Budget Crusty Toyota Rehab/Restore thread

Nice score, cool to see you bringing new life to it.

 

don't patch just the 2 small spots. i would run one patch that extends a minimum 6" past either side of the affected area. though i would also 'knock-test' the surrounding area, and expand the patch further if it sounds similarly thin.

 

If needed:
https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/tacoma-xtracab-4wd/

 

ARe those better than cutting out the rust and welding in new metal ? Seems like rust would just develop under them

 

I was thinking more of having options, we don't know what you will really find until the bed is off.

The best rust repair always comes down to "cut the offending area away" and welding in new metal.
Easy enough on a straight section, tougher for the fellow at home to duplicate curves and angles however.

I have had reasonable success by sandblasting the area, coating everything that will be covered with a weld through primer, plated the area and then painting the entire repair heavily with multiple coats of brush on Rustoleum.


BTW, the "blast out of a bucket" siphon sandblasters as below are just slightly better than completely useless.

I suppose you could say they do work - imagine building a house using a plastic hammer...

If the goal is to run up both your electric bill & blood pressure they are a smashing success.

 

Got it. I bought a cheap impact gun off Amazon that should come today, I'll see if that will convince those bed bolts to cooperate.,

 

This one, for those curious

 

If you can put some heat on the nuts it really helps, you don't need a big torch setup, just a regular propane plumbers torch will work, just slower - spray your favorite PB Blaster/Liquid Wrench/Kroil/etc on when hot.

Patience will get you there:
Heat - spray - rattle with wrench on low power - repeat - repeat.

A long time ago I made a memorable mistake - I gave the wife the (air) impact while I got under the truck to hold the wrench -- without ear plugs -- incredibly loud when the truck has a steel bed. Wear some goggles too!

 

I'd like to, however my fuel filler neck is rotted and needs to be replaced. I have a new one, but wanted to do it with the bed off. If I can get the bed off without using a torch that would be preferable so I dont blow myself up.

 

I don’t know how far you are into the project, but instead of repairing the bed, you might be better off driving to a junkyard in a less salty part of the country and pulling a cleaner one.

That’s what I did with my old plow truck.

 

Try MAPP gas. It burns hotter than propane so your heat up time is quicker. It is one step above propane and a few steps below an acetylene torch, but MUCH less expensive!

 

I have used MAPP for years with my soldering outfit.
Funny thinking about it - with the popularity of the PEX system I haven't soldered a pipe in several years now.

 

I use it when I build brackets to allow me to bend aluminum flat bar without cracking it. Having it on hand for other projects, rusted nuts and bolts, etc. has been great.

 

I have a regular acetylene torch which is a game changer when you need it.

Usually I have to excavate it out of a corner when needed...

 

Rust Kutter is THE stuff to use as far as I'm concerned. Best stuff I've found for treating this sort of thing.

 

+1 on coating it with weld-through primer before installation. it seems to be about the only way to really protect it.

the problem you're going to run into really quickly is how far to take the replacement panel-- you can't weld rust. the welder will just blow a hole through it like a really terrible plasma cutter.

i don't know about the tacoma, but the ranger beds are mounted via spring clips through some holes in the frame


if they rot out/seize to the bolts, it's better to cut the bolts, and deal with getting them free with the bed out of the way than it is to spend any time trying to make them come loose.

 

OK this was a good purchase, got 4 bolts out (17mm middle 2 and the ones closest to the cab) without too much drama and didnt break anything. Will try and get the final 2 out today at some point.

 

Wasnt getting to the 2 rear bolts with the impact I bought, needed to buy yet another tool. In other news, I have decided tools are not subject to the "budget" aspect of this "budget build" Still trying to get cheapish tools where I can find them, theyre not gonna get a ton of use but dont want to waste money on complete junk either.

 

And in an attempt to keep myself honest, heres a rough accounting of what I've spent so far. I divided truck specific costs from tools + other stuff I will use on my other vehicles (but which I bought for the immediate purposes of using on this truck):