Rust hole in frame

I had a 97 standard cab that I sold in 2006 and the frame was rotted in half. I think I got a little over 5k for it with full disclosure that the frame was pretty much broken in half. Dude was like, yep. I will cut out the bad and replace it all. These are hard to find.

 

body panels and bottom of door look very good if not great!

 

Thanks. Yeah I bought the truck new and always kept it clean. I left for the military in 2001 and my dad used it to drive in bad weather and to use whenever. I came back home in 2006 expecting to drive it to CA and it just didn't feel right so I crawled under it and literally took a handful of the frame in front of the forward spring perch. I asked my dad when the last time he washed it was and his reply was "when did you leave" and I was like. Well, time to go buy a new truck. I placed it for sale in the buck saver and parked it at the end of the driveway and it sold in less than 24 hours. Thing would have lasted forever if he would have cleaned it. LOL...

 

I don't even trust the local dealers here, that's how bad!
I have asked them over the years and its like they couldn't give a ratzass

 

Don’t know if anyone has mentioned it but VA has the “as is” bullshit that you must’ve signed during the sale, basically freeing the dealer of any responsibility including frame rust. They will likely deny responsibility either forcing you to A.) lawyer up or B.) get it “fixed” yourself.

I had a safetcap welded in on my 4runner I bought. Their website has a list of shops sorted by state, that they’ve including as trusted installers.

But in my opinion if a dealer tells me they “fixed” a frame by welding in a patch then it shouldn’t be on their lot and it should be at a junkyard. No reputable dealer is going to weld up a frame and then sell it. A fixed frame in reality is a brand new frame, not a patched frame. At that point the vehicle should be worth zilch on a used dealer lot market.

 

Yes.. i did sign that. but it did have a paper included with the two owners names and their contacts for "complaints" so i dont know if i should just do that first

 

Yes what I’m saying is talk to the dealer and see if they will work to fix it. If not then it’s lawyer and having to prove the dealer knew about the shot frame, or get it patched yourself.

Edit: or if it’s only been 1 or 2 days some dealers have a swap out policy and you can take it back lol.

 

I doubt a lawyer would be a viable financial option in this case but that is for you to decide. Those small dealers live on word of mouth. Be honest and strait with them and I expect they will find it in everyone's best interest to either give you the money the repair will cost back or perhaps if they had so much interest tell them to take the truck back, you can eat $500 to learn a lesson and be done with it. If they have an inspection station giving them decals they will not want to lose that hookup if they do shady business. Get it settled then report them anyway!! LOL!!!

 

wait what ! $500 i gotta lose? whys that?

 

LOL, you don't have to do anything. You have to decide that for yourself but you might have to lose something because the dealer could tell you to pound sand also! If you sweeten the pot a little that might sway them to take it back and screw the next guy. I mean it is not the most ethical option but you have to decide what you are comfortable with.

Know if you sell it with a rotted frame you stand to lose much more that $500.

 

Good point. OP just know you can put a bad aid on that frame but in time it will all be for nothing as they frame will just keep rotting and you will keep chasing it until there is nothing left to weld to. The issue on these trucks was bad steel and a poor process in how they were manufactured. You would maybe strip the truck and cut it all out and replace then treat and it would hold up but you are looking at either a lot of time or more $'s than it might be worth to accomplish that.

Option B. Get a cap welded on. Treat the frame with POR 15 and drive the wheels off of it until it rots to a point where you sell it and make it someone else's problem. Full disclosure of course.

 

I know people say that but I think it depends on the degree of rust. If it’s literally crumbling apart on all frame walls and there is no solid metal to weld to then frame plating is only a crutch to buy more time and false security, but if it’s a localized section of frame and there is clean steel to weld to I think it’s a solid fix for years. Provided you follow up with a rust protectant and regularly check it a couple times a year.

In my circumstance the rear lower trailing arm section was shot, but it was just the lower 1/2” of metal that was rusting out in a short section due to poor drainage I’m guessing. The fab shop then cuts out the lower 1” or so of metal, leaving the side walls and roof so to speak, and then welds in the frame section/safetcap. The caveat is if the walls of the frame are all screwed then it’s a waste of effort.

 

I just went outside (at work though ) and measured it. its about 3 inches wide, less than half an inch tall the spot is

 

Then that sounds like it’s ammenable to a patch. That’s as long as that single spot is the extent of the rust and everything around it is solid. The shop that did mine cut more than I thought since some metal directly around the rust was still not up to snuff.

 

Nay, not an idiot, just impatient. Totally understandable, we all want a 1st gen!

Ideally, the "dealer" would issue a refund, but that isn't very likely. Not like they'd go "oh yeah, my bad, here's your money back".

Would be great if they did, and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to let them know that at a minimum small claims court is in their near future if they don't. At most, the authorities would be notified at which point their business license would be in jeopardy.

 

Aha! Guess too much fuss for no reason.. just got off and went by and told them about the spot and now they agreed to be billed for the weld fix. Thanks all

 

I'd definitely re-visit that car look looking for at least $500 back (pay for the tools below).
Mine had a hole bigger than that in the same area, among others . In my case, it looks like gravel may have knocked the paint/ED coating off the frame and it rusted through from the outside in that location. I know everyone will say they rust from the inside out, and that is usually correct, but on mine I could tell by what I cut out it had started rusting on the outside.

Get yourself a 4" grinder with cutting wheel, a mig welder, and some 1/4" or 3/8" x 3" angle steel and weld on a new bottom/corner/side. The frame material is only about 2-3mm thick, so 3/8 is max so your weld temp will be close for both materials.

Practice welding on some of the same materials and then go for it. Cut out the cancer and clean the surfaces real well before welding. It'll be okay. For what you'll pay to have it done, you'll get the tools for free.

You might even enjoy fixing it. I do.

Edit: just saw your getting them to fix it. I'd still offer to do it for $500 back if it were me.

 

I’d buy the SafetCap piece and have a trusted installer do it rather than someone just weld a piece of patch in. Way more robust but that’s just my opinion.

SafeTCap has a military discount if you ask too if that applies to you.

 

Yes! Optimism!

 

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