battle against salt...

[88B2EB]

Have you guys with undercoating ever had any trouble getting suspension and chasis bolts off on account of the heads being all gummed up from the coating? That's what's kept me from doing it in the past but would like to know if it's a real concern or not.

As far as keeping rust off the body itself I've always made sure to turn the hose toward myself and run it under the truck along the length of the body especially inside the wheelwells whenever doing a wash. Rust usually starts on the inside of body panels so that's really important. Doing that once every week or two, especially in the salty months, has kept most of the rust off the body of my little '94. Although the undercarriage hasn't been so fortunate.

 

[Mark_88]

A little blow torch will burn off any paint or other crap on the bolt heads before you try to undo them...so, no, that shouldn't be a problem...

Contrarily, if you just let it rust out those suspension bolts will be a snap to get off...lol

 

[88B2EB]

Good point Mark. Definately have had my fair share of trouble with stubborn suspension bolts.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Oil and a freshly graveled road in the spring is a great way to protect the underside. Sure you have to scrape it off bolt heads and the like, but that thick film of gunk will help keep the bolt head from rusting into an unrecognizable blob.

The problem I've found with the rubberized undercoatings is that if you don't stay on top of it ALL the time, once the stuff gets a couple cracks, rust can get in. And once it gets started, it spreads in no time at all under the undercoating. I don't see that happening with oil. My favorite is to use some good hydraulic fluid. The one dump truck I ran for my old boss had the pressure line let go while raising the bed one time - RRRRRRRRRRR-PSSSSSSHHHHHHH-thunk... that's not good..... Well, it coated the ENTIRE underside of the truck in that oil and the stuff NEVER came off, lol. You could spray it with a hose and the water would just bead up and run off. I miss that old cranky truck sometimes, wish I could have added it to my collection.

 

[Andy D]

The absolute best rust proofing system I ever had was on a 50 $ Dart. It leaked a pint a month of ATF from the output seal. The torque flite would slip when taking off cold to let me know it was time to top off. The heap was rusted to the door handles but every bolt underneath was perfect.

 

[mitch4x4]

^

 

[PANTERA]

Just replaced the rear shackles that were victim to the great salty Wisconsin roads! I bought the truck in '96. Truck runs super most of the time, but I think the Titanic has less rust on it than my truck! Lol
Jason

 

[tmcalavy]

just move south a few hundred miles.