Diamondplate...acceptable? (1 Viewer)

[edin351]

Hey all,

Last night I was on a clubhouse forum trying to find a local place to buy diamondplate and the discussion arose that diamondplate does not belong on a 40. It's meant for Jeeps and only Jeeps and I will henceforth be shunned if I put it on my truck.

I've seen plenty of rigs with diamondplate so i didn't think it was that big of a deal...what do the guys on the main forum think?

(Sorry phil)

Eric

 

[FF LC FREAK]

Personally, it doesn't bother me at all. What you want to do with your rig is your business. I think some cruiser owners (especially on this site) get too caught up in the "your rig has to stay original!" mindset. Its YOUR RIG, so do what you want with it.

The biggest problem with diamond plate in my opinion, is what it covers up. People hide rust with it all the time. I would rather fixt the rust than cover it up. And if there is no rust, the corrosion caused by 2 unlike metals in contact with each other can be even worse than rust.

While I don't have a problem with diamond plate, it will never find its way on to my cruiser.


$.02

 

[edin351]

Thanks, that is how i feel too. i was going to cut off my quarters that are in bad shape and replace it with steel diamonplate...you think i will still run into this probleM?

 

[JohnnyC]

x2 your teruck do with it as you wish...if the rear is that bad and a reapair is just not in the budget just yet...then its a quick cheap patch...its the easyest way to go.

but....as said...its always better to repair...

I ran mine with DP's in the rear for 6 years till i had the $$$ to fix it

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

Thanks, that is how I feel too. i was going to cut off my quarters that are in bad shape and replace it with steel diamonplate...you think i will still run into this probleM?

If you're going through the trouble of doing body work, you should really do it right, if you have the skills or the funds.

Diamond plate is bandaid when you aren't going to do body work.

 

[cruiser enthuiser]

Personally, I dont like it, it's cheesy.

Putting diamond plate on is kinda like putting a tourniquete on a really bad wound to prevent the patient from dying before you can get em to the hospital or turning up the stereo in your car so you dont hear the knock in the engine. On a Land Cruiser everybody knows your covering up some wicked bad rust when you resort to the diamond plate and possibly making it worse by trapping moisture behind the plate. Rust is part of the Land Cruiser legacy...I say rock on with the rust rather than cover it with diamond plate until time and funds allow a proper fix.

-Ed

 

[40Flipper]

Looks cheesy and you'll never get near as much if you ever try to sell it. I would never buy a truck with diamond plate on it. Usually it's used to cover up rust holes

 

[CruzAK]

hey

Hey guys, heres something to think about. My cruiser has almost ZERO rust and I still want to put STEEL diamond plate on my rear corners and Paint the Plate to match my truck. I don't want to have shiny metal diamond plate, if its gonna be there its to blend into the truck. The reason for the diamond plate is to re-enforce the rear corners from trail off-road damage. So its exactly the opposite for my cruiser that you are all saying. I have a straight RUST FREE rig that I want to keep straight, but I use it off-road. Theres been many times in the past with my old rig that the rear end slid sideways or backwards into a rock or tree. I understand thats part of the game but I can still do whatever I can to help. I mean why do people put big meaty bumpers on the front of their trucks????? exactly..........to protect the front from impact. Why can't a guy put on protection elsewhere and not be accused of "Covering up a problem". don't judge a book by its cover.

 

[malcb]

and I still want to put STEEL diamond plate on my rear corners and Paint the Plate to match my truck.

That isn't a bad plan but there are a few problems to solve;

Steel diamond plate can be quite heavy, what weight plate are you thinking of?

How are you attaching the plate? It can be hard to attach thick material to thin. You also need to consider moisture getting trapped between the plate and the steel body, it's not just galvanic corrosion that causes plated bodies to rust out.

If the heavy plate is hit or bumped there is a good chance it will just transfer the force to the area next to the plate and cause damage that is harder to fix.

I know it reduces clearance but I prefer a heavy rear bumper for the reasons above.

 

[dmaddox]

I agree CruzAK....problem is I am with jsaltlick....it just looks tacky and distracting. While you are intending to use it EXACTLY how it was designed to be used, it just has a negative connotation and look to it, especially to other cruiser heads.

I just can't stand the look of it - regardless of it's usefulness, and for that matter - don't like monstrous front bumper creations either. Thus, it boils down to personal preference. BUT...since he asked.

