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Water leak need advice


speaste

Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Messages
5
Vehicle Year
1984
Transmission
Manual
So I've got an 84 Ranger 4x4 that has what I THINK is not that uncommon a problem. It has rusted through the firewall from inside the cowl and now when it rains, water poors in and is rusting out my floorpans.

I confirmed by taking dash apart and can see the rust and push a screwdriver through the holes. I want to get at this and grind the rust off and weld it up but it looks like I should do this from the cowl side? Is that the best way to tackle this?

I appears I need to take the front fenders off before I can get to the cowling to take it off to weld up the holes? Is this correct?

I really like this ranger even though its old and turning into swiss chesse. but I am at a crossroads here cause while I know how to weld, I have no idea how to get in there to get at this rust.

Please advise!
 
i have an answer for you but it you may not like it. if you really love this truck and want to stop and repair this rust... my best opinion is to strip out the cab (you aready have the dash out??) then take it to be blasted so that all the rust is removed. (i hate the price of it too but...) just like cancer if you dont get it it all it will come back!!!! the amazing thing about having something blasted is afterwards. Not when you see the spot that was rusted, but the area around the rust, do you see all the pinholes where the metal has been rusted thin, will you realize how bad the rust damage really is. trying to weld to that thin metal is like trying to weld to aliminium foil all you will do is blow holes and make it worse.
if you know how to weld and have a MIG or torch to weld it with once you have cleaned the rusted area then goto a junkyard and cutout the piece you need from a donor and weld it in. once welded use seam sealer to seal the welds and the seams,seal paint and reassemble.
option 2 is to try finding a good cab and swap it out........ good option of you can find a rust free cab
option 3 clean it real good and then fiberglass it in and that should solve your leak problem for awhile
option 4 is something my monkeycanic neighbor would do s to spray and pray with some rust converter then fill it with some kinda of sealent

unfortunatly there is not good easy way to do this. this problem is just going to take alot of time and labor to fix but doing it the right way will mak you feel better about your investment and solve the problem once and for all
hope this helps
 
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