Frame Replacement (6 Viewers)

[CBeckFJ]

My 2000 with 230k was $6500 with zero rust. Just because you don't have holes in your frame any more doesn't mean every fastener on the truck isn't rusty too. That will jack up your labor time, broken fasteners, etc. I wouldn't go down that road. It is not worth the effort at all. If it won't pass, just patch it up. If that doesn't make you happy fly to Texas to buy one and drive the truck back.

Looked at doing that. It would actually be more cost effective to fix the truck then buy a new one. The prices for ones with the interior and exterior condition thst mine are in are pushing 8-10 grand

 

[atnolan94]

Looked at doing that. It would actually be more cost effective to fix the truck then buy a new one. The prices for ones with the interior and exterior condition thst mine are in are pushing 8-10 grand

If your frame is rusted that bad, you probably have body rust, and if you don’t you will. Your axle housing will rust and give you e brake issues, it will take you a long time to swap the front suspension since every bolt will be rust covered. I truly truly believe that your labor estimate is really low. Your estimate doesn’t account for broken fasteners, time consuming bolts that won’t budge, etc. that will add up tremendously.

 

[atnolan94]

Looked at doing that. It would actually be more cost effective to fix the truck then buy a new one. The prices for ones with the interior and exterior condition thst mine are in are pushing 8-10 grand

You also need to realize if you did that, you could sell your current one as well which mitigates some of the cost. You say ones that are comparable to your current truck are 8-10k...but your truck is so rusted it won’t pass inspection. Just something to consider. Good luck! You’re lucky to have a cruiser as a first car regardless.

 

[CBeckFJ]

You also need to realize if you did that, you could sell your current one as well which mitigates some of the cost. You say ones that are comparable to your current truck are 8-10k...but your truck is so rusted it won’t pass inspection. Just something to consider. Good luck! You’re lucky to have a cruiser as a first car regardless.

the major reasons it wont pass is the frame, and brake lines. That's it. Other stuff would need to be fixed, but its not too bad to fix those. I'll get a quote to fix everything needed to pass inspection, and go from there.

 

[RND1]

@CBeckFJ Not sure if you've decided to save this one or buy another one, but I gave NH Oil Undercoating in Concord, NH a try today. Really nice people, and very knowledgeable about the subject of rust on vehicle undercarriages. The owner has experiments he continues to run to test and improve his product against Krown, Fluid Film, etc. I asked him what they do if a customer brings in a truck with a hole in the frame. He said he sends them next door to Dan at D&D Automotive. He patches them up and then they either do one of their "rustorations" ($599) or simply spray the oil undercoating ($159). The rustoration includes removing surface rust, applying some kind of rust converter, letting it sit overnight, then oiling it the next day. Might be worth investigating the costs of patching and rustoration to save your rig?

D & D Automotive - Concord, NH

https://nhoilundercoating.com/