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how long do you think my frame has?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by vtframer, Apr 8, 2017.

  1. Apr 8, 2017 at 7:08 PM
    #1
    vtframer

    vtframer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Ok - so i have an '01 that i just bought in AZ (lived it's life there) and I drove it to VT. I had it undercoated it's first day here in VT and i'm wondering how long do i have, if i keep up on the undercoating once a year, before the frame starts rusting?
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2017
  2. Apr 8, 2017 at 7:11 PM
    #2
    nDub

    nDub Kan kun være malet af en gal mand

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    Central Sierras - NorCal
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    Lead Free Gasoline
    Is there rust now?
     
  3. Apr 8, 2017 at 7:14 PM
    #3
    vtframer

    vtframer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    nope! it's completely rust free!
     
  4. Apr 8, 2017 at 7:16 PM
    #4
    nDub

    nDub Kan kun være malet af en gal mand

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    Sweet. I'm not familiar with NE winters and salt but it seems you have it under control. Just keep an eye on it, right?
     
  5. Apr 8, 2017 at 7:31 PM
    #5
    Itchyfeet

    Itchyfeet Well-Known Member

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    Look into Fluid film, Eastwood internal frame coating or Waxoyl. They rot from the inside out. I coated mine internally, but I hose mine down with Fluid Film on the outside
     
  6. Apr 8, 2017 at 7:38 PM
    #6
    nDub

    nDub Kan kun være malet af en gal mand

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    Yikes. I probably shouldn't be commenting on 1st gen problems.

    Good luck OP!
     
  7. Apr 9, 2017 at 3:34 AM
    #7
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    My Truck came from Texas never saw Winter Chemicals till it moved home to Pa .

    Your truck is one year newer then mine

    After the third winter it needed some tender loving care .

    That you are aware of the problem keeping a eye on the frame is a good idea

    So many are clueless till it gets really bad

    There is a thread on Yota Tech of mixing wax and chain bar oil and spraying it on The person who wrote it is from Your part of the world
     
  8. Apr 9, 2017 at 5:01 AM
    #8
    jjsul

    jjsul Well-Known Member

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    My CA truck has now been through two winters here in MA. I didn't Fluid Film the spindles the first year, and they're both covered in surface rust, in contrast to most of the under carriage, which looks pretty nice tbh.

    Def. keep up with yearly / six month applications of some rust prevention, and as ItchyFeet said, get the internal part of the frame. I use fluid film in there as well, but he listed a few options for ya.

    First gens FTW!
     
  9. Apr 9, 2017 at 5:11 AM
    #9
    blacktacooma

    blacktacooma Well-Known Member

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    My truck was bought new in Nova Scotia. Been undercoated every year since new before rust ever started. I do inside and out of frame with lots of fluid film. I have no rust on my frame yet and do not see any reason it will not last as long as the rest of the truck. I plan on getting another 10 years out of it. With proper care I see no problems with my frame.
     
  10. Apr 9, 2017 at 5:12 AM
    #10
    Clearwater Bill

    Clearwater Bill Never answer an anonymous letter

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    If you invest the effort, it will last as long as you want to keep the truck.

    Just remember treating the inside of the frame is as important as anything you do on the outside.

    Lots of threads around here with successful techniques.

    But if you don't spend the effort on prevention......... the effort on repair is much more difficult.
     
  11. Apr 9, 2017 at 8:11 AM
    #11
    onakat

    onakat Well-Known Member

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    Preventing rust is much more better and easier than having to deal with rust afterwards

    Undercoat it with fluid film or similar product. Or have it rustproofed at rustproofing centers

    My frame was rusty (surface rust) and it never rusted again after I applied fluid film. The rust stopped right in its tracks
     
  12. Apr 9, 2017 at 10:03 AM
    #12
    cruxofthebisquit

    cruxofthebisquit Well-Known Member

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    OME and worth every penny.
    Has anyone compared LPS3 to fluid film? I used to spray stuff down with that for long term storage and wondering if it may not have to be reapplied inside a frame. It always stayed put sometimes even needing a wire brushing or solvent soak in order to use part again.
    Don't know if cosmoline can be sprayed.

    I think the main ingredient we're looking for in any product is Lanolin.
     
  13. Apr 14, 2017 at 7:06 AM
    #13
    vtframer

    vtframer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    blacktacooma - you mentioned you do inside an out of frame - are there enough holes in the frame to be able coat the entire inside of the frame? Where on the frame are the holes? I noticed there was one directly behind the front wheels.
     
  14. Apr 14, 2017 at 7:21 AM
    #14
    blacktacooma

    blacktacooma Well-Known Member

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    There are several hoses along the frame from front to back on inside and out. Get under there and you should find them. My under coating gun has a couple of quick attach hose with different ends about 3 feet long. I put them in each hole as far as they go in each direction and give it a heavy coating. My hoses go past each hole so yes it should be well coated inside and out. My under coating is probably 1/4" thick everywhere by now.
     
  15. Apr 14, 2017 at 10:33 AM
    #15
    RysiuM

    RysiuM Well-Known Member

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    Was Golden State, now Poland EU
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    I moved my 22 years old truck from California to "salt in winter" country in January. Now after all the salt on the road is washed out by spring rains I gave my frame a good pressure washer bath from the outside and then pressure washer cleanup from the inside to remove any dust collected there. Then I used total 3.5 cans of fluid film - one and half can inside the frame, the rest outside.

    It took me total 3 hours to do all that (I mean I waited also few days for frame to dry out after the wash) and cost about 40 dollars in fluid film (there is only one supplier in Poland and it is pricey) and 5 dollars at manual car wash (it is illegal to wash cars on driveway here). I hope this treatment repeated 2 times a year will allow my truck to run for the next 10-15 years. Keep my fingers crossed.
     
  16. Apr 14, 2017 at 11:25 AM
    #16
    vtframer

    vtframer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    thanks guys! I use a local undercoater and plan to have it done once per year. they said they spay the material in the drain holes of the frame so hopfully that works!
     
  17. Apr 14, 2017 at 11:43 AM
    #17
    cruxofthebisquit

    cruxofthebisquit Well-Known Member

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    OME and worth every penny.
    the shame of it is they could used just a little heavier steel for the frame, a few gussets, maybe something like the famous 'X' brace and not had this problem.
     
  18. Apr 14, 2017 at 12:08 PM
    #18
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    My next frame Job I might go with C channel and see how that holds up

    Like back in the olden days of my youth
     
    cruxofthebisquit likes this.
  19. Apr 14, 2017 at 1:34 PM
    #19
    RysiuM

    RysiuM Well-Known Member

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    Or I-beam. The railroad tracks survive decades. I saw some military trucks in Poland with frames made of I-beams. All covered with surface rust but no single hole. Good old days. I would trade my frame for that, even if the truck would gain extra 1000 pounds.
     
  20. Apr 14, 2017 at 3:59 PM
    #20
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    The I beam idea is not bad I think you would need some Gussets to keep it from flexing

    That way you could keep the over all weight down
     

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