Looking for Advice in Relation to Rust

[PLDXSR5]

I've gained a lot of knowledge about 3rd gen 4runners from this community and appreciate everyone who has contributed.

I understand I'm bringing up a very common issue pertaining to Japanese metal...rust. Reading previous threads, rust can be maintained and sometimes completely eliminated. However, I don't have the ability to conclude whether an area of rust is no longer repairable. That being said, I'm hoping someone can help judge the severity of rust on my 4runner and whether it's worth keeping...

Here are several pictures of the rust:
https://ibb.co/j1xjnS
https://ibb.co/hOx61n
https://ibb.co/gWLtgn
https://ibb.co/k0RASS
https://ibb.co/dbzVSS
https://ibb.co/iH2TE7
https://ibb.co/c8DqSS
https://ibb.co/hJUau7
https://ibb.co/b1AgZ7
https://ibb.co/fo1oE7
https://ibb.co/eRPVSS

https://imgur.com/a/VuKMv

Other than the rust seen, the body is straight and free of surface rust. Mileage is currently sitting at 138,000. My plan is to do some maintenance to the engine and possibly the deck plate mod.

 

[jgue467]

I don't see any images. Why not post them here?

Everyone else that posts them on some other hosted site ends up like this in the long run. :cowboy:

 

[PLDXSR5]

[MENTION=75316]jgue467[/MENTION] - I just added a link of the pictures. Are you able to view them now?

 

[Silver Supra]

That's pretty bad IMO but I live in the south, but only you can decide if it's worth keeping or not. Probably fairly common for a PA vehicle.

 

[jgue467]

Yes - can view them now - thanks.

I'm certainly no rust expert but I'm going to vote that is salvageable.

I've read and seen on here rust is usually worst where the rear trailing arms meet the frame. Not sure I saw of pic of that - maybe I missed it. :cowboy:

 

[thegipper]

I used the links and saw the pictures.

Your rust looks like probably 80% of these 3rd gens that are in the rust belt.

You'll need to poke, prod, hammer etc any areas of concern to see if its surface rust of if the metal is compromised.

On face value, it doesn't look too bad.

 

[Kanoe]

Looking at it through salt encrusted Canadian eyes, I would say it's not that horrible. I wouldn't junk it if I already owned it.

As mentioned above, the critical spot is usually the rear lower control arm mounting area.

I bet this truck would look 10x better if you started fluid filming it regularly, even if you don't fix the rust first.

-a pet peeve of mine so forgive me. Do you grease your drive shaft? It looks pretty dry.

 

[Mark_BC]

Looks ugly but as long as you can't poke through frame should be repairable.

 

[Scramble]

Looks pretty bad but salvageable. That's a lot of wire wheeling, rust converting & painting ahead of you. The main thing is the frame though, they rot from the inside out. Rotted out areas are repairable but if it really bad you'll need to do a frame swap. I have a bad feeling about your frame looking at those pics.

I spent almost every Sat & Sun from July to Nov last year working on my undercarriage. I dont have many pics on my work IMac, all of my pics are my home desktop. But here are a few attachments.

I started with an e-locker axle swap but the rust was so bad (or starting to get bad) that I figured it would be easier with the axle, springs, shocks etc all out of the way.
The new axle, frame rails & cross members have 2 coats of Black Eastwood Encapsulator & 2 coats of Black VHT roll bar & chasis paint.

The body (under side of the floor boards) was pressured washed, decreased by hand, wire wheeled & sprayed with 2 coats of Grey Eastwood Rust encapsulator. Not sure if I'm gonna top coat it. Trucks been in my garage all winter, since Nov & has seen no salt.

 

[Scramble]

I sanded, encapsulated & painted everything while they were out, bump stops, Upper & lower control arms, pan hard...etc

 

[Ifirefight]

Man, I feel for you guys that have to deal with that kind of rust.. I live down here in South Florida and you NEVER see a car like that..or very rarely. In my opinion that thing is an accident waiting to happen.. I would not feel comfortable putting my children in that. Frame swap it or find another. These trucks are great, but just because the engine last forever doesn’t mean the rest of the vehicle components will. Anything can be restored, just look at all the classics they were selling at Barrett Jackson in Palm Beach today on TV...just takes $$$$. FYI, I did auto body restoration for 20 years, so this is just my personal opinion....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[T4R2014]

Not too bad. I'd rather deal with frame rust than body rust.

 

[Kanoe]

I'm going to disagree with you southern guys. Not everyone has access to a selection of rust free trucks.

I'll agree it's not pretty, I wouldn't buy it, but it's not necessarily a death trap either. I've seen worse on the road. Only the OP can verify if it is still structurally sound. Or his mechanic can.

If it was me, I wouldn't bother to try and clean it up, it would be a ton of work. I would just oil the cr@p out of it frequently and continue to use it. I'm guessing it hasn't seen much oiling/undercoating in it's lifetime.

Just a salt belt opinion!

 

[Scramble]

Here's a few shot's of sections that are done. I've only completed from the LCA mounts back. It's a lot of work & I understand not many people have the emotional attachment I have to mine.

 

[TrexRunnerGirl]

This pretty much looks like mine and yes, I know I have a ton of work ahead of me to at least try to stop the rust a bit.
Just wish it would warm up here in Chicago so I could start working on it.
Nicely done.

