Frame 'restoration' project (11 Viewers)

[69FJ40NJ]

I am getting ready to start to 'restore' the frame with the body on. There is surface rust and lots of grime.
I plan to wire wheel and/or flap disk the frame down to the bare metal.
Then use Eastwood Rust Encapsulator Plus on the area after using a de-greaser.
After the Rust Encapsulator Plus cures, using a chassis black paint to provide a nice finish.

I will not be able to do the entire frame all at once, so I will be doing sections at a time.

Is the above a good plan? Any suggestions or comments on products or steps, all is welcome.

Thanks

DM3

 

[brian]

Sand blast followed by an epoxy primer.
Any thing short of blasting or dipping isn't going to do much on the nooks and crannies.

 

[zerotreedelta]

Yeah, unfortunately the "partial box" design used along several sections is great at holding dirt and mud and salt.

There's really not all that much to pulling the body - but if doing piecemeal to keep it roadworthy, you'll just have the tradeoff of making some cosmetic and partial improvement, but not getting the insides clean like blasting and epoxy primer would get you.

 

[69FJ40NJ]

This would be a short term fix. In a few years (5 years or so), I will be replacing the tub and cowl since they are held together with extra steel.

So for the short term period, is the products listed the best to use?

Thanks
DM3

 

[zerotreedelta]

Interesting tidbit. If I knew it was coming apart soon, I'd probably be tempted just to give it a good scrape and pressure wash to remove most of the crud and flake, then use something more temporary like woolwax.

Rust encapsulator and chassis black won't hurt of course, just a bit more to remove later if blasting the frame once the body is off.

 

[Jdc1]

Interesting tidbit. If I knew it was coming apart soon, I'd probably be tempted just to give it a good scrape and pressure wash to remove most of the crud and flake, then use something more temporary like woolwax.

Rust encapsulator and chassis black won't hurt of course, just a bit more to remove later if blasting the frame once the body is off.

I’ll second this- don’t waste your time with short term fixes- get it cleaned and preserved and then when you are able do it the right way; blast->epoxy-> topcoat

 

[Wasatch Jay]

I agree with brian.

I realize you don't have the time to strip the vehicle down to the frame and have it sandblasted at the present time. But wire-wheeling and using a flap disc will be some serious azz-pain, and you will be quite limited on the areas you can access. So, it's a lot of work for what amounts to a very partial job.

That said, if you still want to pursue this project I would rent a steam cleaner and use that to completely degrease the frame, and indeed the whole rig (engine, transmission, transfer case, drivelines, etc, etc). I haven't rented one in years so I don't know what the current cost would be, but I think that will be a cost effective way of removing the accumulated crud.

If you go the steam cleaner route make sure you have good eye protection and other personal protective equipment. On the one hand it's messy and not fun, but you will be smiling as all that cr*p comes off fairly quickly and easily.