Options for cleaning up frame with body on?

[bwilder10h]

I'm getting ready to go through my truck and do some bodywork to get her ready for paint. The underside is in pretty good shape but the frame is rusty and needs to be cleaned up and repainted or undercoated (open to suggestions).

I'd love to take the body off and do it right but dont have the time or facility to do so.

What are my options to clean it up and keep the frame from rusting further?

[Captkaos]

Wire wheel it and brush on some POR15.

[old Rusty C10]

^^ what he said or rustoleum is good too if you wanna go cheap way out

[DESTRO]

Save yourself some grief and atleast take the bed off.[you'll see what I'm talking about 15min into that job. I took the bed off and with all the wheels off, it's so much easier.

[old Rusty C10]

yeah destro knows what hes talking about there too... taking off the bed is not that big a deal, even if you have to do what me and my kid did on mine years back and that was to dremel cutoff wheel through the nuts on there as it was badly rusted and replace the bolts and nuts... they are readilly available at lowes.. that whole deal could be done in a weekend including taking off the bed

[rod86]

what bout this stuff? looks like they got suppliers in the usa aswell. im going to try it on my frame...

http://www.kbs-coatings.com.au/

[bwilder10h]

Post back and let me know how it works out.

Question on removing the bed... is there a way to unbolt it and make up some sort of device that will keep it in the air while I work on it without breaking the bank?

[DESTRO]

Originally Posted by bwilder10h

Post back and let me know how it works out.

Question on removing the bed... is there a way to unbolt it and make up some sort of device that will keep it in the air while I work on it without breaking the bank?

Get some friends and lift it off and set on the ground upside down. That will let you address the bottom of the bed and the frame.
The ground and gravity are free.Your buddies might cost ya some but dont stiff them till it's lifted back on the frame.

[CNC]

I use a cherry picker with two straps and just lift it off using the cherry picker as a crane. then just roll the truck out of the way.

[bwilder10h]

Originally Posted by CNC

I use a cherry picker with two straps and just lift it off using the cherry picker as a crane. then just roll the truck out of the way.

That might not be a bad idea. Where do you attach your straps when you do it?

[AceX]

I just steam cleaned and rattle canned mine. Not the best finish, but I'm pretty happy with it. Just need a new diff. cover and I'll be set.

[CNC]

Originally Posted by bwilder10h

That might not be a bad idea. Where do you attach your straps when you do it?

I hook my straps in the front, just in front of the stake pocket under the bed rail/cap lip so the stake pocket keeps the strap from sliding, On the rear my strap fits in the pocket and grabs the lip. (This is on my 69) But i belive the 81 is the same, I would go look but that truck is 10 miles away...and in weeds that is about 3 feet tall filled with ticks and chigers...I know this works on the 93 as well. I looked at my dad's a couple of weeks ago to change the fuel pump. But I got lucky some very cute girls stopped by with a friend, and a couple of guys were walking down the street so I was able to play on them being all macho in front of the girls.

[bigblock73]

As Destro mentioned, just get 2-3 friends, lift it off manually and set it aside until you are finished. No need to over think this.

[Matt_305]

I agree, remove the bed to do this, I have two easy systems I use when moving beds, 1: Back up to a stack of wooden pallets (I work at a concrete block factory so I have many around), you and 3 friends pick it up walk backwards maybe 10 feet with it set it down, no danger of even scratching it. Just watch your filler neck. 2: Back up to a stack of pallets again, (for safety sake) I have an old wooden swing set frame made out of 4x4 posts (double thick on the top) a come along and an "H" I made out of 4x4 posts. put the H under the lip of the box, come along it up out of the way, drive out shove the pallets under, set it down. Both systems have worked for me with no injury to my back or panels. I've done this quite a few times, trying to flip them over people have slipped, jammed fingers, hurt backs, that type of thing. I find these are the easiest safest ways to go about it. Good luck!
-Matt

[bwilder10h]

Not really trying to over analyze, but I'm kind of on my own with this. My dad and father-in-law both have bad backs and my brother in law isn't able either.

Just trying to be creative in figuring out a way to get it off. I would like to be able to clean up the bottom of the bed though. I'll see what I can come up with...

I'm trying to envision your idea Matt and I think I might be able to figure something out there. Thanks

[bwilder10h]

Originally Posted by AceX

I just steam cleaned and rattle canned mine. Not the best finish, but I'm pretty happy with it. Just need a new diff. cover and I'll be set.

Steam cleaned.... as in pressure wash? I can rent a washer from the local tool place but I dont believe they would get it clean. I thought about trying to find a place that would rent a sand blaster but all I can find are the parts boxes.

[CNC]

That is why I suggested using a cherry picker. I do alot of the work in my garage late at night by myself. With the cherry picker you you cross the straps RF corner to LR corner and LF to RR and then you use the hook on the cherry Picker where they cross, you can pick it up a little bit and get all the wiring and stuff also check to see if there is anything you forgot. Slide CP in from the rear that way all you have to do is push the truck forward then gently sat the bed down. No "paying" friends and you dont have to worry about getting hurt.

[Ryan87]

Try some stuff called OSPHO,then go over it w/por15. I work in a restoration/hot rod shop, & this what we use all the time the OSPHO will kill the rust. You can get @ any decent hardware store.

[bwilder10h]

Thanks for the tip. I'll have to stop by Ace Hardware and see if they carry it...

[piecesparts]

I know someone that used the "Rust Bullet" paint and to tell you it is as tough as powder coating. I believe that this stuff will be my next purchase for coating a frame.

http://www.rustbullet.com/?source=ad...FQNbxwodbxUmRQ

[LMDGUY]

1. take bed off
2. clean with Super Klean and presure washer.
3. wire wheel on electric grinder.
4. your choice of finish product.

[CNC]

Interesting enough I am stay with some friends tonite and he has an old copy of Custom rodder from Sept 2003 laying around and there is an article on Rust Bullet in it. Looks pretty straight forward and easy to do. I learned a new trick from the article......Use Tin Foil instead of masking tape. According to the article it applies with two steps and there is hardly any prep work. Their finished work looks great and they give it two thumbs up.

[COMP]

Originally Posted by CNC

Interesting enough I am stay with some friends tonite and he has an old copy of Custom rodder from Sept 2003 laying around and there is an article on Rust Bullet in it. Looks pretty straight forward and easy to do. I learned a new trick from the article......Use Tin Foil instead of masking tape. According to the article it applies with two steps and there is hardly any prep work. Their finished work looks great and they give it two thumbs up.

how do you stick the foil on???

[MylilBowTie]

I have a pressure washer and engine hoist

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by COMP

how do you stick the foil on???

Tin foil works great when you are detailing an area that you don't want to or can't remove everything out of the way. Wrap it with a few layers of tinfoil and scrunch it tight against the part that doesn't get painted.