Since picking up the FJ62 up late last year, and sorting things out under the hood it is time to address the frame. Thankfully the truck spent most of its life in CA and NM, so it's not bad. There is surface rust on the outside of the framerails and axles, but as you'll see there are also many places retaining glossy factory paint. The inside of the frame is also still in paint and looks very nice. It will be getting coated internally with a Waxoyl-like concoction later.
The truck will be headed northeast with me this winter, so it needs some protection on the rusty areas. I decided to pick up a couple quarts of Chassis Saver to do the job. I'm not saying this is the best solution or the best product - I've never used it before. Since this is a DD and isn't a restoration or a perfect truck, this won't be a perfect job. I am doing a fair bit of cleaning and prep work, but won't obsess over not being able to reach on top of the rear crossmember, etc. Most of the hard to reach places haven't been subject to gravel spray and are still looking pretty good anyway.
Once the frame is cleaned up, doing a few coats of chassis saver is certainly more work than rattle canning something on, but hopefully the extra work and expense of the paint will be worth it in the long term.
A couple pictures of the "before cleaning" situation. The yellow paint marker is to indicate which bolts I have removed, cleaned up and applied anti-seize to. Seemed like a good thing to do with all the bolts under the truck prior to painting. Pressure washing, a wire brush, purple power degreaser and a garden hose were the instruments of cleansing.
Part way through the process..
Whoa! look what was hiding under all that grime! Original paint!
And a few more to show the general situation. Yes I know my knuckles need rebuilt, it's on the list..
Plan is to finish all the cleaning and degreasing, hit what rusty areas I can reach with either a wire wheel or wire brush, then scuff up the still shiny paint areas with a 120 grit sanding pad before starting in with the aluminum chassis saver. Hope to get 2 coats of aluminum, 2 coats of gloss black, then a topcoat of krylon.
I will post up some pictures of the progress and finished product, and hope to be able to update this thread periodically with how it's holding up so others can use this to make informed decisions regarding these types of projects and painting methods/products.
Meanwhile, I'd welcome any comments or tips from anyone on the work left to do.
The truck will be headed northeast with me this winter, so it needs some protection on the rusty areas. I decided to pick up a couple quarts of Chassis Saver to do the job. I'm not saying this is the best solution or the best product - I've never used it before. Since this is a DD and isn't a restoration or a perfect truck, this won't be a perfect job. I am doing a fair bit of cleaning and prep work, but won't obsess over not being able to reach on top of the rear crossmember, etc. Most of the hard to reach places haven't been subject to gravel spray and are still looking pretty good anyway.
Once the frame is cleaned up, doing a few coats of chassis saver is certainly more work than rattle canning something on, but hopefully the extra work and expense of the paint will be worth it in the long term.
A couple pictures of the "before cleaning" situation. The yellow paint marker is to indicate which bolts I have removed, cleaned up and applied anti-seize to. Seemed like a good thing to do with all the bolts under the truck prior to painting. Pressure washing, a wire brush, purple power degreaser and a garden hose were the instruments of cleansing.
Part way through the process..
Whoa! look what was hiding under all that grime! Original paint!
And a few more to show the general situation. Yes I know my knuckles need rebuilt, it's on the list..
Plan is to finish all the cleaning and degreasing, hit what rusty areas I can reach with either a wire wheel or wire brush, then scuff up the still shiny paint areas with a 120 grit sanding pad before starting in with the aluminum chassis saver. Hope to get 2 coats of aluminum, 2 coats of gloss black, then a topcoat of krylon.
I will post up some pictures of the progress and finished product, and hope to be able to update this thread periodically with how it's holding up so others can use this to make informed decisions regarding these types of projects and painting methods/products.
Meanwhile, I'd welcome any comments or tips from anyone on the work left to do.
