frame repair( rebuild)

I'll have to snap some in the light, I was too rushed to get everything back together in time for my hunting trip... But so far so good! I drove about 350 miles on old logging roads with a full load in the back... I'd say about 600lbs with the topper and no issues. I haven't done a full once over but I did check my stress points by the perch mounts... 100%! I'm happy with how this turned out. The truck feels a lot more solid, and I can actually trust it to hold weight now!

 

That's awesome nice job! and congrats on keeping a first gen on the road I can't wait until we start getting snow.

 

I'll make sure to update how this fix holds up, but I'm hopping i gave her a 2nd life!

 

damn thats how I found the rust as well. by checking the o2 sensor I heard rattling around. I think im gonna be doing this as well. did you make the plates with all the holes in them your self or is that from the auto rust tech guys? most of the rot on mine will be solved with the cap but i got a questionable spot near the top as well that would be fixed by using an idea like that plate. and thanks to the guy that said to grease it before welding. gonna try to keep this truck going strong.

 

Those are frame reinforcement plates from trail gear. I didn't need them due to frame issues in those areas... I mean the c channels in the back certainly didn't look great, but no holes like by the perches. I mainly got them because I had my buddy do the welding, and since we were already at it, might as well add the extra piece of mind!

Plus I wanna slap a CBI bumper on the back, so the extra support for $80 was a no brainer

 

How has that repair held up? im looking at buying a 1st gen, and the one im looking at has rust in that exact same spot.

 

The thing is that these frames rust and rot from the inside out, so what you don't see is probably worse than what you see. The only way to know if a rusty frame is good it is to thoroughly bang it with a hammer, especially on this area as this is usually the worst spot. Then by the gas tank and the catalytic converter are usually bad spots too on rusty frames

Better to find a truck with a frame that isn't toast, as frame rust repairs aren't a small job but if you can get the truck for cheap and can do all the work yourself, it's going to save you a bunch of $$$$ and then maybe it might be worth it.

 

How's it holding up? Considering doing this to mine. I'm also curious, how much total weight was added to the truck?

I was thinking of grinding the bottom of the frame clean off (whether it's rusted in the section or not) just to access the inside of the frame, clean it up, and coat it in POR15, weld on the caps or whatever I need to close it back in, and then clean up the exterior and coat it as well.

 

I've discovered cracks just above the bump stops on both sides. Does anyone on here know any shops in the Montreal that are qualified to install the Safe T Cap parts? I'm also willing to drive down to NY, VT if need be...

 

When welding on new plates on the section that are boxed. Do you weld the inside edge of the plate? If so how do you do it? If not, the outside is strong enough?

 

I started the frame repair project on my 2001 Tacoma Double Cab 4WD on January 19, 2019. I installed Safe-T-Caps from AutoRust Technicians, new leafs & shackles, (2) coats of KBS Coating for the frame and upgraded to Bilstein 5100's all around. Should have the bed back on and things wrapped up by next weekend.

 

Nice! My 2003 Xcab is in the shop now getting both forward spring patches replaced with Rust Fix parts.

 

Got the truck back Friday, Came out great!
All undercoated by shop after this photo was taken. 151,000 miles and ready for a lot more.

 

This thread gives me hope. I don't have any holes in my frame, but I find enough metal flakes when I crawl under there that I know its only a matter of time.

 

Looks like a great job. What brand/type of springs and shackles did you go with?

 

have you borescoped the inside yet?
maybe its not bad at all, just on the surface

 

I haven't. It could be all surface, but I'd be surprised if it were. This truck has been around.

EDIT: I really just need to pull the bed and powerwash the snot off it. Right now its hard to tell what's rust and what is just "accumulated"

 

Driver's side bumpstop last night. The other bumpstop has a hole through it.

I've been up and down the frame itself with a hammer though, it sounds solid. So I dunno.

 

On mine, the worst was the left inside frame by the gas tank.
Hard to see. Feel for cracks up there.
The labor to fix both sides on mine was $1250.00 Parts were from www.autorust.com

 

where are you located?