Not bad yet but my 88 is starting to develop rust under the bed in the pinch-welds. I suspect this is the first sign of trouble and I want to nip it the bud. I am asking for some tips. I guess I could move to the dessert right, I will take a few pics tomorrow with daylight.

 

Only way to TRULY remove rust is to cut it out and weld in a new piece.

Short of that, a flap disc, some bondo, and a fresh coat of paint can look pretty snazzy.

Really depends on how bad it is. Surface rust is can be pretty easy, but holes are bad news.

I hate rust.

 

Clean it up real good and hit it with some POR-15 then paint over it.

That should hold it off pretty well.

 

I will take a few pics it minor I hope, just a little red on metal edges. I plan on taking the bed off this spring and make a project out of it.

 

Guess whats under that diamond plate? A big rust hole. I am lucky though, my rig grew up in NH and the rust is lees than most from there.

 

teuf i like the diamond plate idea! maybe you could go around the whole truck over the pinch welds to make it look like another mod, and not some make up!

 

I am not sure the extent. this under the truck where the skirt meets the bed deck.

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BTW this is the worst spot I found on the top picture. I have had surface in the bed but cleaned that up last fall.

 

Really? That's it?
Life must be rough out there.

They salt the roads up here.
I'm always afraid to take my truck to the pressure washer.
Big ole rust hole.


And nicely covered up. Haha.

 

This truck spent it's life in NC before I bought it and brought it here to WV, where the roads are salted. I am afraid if I wait too long, I will be in an uphill battle. So I am asking for some advice. I want to make sure I nip it completely not just cover it up.

 

POR 15 does seem to be good stuff, esp if you clean it up good. But your rust is so mild you could probably get away with just keeping it undercoated. Use some chainsaw bar oil with phosphoric acid which will kill rust on contact, and I think you'll be surprised how effective it is. Get it now before it looks like some of the other rigs in this thread...

http://www.type2.com/library/body/baroil.htm
Red colored lube labeled "high tack" seems to work best.

 

and now the BAD NEWS

I see holes in the very near future ..
there are 3 and in some points 4 different layers of steel there .. you cant stop it ! this has been an ongoing debate since 1979
you can try .. but you will not succeed , sorry


.

 

Bah! VT is salted more that anyplace I've been to in the northeast, and the NE is salted more than anyplace I've been to in the country. I still know older guys who have vehicles from the late 80's. 20+ years old and not a *single* spot of rust on them. It's because they have undercoated them religiously and thoroughly. If you do it right and regularly, vehicles will not rust. Salt and water will not penetrate chainsaw oil.

 

your lucky you live somewhere that doesn't have so much salt it eats cars for breakfast!
my bed was so bad i just threw it out. wasn't even going to try and fix it.

 

are they lap jointed and spot welded like a toyota bed? .. I think not !! I dont think anything would stop it .

.

 

I feel sorry for all you east coast guys, I really feel sorry for those Toyota's. Thank gawd I live in Oregon, right in that sweet spot of no rust and no cracked dash and interior from the sun.

 

This was what I am afraid of, I knew when I seen this it was not good news. I think this rust has started by seeping water from inside the bed and the layers inside the pinch-welds are much worst.

 

 

Yep thats what I'm talking about, Teuf how do you have any rust on that thing in California? Your truck still looks damn nice though.

 

It spent its first 22 years in Ma., and NH. Saltorama........