Whats the best way to rust proof my chassis

[ghiaguy181]

Hey all,

I just got my first yota and its a 97 sr5 4runner. I have also just moved up into the northeast from Georgia where cars very rarely rust at all. I want to do everything in my power to keep my 4runner as rust free as it is now but I really have no idea where to start. I was thinking of undercoating but have heard that it tends to trap dirt and what not under it. The used oil coating I'm not so sure the EPA would like too much so not sure what I should do. Anyone have experience in this and like to offer up advice?

 

[rickashay]

1) Ziebert Rust Protection

2) OR go to Toyota and get them to coat the frame using the same stuff that they are using to coat the 1st gen. Tacoma frames. If the Tacoma's dont get recalled for the frame recall, every Tacoma gets a free undercoat.

I will be doing the second as a friend of mine does the Tacoma recalls at Toyota and showed the the Toyota undercoating and the process they use to do it. Seems legit.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I just wire wheeled and wire brushed my under carriage and sprayed it with Rustoleum. It's cheap and helps. May not be the best solution but for almost no money it's worth it.

 

[ghiaguy181]

I am thinking seriously of doing the rustoleum or undercoating because I can't afford the toyota or ziebart coating even though I would love to have that done. How often do you have to recoat everything. I am currently at an apartment that frowns on you checking your oil much less anything else so I have got to be really discreet about doing it.

 

[bluecollarjock]

I bought an XJ and Silverado 4x4 for my dad while living in VA....and they were mint rust free, heading to Western PA where everything rots...I got the truck frame Line X'ed....the other Ziebart, but they do a messy crap job it was horrible experience..on an older Jeep TJ I used some sort of tractor paint, forget the name, its darn good...wire wheel the frame down and put tractor enamel on it, and it should be good to go....there is also another kind of paint you use that converts rust, man Im tired slipping my brain...

 

[PitbullRescuer]

There's a paint called POR 15 I think it's called that is suppose to work miracles. It's pricey though I think.

I would say if you go the Rustoleum route, you'd probably want to do it once a year maybe.

 

[iowajosh]

Paint and let it dry for a while then oil. But that does just mean motor oil. There is rustproofing oil. Fluid film. Linseed oil and lanolin recipes you can mix up and apply. Many more choices. Most are sticky and attract dirt but that lets you know the coating hasn't been washed away. Get inside body panels if you want to be thorough.

 

[8sm]

Best rust prevention.....U-Turn my friend and head south......lol

You're wise to protect your undercarriage before the NE takes a grip on that virgin steel.

congrats on the new ride.

Regards.....8sm

 

[BrianSD_42]

Best rust prevention.....U-Turn my friend and head south......lol

Yep you need to move to AZ, NM or So-CAL.

 

[Tucson4runner]

What's rust?

 

[CanukRunner]

Chasis Saver.. All the auto body shops use it up here.

Chasis Saver is like a super hard rino liner... I havent done it to my frame because

a) to cheap at the moment to spend 120 bucks a bucket

b) If you go over any bolts with it they will never come of....

I need to figure a plan of attack with the things screwed on.

Oh ya I have tried Junkoleam and Junkcheck.... really really pointless.


This is is what I did this summer


1) I ground down the frame in the rear ( to put off road bumper on)

2) Used rust disolving gel to get all the small stuff in the pits..

3) Used a liquid rust converter on everything cuase the rust remover gell sucked too

4) used 2 coats of Junkoleum high performance rust enamel paint

1 month later.. rusted clean through the paint.

Tried the Chasis saver in my rear hatch .... 6 months later still solid.



I really hate living in this rusty environment... I have no idea how your trucks down there have almost no rust

 

[badattitude]

If you can't afford the rustproofing from a pro paint or detail shop, I recomend Fluid Film. I buy a case at a atime for $80 off ebay. Then coat the chassis in the spring and fall. It does a good job of stopping rust in it's tracks.

Fluid Film® | Corrosion Preventative, Lubricant and Rust Inhibitor

 

[Nelsonmd]

I am thinking seriously of doing the rustoleum or undercoating because I can't afford the toyota or ziebart coating even though I would love to have that done. How often do you have to recoat everything. I am currently at an apartment that frowns on you checking your oil much less anything else so I have got to be really discreet about doing it.

This...

Best rust prevention.....U-Turn my friend and head south......lol

ayup...

Yep you need to move to AZ, NM or So-CAL.

Paint and let it dry for a while then oil. But that does just mean motor oil. There is rustproofing oil. Fluid film. Linseed oil and lanolin recipes you can mix up and apply. Many more choices. Most are sticky and attract dirt but that lets you know the coating hasn't been washed away. Get inside body panels if you want to be thorough.

I have 4 cans of fluid film, and I have sprayed it on various parts that I didn't want to paint over (mostly bolt heads after putting them in). I am not really that impressed with it. Those bolts still just rust up again fairly quick. I am sure it is helping, but it isn't great.

