keeping our trucks from rusting more

[rustyg]

I was wondering what you do to keep trucks from getting rusted out, I plan in driving mine on the roads, in the snow alot. I have some friends in the car wash biz, and I was thinking about fabbing a under carriage spray rinse, possibly with a rust inhibitor, something I'd drive over when I got home. Is this idea worth looking into, or are there more effective methods.

[VetteVet]

Hey Rusty:
I'm new to the forums but I have a 700r4 in my 67 and I've researched a lot on it and there is a ton lf info on the web. If you type GM 700r4 in your favorite search engine you can get many sites with info on it. I saw that the tv cable adjustment is very critical and there is a spring in the valve body that is easy to replace that causes wierd shifting if it is old and weak.
There is almost no way to prevent rust if you drive in the snow and salt here in Mich.
but we take our van to the drive thru car wash and get the undercarriage and rust preventative along with the polish about twice a week. It's a 2000 chevy venture and
it dosen't show any rust so far. It costs 8.00 to get the wash and I think your idea sounds grerat if it dosen't cost too much. BTW where in SoCal do you find snow? Are you close to Big Gear?
vettevet

[rustyg]

I probably should have explained better, I'm moving to Pa. next month. Glad to hear that with a conscious effort you can keep your rides rust free, I've been thinking about the salt and such. I do live about 35 min. from Baldy, 1 hr. from big bear, but we don't get up there much.

[Dean]

You need to spend some time doing some serious rustproofing. I have the rustproofing spray gun with all the nozzles that I do my daily drivers with. The rustproofing is clear in color and comes in gallon jugs. It costs about $25.00 a gallon. You will need to get this stuff everywhere, in the rockers, bottoms of doors, fenders, bed crossmembers etc etc. Don't leave anyplace undone. That car wash isn't going to cut it around here especially with the metal prep they did back when our trucks were built. I can get pictures and info if you need it.

I've got an 85 C20 that my dad bought new that doesn't have a rust spec on it using this method. We even drill holes in the rockers and around the windshield frame. Squirt oil in there if I can't get the rustproofing nozzle in.

And i'm not talking about undercoating here......Rustproofing I am.

That CA truck of yours will be ate up in few years of PA winters if you don't do this. I've seen it before and it sucks.

[CPNE]

I see you really want to keep your brub as nice as possible, so let me be blunt. If you drive it in the winter it will rust no matter how dilligent you are. You may not see it right away but it'll eat its way from the inside out. That's why we call it cancer. You can delay the process by frequent washing and rust-proofing, but like death and taxes, the rust is inevidable.

My advise to you, park it in October and bring it back out in May. Plus unless it's 4wd, it won't be easy to drive on slippery surfaces anyway.

Do yourself a favor, park it and buy a Honda for the winter.

[biglou55]

cpne is right on.buy a beater for the winter. if any of us rust belt boys and girls catch you driving an original cali. vechicle in the winter up here. It.s not going to be a pretty sight. HA, HA< we would just about kill for rust free sheetmetal around here. hope your,e move up here is hassle free. good luck.

[meathead95]

lets see some pics dean

[rustyg]

Maybe I'll just drive the wife's f**d when there's snow or rain.