Crazy idea to keep my frame solid.

My frame is in decent shape, it does have some spots, but no holes. I plan on pulling the bed and por15ing it. But as we know the issue starts on the inside of the frame.

I was thinking about when the bed is off to drill a 3 inch round hole near the front spring mount. Blow/power wash/flush the crap out the hole. Then flush with phoso acid to remove/convert what rust in in there. Then sense I will have a nice big hole spray, with a long wand, por15 on the complete inside of the frame.

After it is sprayed and dried well the round hole back up then put a patch over it for more reinforcement.

Basicly I want to make sure I stop the rust on the inside forever.

Has anyone ever done this?

lastly I have a rust stain on the bottom of the seam of the tailgate. Yes I know its coming from the inside. How would you stop this?

 

The heat from the welding can easily cause a hole in your protective layers to occur (on the inside) which would defeat the whole idea.

Most people get by with just keeping their frames clean (power wash the road salt off, etc...) and applying POR15 everywhere they can.

 

I would use one of the smaller holes to recoat the inside from where I welded.

I even flirted with the idea of welding up all the smaller holes, but I think it needs to breath to help get any water that does get in, get out.

edit, I also tend to overdo most things, when absolutely it is a waste of time. And underdo things I should not.
Example is the shelves I put up in my Garage. The supports are made out of 2x4, with half inch ply gussets, glued and stapled on both sides. The shelf is 24 inches deep, there is a 45 degree support in the middle of the 2x4 that sticks out of the wall. Which is also screwed, glued and gusseted. Support are on 16 inch centers, see pic below, although the pic is pre gussets

 

People use a special hose sprayer to get the inside of the frame via one of the existing factory holes, I wouldn't go cutting out a new hole in your frame

 

I wouldn’t do a huge 3” hole in the frame. I’d maybe enlarge a single OEM hole on either side to maybe 1/2” (underside of frame) at most but that’s about it. If I was to do a one and done deal, I’d run a hose into the front and turn it full blast and let the frame rinse out for like 15-30 minutes on either side. Then spray the inside with a good degreaser and rinse it out again. Then I’d let it thoroughly dry. Then I’d coat the inside with Eastwood internal frame spray, let that cure for a week or so and follow up with some fluid film or similar product.

I’d only use POR15 mainly on exterior if you are set on it. I wouldn’t use anything in the POR process other than their metal prep (which is essentially a phosphate converter anyway). Their degreaser is essentially simple green (even smells the same). Once you POR15, make sure to topcoat it in the appropriate window. After that’s cured a few days, I’d top it with fluid film or similar product also. Then just clean the frame up once a year and reapply fluid film for the rest of the life of the vehicle. Spray paint touch up as necessary.

Don’t put POR15 over clean painted frame, unless you at bare minimum scuff it up real good.

 

There are already plenty of holes in the frame. It's not even boxed from the shock mounts back. I didn't find it to be an issue when I removed my bed and saturated my entire chassis in POR15.

 

I under stand rust, I own a 1975 Porsche 914. Granted it need to be restored which is why I built the shelves so I clean up the garage. see edit above

 

This x2

 

What area of the country are you in? That may help us advise what you need to do without going overkill.

Definetly dont go drilling holes into your frame. Welds are where a lot of rust begins, as the grades of the weld and base metal are dissimilar. Case in point is how my dads '08 Taco rusted out.
Started on the weld, then worked its way over to the base metal.

 

Fluid Film every 3 months?

 

Thats a little extreme. Once a year will do it, or before and after winter if you wanna go the extra mile. I did mine 6 months ago, still wet underneath.

 

I am in maryland, yes we use salt. I guess they think its good when a half inch on crabs, soit needs to be a half inch thick on the roads.

I plan on fluid film, I am just going to stop as much as I can now