kdryan
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2015
- Posts
- 76
- Reaction score
- 7
- Ram Year
- 1998
- Engine
- 5.2
Ok, so I have decided to try some body repair. May God have mercy on my soul; this is the point where I either save or destroy this truck.
Here is the rust on my truck. Between this truck and an '84 Mustang, my son and I are keeping pretty busy with projects but this is something I have never tried. I have watched a few videos and I think I have a pretty good grasp of the theory of it and I am reasonably smart (my wife might say different) but it's a little daunting. I wonder if I might get some opinions on each of the sections and what to look out for. The truck is a '98 and started life with those idiotic ground effects everyone loved back in the '90s. I ditched those earlier this summer but I think they did at least keep the rust at bay a bit longer than most trucks enjoy. After all of it is done I'll get under there with some undercoating and spray the hell out of it. Click for Ginormous images...
Thanks beforehand for any advice you can offer!
Passenger side rocker panel
Easily the worst area on the truck. Rust has eaten it's way through and is all along the rocker. The inside has heavy surface rust (see the picture of the hole) but is not rusted through. My plan is the sand it down then use a rust converter or remover on the inside. I thought of using a mesh patch on the big hole then just Bondo alone on the rest. After that, primer it up with some spray primer until I can afford to get it painted. BTW, the image is warped. The truck is not dented or anything.
Driver side rocker panel
Not as bad but I'm certain when I get it sanded down it will be worse. Sand it, remove rust, Bondo, primer, live happily ever after...
Passenger side bed behind wheel
Rinse, Lather, Repeat...
Driver side bed behind wheel
More of the same. Not rusted through...
Roll pan is chipped
Obviously not a Bondo area since it flexes but I was thinking of putting a patch on the back then laying down some fiberglass, sanding it down then priming it. The break is about 3" tall by 2" wide at the bottom. Unlike Bondo, I do have minimal experience with using fiberglass so I am fairly confident here.
There are other tiny areas where the trim trapped moisture and rust has started but if I can handle this I certainly can them.
Here is the rust on my truck. Between this truck and an '84 Mustang, my son and I are keeping pretty busy with projects but this is something I have never tried. I have watched a few videos and I think I have a pretty good grasp of the theory of it and I am reasonably smart (my wife might say different) but it's a little daunting. I wonder if I might get some opinions on each of the sections and what to look out for. The truck is a '98 and started life with those idiotic ground effects everyone loved back in the '90s. I ditched those earlier this summer but I think they did at least keep the rust at bay a bit longer than most trucks enjoy. After all of it is done I'll get under there with some undercoating and spray the hell out of it. Click for Ginormous images...
Thanks beforehand for any advice you can offer!
Passenger side rocker panel
Easily the worst area on the truck. Rust has eaten it's way through and is all along the rocker. The inside has heavy surface rust (see the picture of the hole) but is not rusted through. My plan is the sand it down then use a rust converter or remover on the inside. I thought of using a mesh patch on the big hole then just Bondo alone on the rest. After that, primer it up with some spray primer until I can afford to get it painted. BTW, the image is warped. The truck is not dented or anything.
Driver side rocker panel
Not as bad but I'm certain when I get it sanded down it will be worse. Sand it, remove rust, Bondo, primer, live happily ever after...
Passenger side bed behind wheel
Rinse, Lather, Repeat...
Driver side bed behind wheel
More of the same. Not rusted through...
Roll pan is chipped
Obviously not a Bondo area since it flexes but I was thinking of putting a patch on the back then laying down some fiberglass, sanding it down then priming it. The break is about 3" tall by 2" wide at the bottom. Unlike Bondo, I do have minimal experience with using fiberglass so I am fairly confident here.
There are other tiny areas where the trim trapped moisture and rust has started but if I can handle this I certainly can them.