1. If you are going to keep it and you like the look - go for it.
2. If you are going to sell it ever - run from the idea.

So - it's all in your opinion. I am a bit of a purist (not totally - but sort of). The WORST things that I can think of doing to a cruiser are:

1. Diamond plate and fender flares on the rear quarters (gag me).
2. Taking out the Toyota power plant. (shudder).
3. Hacking the body/steel and or interior up. (yikes).

So yes - opinions will be opinions, and mine is run from that stuff.

dallas

 

[FJforty]

I don't like the feel or the traction of diamond plate. It's strange, it seems like it would be the perfect floor but stuff slides all over and it catches your shoes and makes you stumble. I think you need to try some under foot first. My 4 cents ( inflation).

 

[Dieseler]

I like it.... but only the corner wraps and if you seam seal the edges good no moisture trapping problem IIR correctly if you use stainless rivots you avoid miss match metal rusting.
Yes I am somewhat of a purist but sometimes you gotta do what you do people still buy DPed cruisers and I have seen them go for high market prices.

 

[cjgoode]

If you do do it, at least take the time to treat any rust. Use por, rust bullet, or some rust converter and lots of paint. Worst thing you can do is cover up the rust without treating, if you do that it will be a matter of time till the diamond plate falls off on its own. That is also the biggest problem with selling it down the road, even if it is perfect steel under it no way for the buyer to know and he will have to assume the worst, a rusty mess. Also make sure you seal it well with seam sealer etc. Water getting trapped behind it will help anything rust much faster.

 

[crushr]

Do what you want to your truck to make it look and work the way you like. Mudders are very good at encouraging others to spend money and do it "the right" way; which, of course, is always their way.

There is nothing inherently wrong with diamond plate as body armor. Most experienced LC owners will assume it is covering up rust, because that is most commonly the reason for its installation.

Do be aware that, once installed, it is essentially impossible to stop moisture from gathering beween the diamond plate and your rig's sheet metal, no matter how much sealing you do. If you don't have rust now, you will not long after you install the diamond plate.

 

[edin351]

Thanks for all the comments, it helps that i won't be shunned by EVERYONE

I should have probably stated this to begin with, but I was going to use steel diamondplate, not the tacky shiny aluminum stuff.

If I got it the same thickness as the factory metal, could i cut out the quarters and weld it in place? This would reduce the problem of metal on metal corrosion and water trapped behind.

Thanks all

 

[Kent]

If you don't need the diamond plate for the "look", just use thick sheet metal. You can reinforce the rear quarter panels and avoid the dreaded diamond plate texture. I made my rear tub out of 10 gauge steel knowing it will hit rocks. If the tub had been in good enough shape to repair I would have just wrapped the rear panels with thick sheet metal, paint and then go beat on it.

 

[GarageRat]

I agree with Kent, if you aren't concerned about if it has the diamond plate texture then I would probably use thick sheetmetal instead. I forget the site but someone sells thick rear quarters that are used as a replacement but cost and work are more than you'd probably be interested in for now. Regardless of what you do, as long as you like it then more power to you.

 

[bsilva132]

Thanks for all the comments, it helps that i won't be shunned by EVERYONE

I should have probably stated this to begin with, but I was going to use steel diamondplate, not the tacky shiny aluminum stuff.

If I got it the same thickness as the factory metal, could i cut out the quarters and weld it in place? This would reduce the problem of metal on metal corrosion and water trapped behind.

Thanks all

Yes, check out budbuilt.com or poor wally's. Both make heavy duty replacement pannels.

 

[justacruiser]

1. Diamond plate and fender flares on the rear quarters (gag me).
2. Taking out the Toyota power plant. (shudder).
3. Hacking the body/steel and or interior up. (yikes).

Man, you'd barf all over my rig then!

I think it depends. If your rig is going to be used off road or a hardcore rig, put it on! Get some more strength if you can. If you're going to restore it or resell it, likely a bad idea. I tend to agree with some of the above guys, if you MUST use it to cover up rust or damage, do it with the intention of replacing the rotted panels later!

 

[Plowboy]

My 40 wears DP corners cause my preteen kids saved up their allowance and purchased them for my birthday some 25 yrs ago. That's a reason I haven't seen come up yet. OH yea, they got their money back.