Surface Rust Suggestions

did your powdercoater have any sort of warranty from whatever happened?

 

Looks just like my frame. I live in the North where they use that mag water crap. I use a wire brush, a wheel on a drill first. Clean up what I can. I then use the VHT rust converter. This stuff is pretty cool actually. It turns the rust into this black hard (almost like nail polish) stuff and doesn't come back. I then use the Fluid film with the extension. I spray inside the frame rails and all over my frame once every 2 years. Does the trick.

 

You keep talking about powdercoat. Are you asking about buying a new frame and having it powdered or stripping EVERYTHING off your truck and having the frame baked?

I'd just have it dipped in galvanize if going THAT far.

 

yes, strip it all out for a few grand or so, replace aged parts as needed
depends on what the inside of my frame looks like, going to check on renting a borescope plumber grade and seeing what's going on inside
I am still researching the galvinizing, if that can be done to a frame that is not 'new' because that ups the cost ~$4k for new frame
i can also maybe get a salvaged frame from the west that will 'probably' fit to mine

project: Save A Taco

 

were you aware that your state SD is not on the cold climate state for frame warranty, etc.?
i literally don't agree with that and MN is

 

They are both going to cost more than a Tacoma is worth by the time you figure in labor.
If thinking these are future collectibles then no mods are allowed. It needs to be a time capsule.

 

a Tacoma is worth nearly $50k now (perhaps more out the door), at least that is what dealers are wanting in my area
i just need mine to survive this climate until i die or they start making sharp looking little trucks again (have been told those days are long gone )

 

Why? Its a pickup from the 90's and millions were made, not like its rare or anything. If I was looking to invest thousands in a truck Id buy something newer.

 

A loaded new one.

Doesn't mean an old driver will EVER be worth that.

 

Or an FJ truck from Australia. They're old enough to import.

 

ah, I follow now. I grok.

 

I would do that if I wanted to dump money into something old. I dont think most realize how much stripping a vehicle to the frame and coating it is gonna run them. Its about $12k for the frame swap on my dads 2nd gen.

 

short of tasking my state DMV to write a program for over a $100 to search their database for still registered 1st gen Tacomas (of my model year or older if they can drill down) there may be 10 or 20 left in my town of +500k (unless people that still have them here park them in garages and not out driving the wheels off of them) I sort of consider that to be rare in my locale

... i have been looking at new ones for over 20yrs now

 

You would have to do it yourself. Which means another truck to drive while doing it.

May as well just buy old Chevies to drive of a winter because from what I see, if you don't want it to rust, don't drive it.

 

No need to powdercoat. Just apply a marine grade primer like this:

https://protective.sherwin-williams.com/detail.jsp?A=sku-28862:product-7267

 

if your in a 'town' of a half million people there's no way your counting 1st gen Tacos accurately. I live in a town a tenth of that and see a different one everyday.

 

i had to guestimate that number from what the service dept told me regarding how many tacomas this age or older they still see come in for service, since they were not able to search their database for model year, (only names and VIN)
i just tripled that # for the 3 dealers and added 5

the 3 different 1st gen styles are easy to spot, I am always keeping my eyes on the lookout!
definitely see more from 2oo1-2oo4 around

 

Going from a dealer service dept is a horrible way to gather data. A lot of people stop taking their cars to the dealer after the warranty is up.

 

this is true!
its just where i started out of curiousity how many are around here still (in near excellent overall condition)

I also asked my insurance provider how many they insure around here, since liability coverage is required, and they could not do a search of their database
the DMV is the only one who can but they need to special write a query (so the nice lady told me)

 

thanks for taking the time to discuss this with me
i much appreciate it

please pardon any regurgitating/repeating on my part

i should clarify, that # is for the very first of the first gen (95.5,96,97) before all of the various changes (exterior and interior)