I just bought a 1990 4runner that has some bad rust on the right rear fender (see photo) but is otherwise in great shape. Since I'm damn near broke so this will probably have to be a fiberglass and bondo job for the time being, but I'm looking for any other suggestions or advice. Has anyone else had this problem and done a DIY fix it? What's the best way to deal with this? And when I finally get some money how much might a professional repair job cost? Thanks, any advice is greatly appreciated!

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For us broke people, I think the primary goal is to stop the spread of the rust. I have been going over mine with a wire wheel on my drill, scrubbing the rust clean to bare metal, then shooting it with a rust-inhibiting primer. You can also use a "rust converter" product, which would probably be better. Looking into your wheel well, there looks to be more lurking about. Give your rig a good cleaning with a pressure washer, or have it steamed to remove all of the gunk off the underside and out of the hidded crevasses where it collects and rusts out. Then keep it clean. You can really extend the life of your sheetmetal by doing this.

If you do a 'glass and bondo repair, just do it right, remove and seal out the rust first, and you can have a nice result. Also look for a wrecked unit, cut out the metal off of it and weld it in place of yours...or say heck with it, sawsall out the fender, seal it, slap on some flares, lift it and slap 35's in there!

At any rate, good luck with it! Rust a horrid thing, tough to get rid of and fix. Keeping it clean and stopping the chemical reaction that causes it are the keys. Rust is very similar to fire in that it is a chemical decompisition reaction, and the "rust" itself is the flames and ashes of your metals. Stop the reaction and stop the rust. Oxygen is the catalyst in both reactions, so seal it off good...most of those converter products do work and a bit of grinding followed by Rustoleum is better than nothing!

http://www.toyotafiberglass.com
http://www.bgfiberglassusa.com

Then call your local community colleges/vocational schools and they will install & paint them for free if not find a friend,relative,neighbour or co-worker who like to repair cars on the side as a hobby or a favour or even trade services or buy them several cases of beer.
If that fails find a local off-road club and you will find several people that own 4-Runners,pickups and landcruisers where those people have all of the experience & will do it for next to nothing.

Sidney
Repairs tv's,vcr's,home/car audio out of my home
E-mail:[email protected]
Dartmouth,Nova Scotia
Canada
1985 Toyota 4-Runner,22R-E,W56,RN60LV-MSEK,rusted rear step/towing chrome bumper with 243 000 KM

:goinposta