Protection from salt?

[tgbol]

I am going to the Bonneville Salt Flats this summer to wrench on a couple of cars. Do any of you "salt belters" have some ideas on protecting my truck from the salt monster? TIA

 

[JR2]

Well I have never been to the salt flats, but I live in Alaska where they spread salt and "stuff" on the roads 9 months of the year. I would say if you gave it a real good washing once you are done out there it would be fine. I would go to one of those do it yourself high pressure car washes and get the entire under carrage and up underneath the fenders and bumpers real good. Then go home and hand wash the rest. Good luck... .

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Just a good washing is all you will need. I am not exactly sure how, but GM and DC have a really good rustproofing sustem on there undercarriges. So good you dont need to have them undercoated.

 

[Cooker]

I was talking to an ol' timer once and he suggested dumping a little oil in the doors, cab corners, rockers, tailgate, and anywhere else you can to help keep the rust out. It seems to have worked well for me.



A word of caution. If you do it, go to the movies or somewhere for a few hours to let some of the excess oil drain out someplace other than your driveway.



-Ryan

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Spray off everything that you can get to after coming back. Drive SLOW and nowhere near anyone else while on the salt and if you can set up a tarp between your truck and the wind when it's parked. The least aggresive tires possible will help keep the salt spray down. Honestly though, if it were me I wouldn't take my truck out on the salt flats. I worked on a pit crew for a few years (we got the 750cc and 1000cc production motorcycle world records) and the salt is HARD on vehicles. The race bikes we ran were toast after 4-5 years because the salt got into EVERYTHING (they were sold after the records were made and ran on the street after that, the 750 got the record first time out, the 1000 took 2 years). The pit vehicles were sold after 3 years because of all the corrosion. Driving on the salt flats is much worse than our northern salted roads (WAY WAY more salt). If you decide to drive out there only do it if the salt is dry - if it's wet stay FAR FAR away from it! My honest recommendation would be to rent a mini-van or truck to go out on there.

 

[Shovelhead]

... . Leave your truck at the hotel and catch a ride with someone else??

 

[tgbol]

I was there every year from 70 to 86. Ran a Studebaker with a Chrysler in it (239mph). I am going back again because I am the tow rig for this team. Can't leave it in town. If the salt is too dry the dust gets everywhere. If too wet it is like mud, it gets every where. I have spent 2 days under the truck, trailer, and car with a high pressure washer and still not it all off. It seems that the old fashion methods are still the best. thanx to all.

 

[Archive]

Originally posted by EMDDIESEL

So good you dont need to have them undercoated.

EMD... so good, in fact, that I have read that DC will void your rust warrantee if you DO undercoat it! Things do change thru the years.

 

[AlK]

When I come back from the annual hunting trip in the fall, the bottom of my truck is usually covered and coated with a whole lot of mud and gumbo. To remove all this crud I place a good lawn sprinkler under the truck and let it soak for a couple of hours and then it can be hosed of quite easily - but what a mess.

---

Al