Fixing all the rust.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,716
Likes: 672
From: Hartford, WI
Looking good. I went to a body shop a month or so ago, to get my rear wheel wells looked at. They are just starting to peel on the underside, and i have a small bubble, maybe the size of a dime on the surface. He told me $2k for each side, as he would have to replace the whole bedside!
After that price quote, I realized that I will be getting a set of factory flares to cover it up, and have to accept the fact that I have a rusty truck. Glad I washed this thing weekly.
Cab corners are going next, but the rockers are still in good shape.
After that price quote, I realized that I will be getting a set of factory flares to cover it up, and have to accept the fact that I have a rusty truck. Glad I washed this thing weekly.
Cab corners are going next, but the rockers are still in good shape.
Community Team
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 8,962
Likes: 7,492
From: Vermont
Looking good. I went to a body shop a month or so ago, to get my rear wheel wells looked at. They are just starting to peel on the underside, and i have a small bubble, maybe the size of a dime on the surface. He told me $2k for each side, as he would have to replace the whole bedside!
After that price quote, I realized that I will be getting a set of factory flares to cover it up, and have to accept the fact that I have a rusty truck. Glad I washed this thing weekly. Cab corners are going next, but the rockers are still in good shape.
After that price quote, I realized that I will be getting a set of factory flares to cover it up, and have to accept the fact that I have a rusty truck. Glad I washed this thing weekly.
Cab corners are going next, but the rockers are still in good shape.Rust starts there. They use stupid foam in that area too that just holds salt and dirt.
OEM PTM flares would look great on your truck.
Thread Starter
5 Year Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 755
There is enough room to get the cab corners chopped out and replaced, it is just more time consuming. He got them ground out and welded solid as you can see from one picture with the pile of rust under it. The rockers had a couple of rust holes also, but instead of replacing the entire rocker that would require removing the doors, the rust was cut completely out and new metal cut and fabricated back in. He did a very good job. When everything is finally done, a nice undercoat will be applied that will seal it all up inside and out. Picked up a new Ford oval badge for the endgate, mine was changing colors. My tab has increased a bit due to labor, but I want it done right and done once. Mine is done with all metal welded in with limited as much as possible use of any filler. It won't have to be absolutely perfect around the wheel arches since the wheel arch moldings are going back on. I sure am glad my newer truck is all aluminum now. Would have been nice if back when this generation was designed, somebody would have addressed the rust prone areas using composit plastic, stainless, or heavily galvanized steel. At least these trucks hold up better than Ram or GM fenders or rockers that I see up here.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,716
Likes: 672
From: Hartford, WI
when washing the rear fenders, do you flush out the top side of the wheel well? You can see the opening when looking up from under the rear bumper on each side.
Rust starts there. They use stupid foam in that area too that just holds salt and dirt.
OEM PTM flares would look great on your truck.
Like you said, I will be getting a set of ptm oem flares to cover the little bit up, for as long as I can. Definitely am not a fan of those huge bushwacker flares.
Community Team
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 8,962
Likes: 7,492
From: Vermont
Haven't sprayed that out until 2 days ago. Thought I found all the little crevices to spray crap out of. Bunch of mud/grass came out of both sides.
Like you said, I will be getting a set of ptm oem flares to cover the little bit up, for as long as I can. Definitely am not a fan of those huge bushwacker flares.
Like you said, I will be getting a set of ptm oem flares to cover the little bit up, for as long as I can. Definitely am not a fan of those huge bushwacker flares.