2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Rust Bucket

[litespeed]

Rust Bucket?

Has anyone else had notable rust problems on their newer 2nd generation trucks?



I was up underneath my truck last week and I was amazed (shocked) at the amount of rust popping up literally everywhere. My truck was never rust proofed so it is pretty much just the way it left the factory. IE: nice and clean except for the rust. The rust is coming out on every weld on the frame. Especially on the long box rails under the front of the bed and under the cab (QC).



The frame is one thing but also it seems the cancer is all over the bottom of the cab and bed as well... ..... Any place where sheet metal or reinforcing ribs are insatlled..... Right along those lines is a small trail of rust... ... . Very small, but it's there.



To add insult to injury... ... The drive shafts and trans. (NV5600) look like they are from the 60's. completely covered in rust. I honestly cannot believe it... ... I have a 1954 Chevy pickup that looks better underneath than this thing???



This is a big deal down here!!!! If I dont do something this truck may have a life expectancy of less than 10 years. Florida is hard on trucks if you are near the coast.



I am not complaining... ... ... I really like this truck and I plan to have it for some time. Does anyone have any proven formula or idea from stopping this before it goes any farther????



I headed out to Home Depot last week to see what they had to help and I came up with some stuff called OSPHO. Has any one usesd this? It is an acid and is supposed to turn rust into nothing and make it paintable..... But you cannot get the stuff on paint (which makes no sense). I also picked up about 7 cans of Rust Oleum "Rust Converter" in Flat Black.



I spent the better part of 2 days up underneath this thing painting whatever looked rusted on the "frame" and the "seams" on all the under-body sheet metal.



Now it looks really good underneath... ..... But for how long? And will it last?



Should I have the whole thing treated and undercoated?



I dont know... ..... ??



Any help is greatly appreciated!!



Is there anything else you guys can recommed? Is this going to help, or will it be detrimental?



I'll try and get some photos up tomorrow. I guess the photos will prove if I am over reacting or if I really have the rust.

 

[DavidC]

You might look at Por-15. It supposedly stops rust in it's tracks. I have heard good reviews on it. You can do a search on it as it has been discussed before and I believe the links to the website.



Dave

 

[Hohn]

Having used both POR15 and Eastwood's popular Rust Encapsulator, I can tell you that neither product is as good as my latest discovery: Rust Bullet. Nothing holds up better in the long run. I won't use anything else now!



It's also a LOT easier to use than POR-15. Por-15 requires so much prep and special products that you end up spending a fortune. I still have some in the garage that will probably never get used.





Visit Rust Bullet's website and see if you don't agree that it's better than anything else out there. They have truly independent test data to back up their claims!



www.rustbullet.com



jh

 

[Bill Lins]

OSPHO is basically phosphoric acid. It is intended for treating metal BEFORE painting- works great when used according to directions. Haven't used the other products, although I've heard great things about POR-15.

 

[dresslered]

I've never heard of the rustbullet, but I am a big fan of POR-15. Heavy rust always requires proper preperations, but light rust can be painted directly. If it is exposed to UV you will want to put a finish coat over it. It is very poplular among in the auto restoration industry.



I have a 2001. The truck itself is rust free, but the transmission and driveshafts were completely rusted upon new delivery. I was always meaning to paint them but have never gotten around to it.

 

[litespeed]

Thank you!!

Thanks to all for the quick replies!



This is not major rust or "rust through"... ... But..... It is most definietly starting. I will look into the RustBullet and the other for sure.



Funny thing is... ... ..... I have read about all the door rust problems on here? Mine are perfect? Go figure... ... . I guess I will go ahead and pull the panels and treat that area too. Just to be sure I stop all of it.



Also in the above pictures I added you can see where I sprayed the "rust converter" on all the seams. In the photo with the driveshaft... ... If you look just below the exhaust clamp you can see where I did not finish painting that rib across the seam. At this spot a little rust is still visible. This is the kind of rust I am dealing with. All the paint you see is one light coat on all the seams... . I wonder if I should coat it again for good measure?



In addition to the above photos here is a shot of the trans. Is this normal?? If I run my fingers across the trans. and the driveshafts rust falls off in flakes?



AJ

 

[dresslered]

Yup, that's my transmission (no flaking though)! I can't imagine NV not putting a coat of something on it. The case will never rust through, but I sure wouldn't want my name on a rust bucket.