 

[nwh5024]

[MENTION=140892]PLDXSR5[/MENTION] where are you located? If you are close to me I would be happy to show you the spots to check and keep an eye on to see if there is still structure there... I know from dealing with it myself plenty.

 

[Scottyboy]

My truck is a Canadian truck that has seen salted roads for the last 21 years. I wouldn’t be worried about it, start by wire wheeling the most susceptible spots i.e lower control arm mounts, the frame in the rear wheel well, the rear axle. It takes time and you have to do it little by little. I’m about 80% rust free now. And I’m lucky cause the local high school shop teacher lets me in once a week and I put it up in a lift and pressure was all the salt I can get off the frame

 

[PLDXSR5]

[MENTION=212429]Silver Supra[/MENTION] - Yeah, It certainly doesn't look pretty. I'd love to keep it. I'm looking for someone who can help better judge the rust.

[MENTION=75316]jgue467[/MENTION] - rear trailing arms...got it. I will give them a look. Thanks!

[MENTION=138943]thegipper[/MENTION] - I appreciate your feedback! I hope it's not as bad as I think it is...

[MENTION=102449]Kanoe[/MENTION] - Fluid filming? I'll have to look into this...and no, I haven't re-greased the drive shaft yet. Thanks for the reminder!

[MENTION=7105]Scramble[/MENTION] - Good to hear from you! We were in contact a while back when I first purchased my 4Runner. I took the trip to Monroe to pick up your OEM front bumper! Anyhow, thanks for the pictures! Great work! I don't have the resources, at the moment, to do such a project. Very impressive nonetheless. I'm not looking to eliminate all the rust but ways to stop it from further deteriorating.

[MENTION=194921]Ifirefight[/MENTION] - I appreciate your feedback and expertise! To be honest, The 4runner is terrific, leaving out the rust. I've taken trips to Nashville, Arlington, and Wallops Island without any issue. Transmission shifts nicely, no vibration at low or high speeds.

[MENTION=71030]T4R2014[/MENTION] - Good to know. The condition of the body is great!

[MENTION=102449]Kanoe[/MENTION] - I don't plan on cleaning it up. However, I would like to treat the undercarriage to prevent additional corrosion.

[MENTION=170776]Scottyboy[/MENTION] - Jealous of the hook up you have with your local HS. Very convenient.

[MENTION=134392]nwh5024[/MENTION] - I sent you a pm.

 

[Ifirefight]

My truck is a Canadian truck that has seen salted roads for the last 21 years. I wouldn’t be worried about it, start by wire wheeling the most susceptible spots i.e lower control arm mounts, the frame in the rear wheel well, the rear axle. It takes time and you have to do it little by little. I’m about 80% rust free now. And I’m lucky cause the local high school shop teacher lets me in once a week and I put it up in a lift and pressure was all the salt I can get off the frame

Let me start by saying that without any of us actually being able to see the frame rust in person it is impossible to judge the severity of the damage. I am all for taking a wire wheel, grinder or whatever you want to it and apply you choice of rust inhibitors to any and all SURFACE rust...however in a few of these photos it is most definitely not surface rust, it is rusted from the inside out and far worse than what can be seen from the outside. In the picture I circled an area that looks like you could push a screwdriver through... that metal was thick at one time but has now lost all it’s structural integrity.

That’s not surface rust.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Scramble]

[MENTION=9111]silversup[/MENTION]ra - Yeah, It certainly doesn't look pretty. I'd love to keep it. I'm looking for someone who can help better judge the rust.

[MENTION=75316]jgue467[/MENTION] - rear trailing arms...got it. I will give them a look. Thanks!

[MENTION=138943]thegipper[/MENTION] - I appreciate your feedback! I hope it's not as bad as I think it is...

[MENTION=102449]Kanoe[/MENTION] - Fluid filming? I'll have to look into this...and no, I haven't re-greased the drive shaft yet. Thanks for the reminder!

[MENTION=7105]Scramble[/MENTION] - Good to hear from you! We were in contact a while back when I first purchased my 4Runner. I took the trip to Monroe to pick up your OEM front bumper! Anyhow, thanks for the pictures! Great work! I don't have the resources, at the moment, to do such a project. Very impressive nonetheless. I'm not looking to eliminate all the rust but ways to stop it from further deteriorating.

[MENTION=194921]Ifirefight[/MENTION] - I appreciate your feedback and expertise! To be honest, The 4runner is terrific, leaving out the rust. I've taken trips to Nashville, Arlington, and Wallops Island without any issue. Transmission shifts nicely, no vibration at low or high speeds.

[MENTION=71030]T4R2014[/MENTION] - Good to know. The condition of the body is great!

[MENTION=102449]Kanoe[/MENTION] - I don't plan on cleaning it up. However, I would like to treat the undercarriage to prevent additional corrosion.

[MENTION=170776]Scottyboy[/MENTION] - Jealous of the hook up you have with your local HS. Very convenient.

[MENTION=134392]nwh5024[/MENTION] - I sent you a pm.

After I posted I realized that it was you who bought the bumper. I hope it's holding up well & good luck with your truck. If you want a simple spray on solution look at NH Oil Undercoating. https://nhoilundercoating.com/