BTW, another guys here in Boston, SkidPalace, undercoats his entire undercarriage with fluid film, and he doesn't have nearly the rust that I and others have, so maybe there is something to it. You do have to reapply it every year, maybe 2x during the winter though.

There's a paint called POR 15 I think it's called that is suppose to work miracles. It's pricey though I think.

I would say if you go the Rustoleum route, you'd probably want to do it once a year maybe.

For the love of all that is holy, don't use the rustoleum crap. It is just that, crap. I have tried it on various parts of my frame, and those parts are all severely rusted again now. It is worthless.

I am using POR-15 on my frame, and it seems pretty good. You have to prep correctly, and it has to be on rust of bare metal or else it will peel off. It is a bit pricey, but it isn't that much more expensive that the rustoleum stuff considering how much each covers, and considering one doesn't work at all.

Where in NE are you? I am in the Boston area, and if you want to come over sometime for a POR-15 party, we can work in my driveway.

What's rust?

Screw you hippy...

 

[fightman80]

Here's some pics from last year, shortly after I sprayed the truck with my recycled Motor Oil:

Shot of the rear diff. when I did the breather extension

Shot of the rear heater lines....they rusted....but only were the shield stopped me from spraying them....

shot of the front rad / support

Side shot of the exterior....see the oil seeping out of the door handle?

Rear shot.....you can see the oil seeping out and over the bumper

On top of all this, I spray all my chrome with WD40 at least 2 times during the winter....and never wash it until spring......

This method has kept my truck from rusting into oblivion....and allows me to remove bolts and stuff without too much of an issue. It's messy, but it works. People always say..."that is one dirty truck" or "must be messy to work under there", but I say....you stare at the undercarriage all day do you??? At the end of the day, you look at the body, the wheels, the tires, and any other mod you do to it.....who cares if it's dirty underneath???

I hear you about the oil on the parking lot though, and it will probably drip for about a week. I slow that down a little by just driving up and down a dirt road...it kicks up some dirt on the oil, and helps to stop some of the dripping. I've done it for years, with no issues from Police, or any hippies....lol!

BTW, one wash with warm water and a small amount of degreaser....and it body looks like this:

 

[rickashay]

Buy a DD and leave the 4Runner parked all winter.

 

[ghiaguy181]

Nelsonmd, I am in Dorchester. That would be awesome to do the POR-15 at your place. I hate the fact that the leasing office is on site at my apartment and is so strict about doing anything to your ride because thats my #1 hobby. I've used POR-15 on several different aircooled VW's and was very pleased with the results. Only downside is I am broke as a joke right now so I will have to see if I can come up with the funds to do it.

will the spray cans of undercoating do any good at all? I would love to explode a oily/wax bomb that would get into every nook and cranny and stay there underneath it but can't seem to find one of those, lol.....

 

[willbgood]

I bought an XJ and Silverado 4x4 for my dad while living in VA....and they were mint rust free, heading to Western PA where everything rots...I got the truck frame Line X'ed....the other Ziebart, but they do a messy crap job it was horrible experience..on an older Jeep TJ I used some sort of tractor paint, forget the name, its darn good...wire wheel the frame down and put tractor enamel on it, and it should be good to go....there is also another kind of paint you use that converts rust, man Im tired slipping my brain...

Rust mort makes great product, but its acid based, so wear good protection.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

I like this stuff from KBS Coatings.

KBS Coatings - Gas Tank Sealer - Rust Prevention - Stop Rust Paint - Clear Coat Paints

It's cheaper than POR 15, doesn't have near the prep. For instance you can use it on top of paint. Just have to scuff it up. It pretty tough too, especially if you use multiple coats, as suggested. I painted my lower control arms and drug them on my concrete driveway while putting LBJs on and LCA bushings and it didn't scratch the paint. I put it on before last winter and got under there this summer and powerwashed the chassis and it looks freshly painted. Extremely happy with this stuff. I also read on here somewhere that it's made by some chemist that left POR15 makers to make a better product. Not sure about the validity of that however.

 

[Quadsbc]

I use fluid film. Still zero rust after the harshest Maine winter in 50 years

 

[68dave]

Buy a DD and leave the 4Runner parked all winter.

That's exactly what i do. The guys at work laugh at me because i have a lifted 4runner & a lifted tacoma and when the roads are snowy and/or salty i drive my beater honda accord to work. I tell them my trucks are hibernating in the garage for the winter, lol! Even tho' my yotas sit most of the winter i still spray WD-40 inside and on the outside of the frames, diffs, rockers, ect... My wife drives her 02 4runner daily(she loves her runner, she wont drive a beater) but i also WD-40 the undercarriage of hers many many times during the winter. Here's a pic of my 2 last winter.