Has anyone taken the body off the frame?

[Scowling Tuna]

This is pure curiosity. I have no need to remove the body from the frame, but I'm wondering if anyone has? Rust proofing to the extreme? Body shop work? I can't imagine any actual maintenance that would require it. I didn't find anything doing a Google images search (could be user error).

 

[fkheath]

You might check with the Toyota Tacoma forum. Several years ago, there was a serious rust issue with Tacoma frames, and the factory was forced to recall and replace the frame, thus they had to remove the body from the frame to mount the new one.

The Tacoma has the same running gear and front suspension as the 4Runner, so you might be able to find the answers to your question on the Tacoma forum.

 

[VENTURE21]

This is pure curiosity. I have no need to remove the body from the frame, but I'm wondering if anyone has? Rust proofing to the extreme? Body shop work? I can't imagine any actual maintenance that would require it. I didn't find anything doing a Google images search (could be user error).

Scowling, If rust is a concern, I would highly suggest Fluid Film. Buy it by the gallon and get the Kellsport spaygun kit off Amazon. Advanced Auto can get the one gallon containers if yours does not stock. I have not sprayed mine yet to comment on complexity and if there are any access issues.

Pulling a body off is not complicated, just time consuming. Just need to remove everything that is between to separate. Then have a means of supporting it raised to get the chassis out from under.

 

[Nobody Special]

Scowling, If rust is a concern, I would highly suggest Fluid Film. Buy it by the gallon and get the Kellsport spaygun kit off Amazon. Advanced Auto can get the one gallon containers if yours does not stock. I have not sprayed mine yet to comment on complexity and if there are any access issues.

Pulling a body off is not complicated, just time consuming. Just need to remove everything that is between to separate. Then have a means of supporting it raised to get the chassis out from under.

Being that you live in PA, and are considering using Fluid Film, I suggest you spray a bare, scrap piece of steel, and hit it with a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar and salt a few times over one week or so.

Unless you like to waste time and are willing to reapply bi-annually, depending on miles driven and conditions.

Fluid Film is another "internet forum favorite" like POR 15...

I just sprayed mine, and I ran my own experiment on a few products, but the salt, vinegar, peroxide mix will speed the process up a bit.
First "mod" complete

 

[02SE]

I was thinking of doing this over the weekend, just out of boredom...





















:biggrin2:

 

[VENTURE21]

Being that you live in PA, and are considering using Fluid Film, I suggest you spray a bare, scrap piece of steel, and hit it with a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide, Vinegar and salt a few times over one week or so.

Unless you like to waste time and are willing to reapply bi-annually, depending on miles driven and conditions.

Fluid Film is another "internet forum favorite" like POR 15...

I just sprayed mine, and I ran my own experiment on a few products, but the salt, vinegar, peroxide mix will speed the process up a bit.
First "mod" complete

No need to, it rusts. Try this experiment. Paint the metal with your Por15, chip it and spray it with your concoction. What happens? Take another piece of metal and use Rustoleum rust reformer. Then coat with enamel. Apply fluid film on top. See what fairs out better.

 

[Nobody Special]

No need to, it rusts. Try this experiment. Paint the metal with your Por15, chip it and spray it with your concoction. What happens? Take another piece of metal and use Rustoleum rust reformer. Then coat with enamel. Apply fluid film on top. See what fairs out better.

So it seems you'll still use FF.

Just tried to save you some time and not keep repeating the same steps, expecting different results and save you some cash at the same time.

Enjoy...

 

[Charlievee]

Only a bit more complex then doing a body lift. It's not rocket science and fairly common for body on frame vics.

 

[Scowling Tuna]

I was thinking of doing this over the weekend, just out of boredom...


:biggrin2:

Yup, I'm thankfully not having rust issues (that I'm aware of, ha). I know that our trucks/suv's are not simple like a jeep, I'm just surprised that "no one" has pulled the body off for some extreme reasons. Solid axle swap or engine swap (which we also seem to have "zero" of, as a community).

Pure curiosity.

 

[chcg12]

you guys saying fluid film does not work well??

 

[Nobody Special]

you guys saying fluid film does not work well??

Just me... I did the experiments. And actually used FF once.
It is another internet forum "miracle" like POR 15. :hail:

It works if you don't drive the vehicle in which was coated in rain.
Been down that road, and I HATE repeating jobs. (Once every 3 years is acceptable for touch-ups for me, not yearly)

If you want to test... grab some lightly rusted, and some cleaned steel and a can of FF.
Coat the metal. Then hit it with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and salt in a spray bottle.

You can also attach it to the frame of your vehicle of choice with a neodymium magnet, drive in rain, and then hit it with the solution again to simulate road salt.

There is a reason I coated mine with only (almost) 150 miles on it.

Don't get anything black. Businesses like to use black products to HIDE rust.
Rust Check, Ziebart, looking at YOU.

 

[Messsa]

Been down that road, and I HATE repeating jobs. (Once every 3 years is acceptable for touch-ups for me, not yearly)

Would hate to see what you skid plates are holding. :lmao:

Fluid film works great but may I recommend Cor-Ban? Stuff is amazing for rust prevention.

Cor-Ban(R) 35

 

[Ogre75]

I am a believer in FF, but it does require regular upkeep, which throughout the winter is not something I want to do. After looking at some youtube videos that compare several of the favorites, I have done my frame this last fall in CRC Marine Corrosion Inhibitor. Based on tests, it is less easily removed but still easy to apply. I guess I'll see how it works out.

 

[Nobody Special]

Been down that road, and I HATE repeating jobs. (Once every 3 years is acceptable for touch-ups for me, not yearly)

Would hate to see what you skid plates are holding. :lmao:

Fluid film works great but may I recommend Cor-Ban? Stuff is amazing for rust prevention.

Cor-Ban(R) 35

On my '02 4Runner, I coated the skids after cleaning with Brake Clean.
Each oil change, there is very little up there.
ZERO rust on the main oil skid, never recoated.

 

[Nobody Special]

I am a believer in FF, but it does require regular upkeep, which throughout the winter is not something I want to do. After looking at some youtube videos that compare several of the favorites, I have done my frame this last fall in CRC Marine Corrosion Inhibitor. Based on tests, it is less easily removed but still easy to apply. I guess I'll see how it works out.

If I did body-off on the 4R, I would have used WaxOyl.
99 LR D1 has WayOyl from the factory.
I only needed to retouch a few areas.
Dedicated snow vehicle in the rust belt has zero rust underneath, and the body is aluminum.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
No way could I justify the FF/Ziebart/etc annual upkeep.
Plus, it is just repeated cost.

To each his own. It's your time and dime.
If you ran some simple experiments with products you are interested in, you would know what's up.
Just trying to save you all some coin and time.

 

[Ogre75]

If I did body-off on the 4R, I would have used WaxOyl.
99 LR D1 has WayOyl from the factory.
I only needed to retouch a few areas.
Dedicated snow vehicle in the rust belt has zero rust underneath, and the body is aluminum.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
No way could I justify the FF/Ziebart/etc annual upkeep.
Plus, it is just repeated cost.

To each his own. It's your time and dime.
If you ran some simple experiments with products you are interested in, you would know what's up.
Just trying to save you all some coin and time.

That's what I'm saying, the choice to try the CRC is based on testing data vs competitors