Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: ge_montana on May 12, 2012, 05:23:07 pm
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I did not see any posts on the issue or slight rust on the underside, so hopefully this has not been discussed.
I live in Florida and purchased this rig in Indiana in January, where it did not have much travel (less than 9,000 miles in 2 plus years.) i was under the PC today fixing a few wires and trying to figure out where all the parts are.
I notice that both of the support brackets that follow the main chassis of the E450, but not the other has some surface rust on it. I live in Florida very close to Tampa Bay and we are always watching out for rust. I cannot tell if this rust -- see photo -- is something that has been there for a long time, or is a Florida environmental issue.
I am of the mind to scrape it off and paint with black Rustoleum. Has anyone else every encounter this problem and decided to something about it?
Greg
2552s
2010
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I would wire brush the loose rust off and then use a rust converting primer(3M and others)(not just a primer for rusty surfaces) and then a finish coat. Probably would do as well as anything in the clime you live in. Undercoating is another way to go. I would not recommend doing undercoating yourself except on very small areas. Probably not anal, I once had a used motorhome out of Florida, for the longest time no problems, but when they did show up it usually was accompanied by signs of salt induced corrosion.
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My first comment is.....Thank you for including a picture. That really helps in understanding your concern.
Unfortunately, Ford and other auto manufactures, don't use the same protectants on their truck frames as with other body parts. Rust is a common problem on truck frames.
You mentioned that you picked up your PC in January. The chassis might have gotten winter salt spray when delivered to the PC factory and/or on your way home from Elkhart. I don't know how far you live from the gulf, but I have family in Florida who live near the ocean, and their vehicles are a wreck from the salty sea air. Maybe your rust is simply from the humidity of the area.
Regardless of how it started to form, the rust is just begiinning. Now is your best time to do something about it because it will be very easy to stop it with minimal labor.
There are a number of products on the market to stop the rust from continuing, without having to remove it. I'll share my own experience when tackling severe frame rust with my Ford Ranger pickup truck.
Four years ago I bought a 1996 Ford Ranger with only 44,000 miles. I got it for only $2000 because of rust issues. I removed the bed to expose the majority of the frame and spent a few nights banging off loose flaking rust. The rust was very bad, but caught just in time to save it. After all rust layers were banged off, I applied two coats of a product called POR-15 (http://www.por15.com/), then one coat of Rustoleum paint
Fast forward 4 years to today, my pickup truck frame is still rust-free. Understand that my truck is my primary commuting vehicle in the Chicago area where winter salt spray is a very serious matter.
If you go to that website, they talk about a preparation product, actually an acid. Your rust is so minor that you can apply POR-15 right on the rust in your picture without any kind of preparation. POR-15 penetrates the rust just like a penetrating oil. Be careful not to get any on your skin because it will be there until your body sheds that skin.
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Don't know if you can get it or not, but when I was in the Army and had to get rid of rust on duce and halves in Germany we used something called Marine jelly. We used paint brushes to put it on, it would eat though the rust in about 30-60 min. DO NOT get on any surface that is painted or chrome, it will eat it. After it has time to eat the rust wipe it off and you can paint/undercoat, oh wear gloves and don't get any on skin.
Sorry for my bad spelling.
Gary
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Thanks. Will look for material at home depot tomorrow.
Greg
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....something called Marine jelly....
I am familiar with Naval Jelly. Are they the same thing?
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I think so, it's been over 20 years so more than likely I said the wrong thing.
Gary