So i posted a while ago that i am picking up a 96 f150 for $1000. Upon further inspection there is a lot of rust underneath it. Here's a link to the truck.

The area around the drain plug on the oil pan, so that will probably have to get replaced. The dust plates on the brakes are pretty much gone so i figure there is at least 1/32" of rust through out underside of the truck. Is this a reasonable amount? Will it cause any huge issues any time soon?

What do you all think is the best course of action to prevent further rust keep the truck in good shape?

I have heard stuff about rust proofers and what have you. Do they really do much? Are they easy to use? I am a college student so my available tools are limited.

Any thoughts are much appreciated.

 

Bump.

Sorry just wanted to bring it back up top to see if anyone had any thoughts.

 

Once the rust starts, it's really tough to stop it. Brake lines and spring shackles are especially vulnerable and should be looked at carefully.

If you start with a rust-free truck, you can keep it in check with an oil-based spray undercoating.

 

With that much rust, and your limited time and budget, you may want to keep looking. I would.

 

dude for 1K I think it is a deal. if you can turn the key and drive it away for that and maybe a battery and some brake lines I would do it.

If you want a truck and that is the best deal you can come up with sounds good to me.

If you want to keep it in good shape and eliminate the rust that is there. sand blast the underside and either rust bullet it or use one of the other rust proofers out there.

 

My 2c?
Worry about the brake lines, change the oil pan, forget about the dust shields and be sure to look at the spring mounts.
BUY IT!
and get yourself some Ospho or similar phosphoric acid based metal prep, take the oil from when you change the pan and spray it on the undercarriage after you burn the rust off.

 

Brake lines won't be an issue, they have been replaced. Vehicle has had a full tune up within 200 miles. Brand new mastercraft courser tires, battery, wipers. I am going to buy it, just wanted to know what else to expect. The rust is the only problem with it, it runs great. Thanks again for the input.

 

And if you regret it let me know I can use the box off it on mine.....


Seriously you should be fine, at that price you still have room to put money into it and not be in too deep.

 

I'll go along with all of the above.

I bought my '87 for $400, and I have a LOT more rust than what you're looking at. Fortunately, all of the bad structural/mechanical needs (brake lines, spring hangers, etc.) were taken care of beforehand. I had holes in my floorboards, but those got fixed by some careful ... umm ... "installation" of old license plates in strategic locations. ;-) I've still got the rear cab corners and rear wheelwells to take care of, but that won't be too costly, because I'm going to use some scrap sheetmetal my dad has laying around in his workshop. And when I'm done, I plan to shoot some cheap paint on the whole thing just to make it all the same shade of red.

At the price you're paying, just drive and enjoy it. That's what I'm doing, and it's been a lot of fun so far!

 

Sounds like your truck has lots of good stuff for the money, seems very good deal I think. I've been messin with two trucks your era. A 96 2wd I6 84K and a 95 245K 4wd I6. Both had little rust but shot front ends. If I were you I would carefully check all the major steering and suspension parts just to see that nothing is about to rust apart and cause a major failure. You can always get some better pieces in the junkyard if need be and have the front end gone over at a good shop. Enjoy!

 

Wire brush power type, and sand the best you can, and use a product called "Zero Rust" its good stuff, probably better than POR, and safer to use.
I checked out a new GM pickup the other day and they have like a semi tar type coating on the frame rails, it was tacky to the touch. So something like bed liner coatings may work too. But need to clean off as much rust as you can. Sand blasting is best but not always available.

 

GM still dips their frames in wax. It's good when they're new, but it falls off as it ages, exposing everything to the elements. That was the death of my S-10.

 

Taking care of rust on the frame is easy. Bypass any suspension parts you will have to replace and just focus on the frame, underside of cab, cab corners, bottom of tailgate, and rocker panel area, plus rear wheel well. Get the rustoleum rusty metal primer in gallon can. It can be applied over rusty metal! There is also Rustoleum's rust reformer and other stuff at autoparts store that converts rust into blackish primer. Any of those products will work.

First pressure wash the undrside to remove gunk, wax, and dirt. Also it removes some of the surface rust! Got that tip from guys here on the forum. Then take angle grinder with appropiate grinding or wire metal brush and get some of the pretty bad stuff. Then go over with a reformer, metal etcher, or the rusty metal primer and follow instructions. Acording to the products this will stop (microscopic) rust can be applied over rust and will also seal off from new rust forming. Then paint over with rustoleum hammer finish paint, or duplicolor bedliner, something cheap, tough durable like cheap paint on bedliners work. This just protects from future rust, and dings, and dirt, and salt etc. That should last for a long time, just keep touching up, if new rust breaks out, which it will, just take the grinder and stuff to that area. Many people spend lots of money sandblasting, and other stuff, but just doint the stuff above will make it last for many years. Even just painting over it can last for two years or so.
P.S. Got most of these ideas from guys on here, thanks guys! (Especially the pressure wash idea!)

Later,
Paul

 

My 1995 F250 had the same problem, it was parked basically in a swamp for 6 months before I bought it so it wad the same problems you are talking about. Make sure the exhaust manifold isn't really really rusty and leaking, thats a pain in the @$$ to fix. Also, the oil pan on mine had rust on it and it made it drip, I ground it down to bare metal or close to it with sandpaper, and put JB Weld over the holes. I then painted it with a rust sealer. Also, like everyone else said look at the rear spring shackels. Gas tanks are another thing that can rust out, it happened on my F150.

 

Jeez, I'm glad I live where cars and trucks don't rust.