactly, just more rough to the feel than the front of my frame, which I assumed was really bad.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Minnesota
Not to change the subject, but has anybody ever cleared over the POR 15? My frame has been sandblasted, but due to growing list of honey do's it should have some touch up done before topcoating. Was thinking of trying the POR 15, but not sure about the expensive base clear I plan to shoot on it. Any thoughts are welcome.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Arcade, Georgia
Originally Posted by Witty73
Not to change the subject, but has anybody ever cleared over the POR 15? My frame has been sandblasted, but due to growing list of honey do's it should have some touch up done before topcoating. Was thinking of trying the POR 15, but not sure about the expensive base clear I plan to shoot on it. Any thoughts are welcome.
I did an '81 Datsun 280ZX in it a few years ago and never had rust afterwards.
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They talk about top coats of paint over por15 on their website, apparently the stuff doesn't handle sunlight very well.
http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?grp=1&dept=1
seems like great stuff.. a bit pricey though. Do you guys know who carries this stuff for the best prices?
edit: wow, this stuff looks pretty awesome.. I haven't found a single forum post on the entire internet with a person saying it didn't work exactly like they said it did on the site. Directly on top of the rust? You can't beat that (though I'll still do some sanding)
How much should I get? I plan on doing my entire frame (with the body on), bottom of the cab and suspension and steering components. I might even paint my rollbar with it..
Will the 3 quart kit (cleaner, etcher and coat, 1 qt each) be enough? or should I grab a gallon of por15?
http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?grp=1&dept=1
seems like great stuff.. a bit pricey though. Do you guys know who carries this stuff for the best prices?
edit: wow, this stuff looks pretty awesome.. I haven't found a single forum post on the entire internet with a person saying it didn't work exactly like they said it did on the site. Directly on top of the rust? You can't beat that (though I'll still do some sanding)
How much should I get? I plan on doing my entire frame (with the body on), bottom of the cab and suspension and steering components. I might even paint my rollbar with it..
Will the 3 quart kit (cleaner, etcher and coat, 1 qt each) be enough? or should I grab a gallon of por15?
Last edited by ErrorS; Feb 12, 2008 at 12:10 AM.
Postmaster
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
Originally Posted by ErrorS
I have one hole near my driver's side leaf spring, that's the only real hole I know of.. but the cross member is rotted, I know it can be replaced but it shows that this frame has seen quite a bit of weathering.
If I sand it down what am I looking for? when I sanded it prior, it was just to smooth the surface a bit, I didn't do very much (was all hand sanding)
none of it seems flakey exactly, just more rough to the feel than the front of my frame, which I assumed was really bad.
If I sand it down what am I looking for? when I sanded it prior, it was just to smooth the surface a bit, I didn't do very much (was all hand sanding)
none of it seems flakey exactly, just more rough to the feel than the front of my frame, which I assumed was really bad.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 297
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I think with por15 you want to leave a bit of rust. It actually helps it to adhere.. and once it's sealed no more rust will develop.
There is also rust bullet, or use an oil based rust inhibitor. LPS3 or fluid film is good. Those you can just spray right onto the frame as is and it'll prevent it from rusting anymore so long as you apply it every 6mo or year or so. See eg:
http://www.eurekafluidfilm.com/
http://www.lpslabs.com/Products/CorrosionInh/Lps3.asp
I put fluid film on my vehicles every fall and spring and it works great.. I live in Canada.. lots of rust
.
There is also rust bullet, or use an oil based rust inhibitor. LPS3 or fluid film is good. Those you can just spray right onto the frame as is and it'll prevent it from rusting anymore so long as you apply it every 6mo or year or so. See eg:
http://www.eurekafluidfilm.com/
http://www.lpslabs.com/Products/CorrosionInh/Lps3.asp
I put fluid film on my vehicles every fall and spring and it works great.. I live in Canada.. lots of rust
.
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I took my bed off and it's not nearly as bad as I thought it was.. there are some problem spots, I might need new leaf hangers and shock mounts (I'll find out once I get in there with a grinder) but nothing major. I'm definitely coating it though before anything gets too bad.
Hey, do you guys think it would be stupid to reinforce the top of my frame? The old helper springs on my truck are really thick and happen to be exactly the length of my frame, I could run a couple along the top and bolt them right down into my frame. Not sure if it would help or hurt me offroad.. the stock frame doesn't seem to be very stiff at all (i have no clue what's desired for a truck like this)
Hey, do you guys think it would be stupid to reinforce the top of my frame? The old helper springs on my truck are really thick and happen to be exactly the length of my frame, I could run a couple along the top and bolt them right down into my frame. Not sure if it would help or hurt me offroad.. the stock frame doesn't seem to be very stiff at all (i have no clue what's desired for a truck like this)
Last edited by ErrorS; Feb 16, 2008 at 08:05 PM.