I fixed my rusted frame, and video-taped it all

Hey everyone,

First off, thanks to all who posted on the forums and documented how they fixed their rusty frames, specifically the ones that were rusted through near the leaf springs. It gave me the confidence to try and tackle the job on my own.

For background, I bought my tacoma not knowing how bad the rust was, due to the previous owner covering up the frame with bondo and house putty. I was pissed. I got a very good deal on the truck considering it only has 140k, so you win some/lose some.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsQRBHy5RPc


Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB6mzShuts8


These are the parts I purchased, minus cutoff off discs out the wazoo:

Auto Rust Solutions
Quantity(1) # ART-083-S Safe-T-Cap, Rear Forward Spring Area, Toyota Tacoma

Eastwood
Quanitity(2) # 12515Z: Internal Frame Coating 14 oz w/Spray
Quanitity(5) #

$37 16060Z Eastwood Rust Encapsulator Aerosol | Quick Drying with UV resistance and Heat Resistance up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit | 15 Oz, Black

16060Z: Eastwood Rust Encapsulator Black Aerosol
Quanitity(1) # 13651Z EW Rubberized Rust Encapsulator Blk Aero

Low Range Off-Road
Quantity(1) TSP-WLH Rear Spring Hanger Kit, Welded (comes with both sides)

Wheelers Off-Road

-Old Man Emu(OME)
Quantity(1) OME GS12 Greasable Shackle Kit
-Daystar:
Quantity(1) DAY KT02017 Greasable Bushing Kit
Quantity(4) Tacoma Poly Spring Eye Bushing
Quantity(4) Tacoma Shackle/Frame Bushing, for GS12 & Factory Shackles
-Wheelers Off-Road Brand
Quantity(1) WHE U6754X U-Bolt Set, (4) U-Bolts w/Hi-Nuts and Washers, 6.75"

 

I don't have any rust issues on my 1998 Tacoma so I didn't look at your videos; however, from the preview images that you posted it looks like you did a helluva good job fixing the rusted-out areas. Hopefully you'll get your money back, and more...

 

Great videos Brother! The finished product looks great! Thanks for sharing.

 

Found your videos on YouTube first and just saw this post here. My Tacoma doesn't have any frame rot, but had significant surface rust on the frame and lots of flakes/chips of rust on the rear differential and some other parts. I spent a long, long time and a huge amount of work (probably a month and a half of work, a few hours here and there and a bunch of days of 4-6 hours of work). I worked only from the underside, grinding, chiseling, sanding, wire wheel brushing, wire brushing. That was the hardest part. Then, I applied 4 coats of Rust Mort on those spots, some spots I would re-grind, chisel, sand, then reapply a coat or two of Rust Mort. Then I applied some self-etching primer that contains some phosphoric acid to create more rust conversion in case I missed some spots with the Rust Mort. 2 coats on most spots, then 2 coats of truck bed liner on the whole frame, differential, skid plates, and other parts. I still have one spot to touch up/redo that is only primed. I did it all in sections, since I didn't have the opportunity to have another vehicle to drive - so when I ran out of day light, I would drive around and do what I needed to do all the way up until the first snow of the year. The extreme drought conditions here certainly helped the process for keeping things clean/dry while I did this long term work.

I have a rust hole in the bed and on a side panel, but just picked up a used bed from someone on the forums here. So in the Spring/Summer, I plan on finishing the frame project by removing the bed, as done in these videos, so I can address the top parts that I couldn't access from the underside. Then I repair the bed and put it back on - something like that. It is going to be so nice and shiny.

Thanks for the videos. I would say these videos were most informative and important for giving me enough motivation to tackle this kind of project.

 

When you said video taped I'm sitting here imagining you setting up an old school recorder that takes full size VHS tapes and going in and popping it in the VCR lol. For this of you who are to young to know what either of those are it's probably your nap time hahahaha

 

Well done. Appreciate the effort and time put into this video. Another Tacoma saved from the scrap heap!

 

Great videos!! My frame is not as bad as yours was but I will need to do some similar work.

 

that looks like an 01-04 truck so why didn't you just get your free rust out replacement frame done through Toyota?

 

If the PO didn't get it inspected and treated by Toyota then it is no longer covered under the frame replacement program.

 

Well, if you ever run for President I'm voting for you. Well done

 

Nice ! I have a 2003 Taco. How do you plan to limit the inside of the frame from rusting ?
I'd like to take the bed off mine this summer too.
I also have a stock " hole" in the frame just behind the front wheels. Seems like a lot of salt/road debris would get in there ? I use the hole at the car wash to spray the frame out. I may try and make a designer spray shield with an old semi truck mud flap or thin aluminium.

I had a crazy thought. Seal all the holes in the frame. Connect an electric vacuum pump to the frame. (Water can't live in a vacuum) It would have to be a separate vacuum source than the engine, so if a leak developed it wouldn't throw off the manifold vacuum. Thoughts ???

 

Your Vacuum seal idea would be exceedingly difficult.

 

seymourless - where did you truck live it's life? was is ever under-coated? nice job on the repair!!

 

Hey! it spent the first 2 years in New Hampshire, then the rest of its life in Virginia.