Starting on rust removal/painting

[Lyle Longboat]

A couple of pics of before and after on the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 5.7. This thing is rusty! However, with an orbital sander, wire wheel and some paint she’s looking better already!
Tires are only on in order to pass the safety. 35/12.5/24 going on with 2” spacers after the safety is completed.
I’ll keep uploading picks as I go. Welding in n some body panels and rockers is still ahead.

 

[CheechDogg.0n37s]

What are you using down there?

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Tremclad (Rustoleum for you’s in the US) rust paint. I have that on my 2011. Sanded everything underneath and painted. The 2011 still without rust.

 

[Oliver Closehauf]

What I want to see is a picture of you doing the work so I can see what you are wearing. I tackled mine last year. I wasn't using a sander, just a scraper and a wire brush and only from the rear suspension back. Man what a mess. I can only imagine what using a sander with the bed still on must be like to get the results you did. Looks great so far.

Is the way the bed is on stand offs like that stock on a 2011?

 

[Lyle Longboat]

There is a 3” body lift on my truck. I wear a work sweater and pants. I have safety glasses that don’t do a thing and a mask. I have to take my time as I’m getting out from under the truck every so often and using my compressor to blow the rust/dirt off.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Pulled the bumper, tailgate and lights off. Want to get all this rust off and painted correctly. I’ll get the body touched up area the area before putting the parts back on. Bumper and tailgate need some TLC. New lights going as is in the front when a get up that way. I’m thinking of raptor lining the bumpers and around the whole bottom of the truck. I have a ton of body work to do. I started removing the rusted areas around the wheel arches and using sheet metal to fill the holes. Going to Throw on body filler when I get there. Still have the middle and front of the frame to do.

 

[Oliver Closehauf]

That looks really good. What are you using to strip the rust?

 

[Lyle Longboat]

I’m using a hand drill with different wire wheels, orbital sander with 60 grit sand pads, and an angle grinder with stripping wheels (heavy rust only). Just got the bumper done and going to throw that in sometime after I get back from vacation.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Got the tailgate and bumper done. Duplicolour bedliner on it. Used some Sheet metal and body filler for the rusted out parts on bumper and tailgate. Just waiting for rear arch panels, cab corners, and rocker panels to arrive then weld in. Some minor body filler of the front fenders is the next step.

 

[Oliver Closehauf]

Hey man, I'm going to need some detailed photos on your upcoming work. Shop class photos. And details. Lots and lots of details. What kind of welder. What kind of wire. Who you got your panels from. What kind of filler. Explain, as if I were a child.

It's all looking great so far.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Hey man, I'm going to need some detailed photos on your upcoming work. Shop class photos. And details. Lots and lots of details. What kind of welder. What kind of wire. Who you got your panels from. What kind of filler. Explain, as if I were a child.

It's all looking great so far.

lol when I get home after my vacation I’m tackling the welding with a 130 mig welder (smaller regular electrical plug) and .030 wire. Using 16 gauge steel plates for driver’s floor (e-bear cable entry) and inner-outer rocker panels (underneath the truck facing the drive shaft for reference) and 20 gauge steel rocker panels. I also ordered the cab corners and rear arch panels for both sides. I’ll probably butt weld everything after measuring/cutting to fit. Then I’ll use the bondo after grinding down to smooth over the welded areas. Not to bad for a beginner. Just take your time and pay attention to detail. I still have bondo to put on the front fenders and rear doors. Very easy to do with little to no experience when using bondo. Have to be fast with the bondo though and make sure you have it with you while applying. A lot of YouTube videos on how to mix and ratio. Plus applying it. More videos on mig welding sheet metal. I’ll upload more pics as this project moves along.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Well started on the driver’s side floor. I had to bend and fab up the floor. I used my 5” bench vice and my trailer
Hitch ball for bends. Yeah have to grind welds still. For you welders reading, I know a mess, but not to bad for first time welding. It’ll be covered anyways. I have 3”w x 1/2” thick flat bar underneath the steel plates for support in that area.
Moving to cover underneath next.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Rear driver’s side arch panel..