A little restoration

Nice! I was hoping they just needed a good adjustment!!!

They look great on there!!

 

For rust removal on small parts like D rings and bolts you can also try electrolysis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQNvhUYqCkw

 

HMMmmmm

 

Got the rest of the bed bolts refurbished and installed, as well as the gate panel bolts.
The bolt after my mechanic loosened it;

After rust reformer;

Loaded them up with high-temp grease and installed them.

Rust reformed & painted the gate bolts and put them in place, as well as the bedside bolts.


Now I've got to get the mud guards on......

 

Been following this thread. Thanks for the updates!

Did you have any problems with removing the tie down D-ring bolts? Did they spin smoothly after they were broken loose or did they give you hell the whole time threading them out?

 

No, they un-bolted with no issues.

 

SOooo, been experimenting with Fusion 360 for about a year now, and have come up with this design;


When I painted the grill last year, I removed the emblem, and just kept it off because I wanted to paint it black, of course. I noticed that the paint was flaking off of the chrome, so I set it aside. I wanted to create a replacement and have it 3D printed. One thing led to another and I created the Dicepticon emblem. It did not take too many hours to create, the time was spent triple-checking the measurements. I have ordered one through Sculpteo, so I hope it fits. I think its going to look cool, but that's just me. Will update here as soon as I receive it.

 

I like it!!

 

Ok so, after Sculpteo lost the first order, they finally shipped the replacement. Turned out great;


All the clips seem to match up;


Ziggy approves....( thought he was going to break it )


Test fit was perfect. Will paint it like I did the grill & side view mirrors.

 

My latest project has been to get fog lights installed. I have had three people pull right out in front of me, almost t-boning them each time! I started driving with my head lights on, and I still had someone pull out in front of me again. I'm hoping installing fogs will do the trick, but I suspect phone use while driving is the problem. My son had purchased an after-market kit he was going to install. It has the harness and lights with bulbs & relay. I started doing my research and asking questions here and received a ton of help from TW, as usual. I know I had the factory plugs hanging down behind the bumper cover. I found out that the Prerunners have the wiring in place, all I needed was the relay, interior switch and lights. Thanks to @skatefreak282, @DocD and a few others for their assistance in helping me figure this out. Thanks to @MasonSTL for selling me an OEM switch. I was able to purchase a set of OEM fogs, but they are missing the plastic mounting clip that holds the lights in the bumper cover.

So here are the factory plugs hanging down, laughing at me;


Was able to get the switch plug out without damaging the dash, and there was the factory switch plug.....laughing at me;


Vacancy where the relay goes;


So I was given the correct part # for the relay, but the after marker switches available required that I hack apart factory wiring to splice in the switch, not gonna happen. Got the right relay & switch and put them in;


I hooked up the factory lights for a check, and everything works!!


I may have to make/machine the mounting clips myself since you cannot buy them separately. ( the ones pictured I will be selling eventually )



Thanks for looking.

 

Finally got the mud flaps I purchased off a member @skatefreak282 installed.
Found the proper hardware using some of the dealership links posted on the TW forum. There are three push clips and three screw anchors per guard. I removed the faded white 4X4 lettering off with Coleman fuel. Painted them with plastic adhesion promoter, Rust-o-leum bed liner and them semi-gloss black, just as I did with the mirrors. I only painted the back sides, not the side that will get all the stones, etc. I was going to paint the screws in place, but after trying one, there was just no room to fit the spray can in there.

So I removed all of the screws from all of the guards and painted them separately. I put some high-temp grease on the screw and put them all back. I'll probably be cutting the guards shorter in the future, undecided at this time.

 

So, found this while changing the oil, and I'm completely gutted, at a loss for words.


Everything I wanted to do this summer is on hold until I get an appointment with a dealer to look at it. I'm fairly certain that they'll say, too bad, don't let the door knob hit ya. That would mean that this truck is done, and it's just a matter of time before it becomes unsafe to drive. WTF
Update when I have one.

 

I’d keep driving it

 

I will, every bump could lead to the crack getting worse. I hate this feeling.

 

I’d plate over it and call it a day. Everyone in here freaks out over rust. Yes there is a hole. But the other side of that frame rail is probably solid. I’d put some rust reformer in the hole and weld a plate over and never worry about it again.

 

If the rust is pretty much just in one area. Just repair the spot, treat the rest and enjoy your truck.

I've got my fingers crossed for you

 

Thanks guys! What I see as an issue is how the internal plate has been pushed away from the external, as well as the crack. That means a huge amount of rust inside the frame. If I have to, I will do what I can to stop the rust.

 

Sorry to see you’re frame like this. My neighbor’s Jeep needed frame work. I’ll check if he used this NJ shop?

 

TY

 

Such a great thread, you're doing a really great job and giving new life to your truck!