Bed Rust

[TXStroker97]

MY ole 97 f350 was in a fender bender years ago, a few years ago the paint started bubblin and currently is peeling. I need some advice on what to do. This was my dads truck btw and recently handed it over to me. Im now having to fix the problems.

[351fifty]

Probably be easy to just find another bed, but that looks like a lot of sanding and painting there

[TXStroker97]

I dont mind applyin some muscle, i just need to know it can be saved or would it just be better off gettin a diff bed?

[LNS4x4]

Anything with rust is never really worth saving. It will always make its way back.

[Chiller]

IF it was my truck this is what i would do.

"Flapper wheel" all of that rust off.
Put a thin! coat of bondo down.
Re paint it white with a harbor freight spray gun.

Cheap alternative.....POR15 it. all you will have to do it paint it on. But it is going to be black

[Chiller]

Originally Posted by LNS4x4

Anything with rust is never really worth saving. It will always make its way back.

I disagree. Its all about the prep work. Sealing in your grinding/sanding/bondo/metalwork. I've seen tons of guys grind rust away and then hit it with a can of duplicolor. Of course rust will come back. On all of my projects i apply a primer, base, clear and the rust never comes back. And if you really want to keep that rust away.

Grind the area down
Por15 or any rust encapsulator
bondo
paint

[TXStroker97]

Thank you guys for the input, i greatly appreciate it. Hopefully i can save myself some money.

[Maverick1701]

I have had great resuts w/that rust blocker primer (rustoleum brand). I have used it on several projects w/good results

[Chiller]

^ i use rustoleum primer...good quality stuff

[Armalite]

as long as you dont have rot you should be find with sanding to bare metal, bondo, primer base clear.

Here are some "backyard" rot fixes I do lol.

1: Started as 4 little rust bubbles. THis is what it looks like behind.


2: Cut the area out more (used a small mirror to see the panel behind and cut beyond the rust.) Then I ground down the rust and applied por 15 all over the area and on back of the outerpanel. Waited till it was tacky to apply the fiberglass patch and bondo etc. (Let that set for a day before sanding).


3: This is basically the final product (with spray cans) No clearcoat was applied yet. But you can see how it comes out. I did the clear and let it dry for a few days before rubbing and polishing to blend it. It looks perfect.


Thats basically my redneck barn body shop. I did this on the rear fenders 2-3 years ago and the rust in those areas hasn't come back. But popped up in different areas. Cancer (rot) like this cannot be cured without new metal. But I try my best .