Finally Got a Tacoma And I Need Your Help!

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Welcome to TW! That looks like alot of rust to me. How much would Toyota charge to replace frame?

 

Thanks for your prompt reply. I don't know how much Toyota would charge to replace the frame but they denied to replace it under warranty when I called Toyota corporate.

 

Welcome to tw. Best luck on your frame.

 

that doesn't look that bad. it needs some TLC but doesn't look unsafe to drive

 

Mine looked worse, but had it since new n live in mn. I welded mine. You can do the same. But it look ok for now. And welcome to tacoma world. Now your wallet will be empty

 

you have a few options here. 1st is to take it to a body shop and get a price to knock that rust off and undercoat the frame. 2nd is to do it yourself. start wire brushing it now, and i mean NOW. dont let it get any worse. a good paint for that is called POR15. it will take some time to brush all that off and paint it but if you dont want to spend 500-1000 to get it professionally done, thats your only other option.

 

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. Over thanksgiving break, I might grind away rust and weld weak spots. Just gotta find someone on Craigslist who can weld. Thanks again guys!

 

Where are you located. I know alot of welders in central mn. And that pur15 is some awsome staff but Messi. Autovalue carried it around here. You may have good luck scrolling tw for a good welder.

 

Located in mpls. I'd appreciate a lot if you could introduce me to some good welders. Thanks!

 

In at green lake. Look in the minnesota thread here i believe craemer is there he is a yota fanatik. Loves helping other yota owners i believe he is in bloomington.

 

Tacomas in Minnesota?
That is the name of the thread.

 

As long as it isn't rusted through and the hammer didn't reveal any holes, I'd say it's worth to repair. Don't wait untill you have holes, though. Take action now, or as soon as possible, at least

Wire brush the loose rust off, treat it with a rust killer then paint it with POR15 (optional), then fluid film or rustproof the shit out of your frame

For the inside of your frame, you must remove the loose rust too. Pressure wash it through the square holes on the frame rails (not a good idea at this time of the year, though... try compressed air instead). Should get most of the rust flakes and chunks. Then use a long flexible tube taped to the end of a shop vac hose and insert it into each hole several times untill you get nothing.

Then to rustproof the inside you can use something like this:
it's an extension wand for spray cans that has an end that sprays 360 degrees, perfect for the inside of frames. Use it with a fluid film can
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dinitrol-E...253146167896?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10

 

Welcome aboard

 

Good frame restoration thread link
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-restoration-did-it-myself.368199/

 

Thanks all for your suggestions!

You said "treat it with a rust killer then paint it with POR15 (optional), then fluid film or rustproof". So does that mean apply fluid film on top of POR15? or choose one or the other after grinding the rust away?

Also for cleaning inside of the frame, I'm not too sure how to insert the tip of the vacuum hose inside the frame through tiny holes.
Could you please further elaborate on how to remove the rust inside of the frame?

I appreciate your thoughts and expertise.

 

That looks like a hole/tear/stress fracture in your pic...


BTW use a wire brush, not a grinder.

 

Paint alone won't keep rust away, grease will. So whatever you choose (painting it or not), you must apply grease when you're done. So if you paint it, don't leave it like this. Let the paint dry then apply a good layer of fluid film on top of it.

A vacuum hose is too big to fit, so taping a smaller hose to its end will allow you to get in through the square holes on the frame rails' sides

I don't think it is. There's lots of these little recesses all over the underside of the frame rails. I think they are clamp marks, from when they assembled the frames at the factory. I guess both halves were clamped in place then welded together

 

That makes sense! Thanks for your reply.

I've been reading various posts on TW and I noticed some folks pulled the bed off to remove the rust but some didn't. Do you think it's necessary to do so? It does look like removing the bed makes the job a whole lot easier.