Would you give up on this truck? (Rust)

[DrCheeto]

I'm facing a dilemma here. Money is kind of tight, and the trans on my 96 5.0 XLT AWD has issues (Forward clutch fused together. Binds up in Reverse, and no overdrive). I got the truck SUPER cheap from a friend who parked it with a trans cooler line leak. I fixed the cooler leak, and a week later the trans screwed up.

The exterior and interior of the truck are mint. I have yet to see a leather interior as nice as mine, right down to the brand new looking armrest/console cover door.


I was going to put a used trans in it and try to get a year out of it, but when I put shocks and new shackles in it, I saw the extent of how bad the undercarriage has rusted in the rear section of the truck.


http://s553.photobucket.com/albums/jj388/drcheeto/Explorer Rust/

There are some pics of the rust, and I feel honestly they don't even show the extent. The front isn't bad, a bit rusty, but nothing that scares me. The back looks like it was parked in a lake.

Oh, Ignore the trailer hitch wires and the rusted out shackle. I have replaced both shackles and eliminated the wiring.

So, Do you think I should put a trans in it and drive it for a while? Or abandon ship and look for something else...

 

[lounge lizard]

it looks just like mine!

put a tranny in it and drive it for another ten years!

 

[DrCheeto]

it looks just like mine!

put a tranny in it and drive it for another ten years!

Is your frame all crusty too? There are 2 small holes on the passenger side frame behind the leaf spring shackle. I could probably sand and weld some steel in..

 

[GuardianSport]

I sure as hell wouldn't.

 

[mojoe]

oil it up and drive it

 

[lounge lizard]

it's a 96!

it got a real frame under it made out of 1/8" steel "C" channel.

mine has the same rust all over the back end frame and it is originally from Colorado. go to wallmart in the paint section get some rust neutralizer and caot the frame like I am going to do this year.

or do like Mojoe said! spray the frame with oil and and drive it!

 

[yeah61794]

Not as bad as mine was, I cleaned it off as best as I could and layed on some por 15 real thick. I even had to replace a front leaf spring mount/shackle because it had a hole in it the size of a tennis ball. I also sprayed the undercarriage with linseed oil. It seems to be holding up pretty good so far and it looks a ton better.

 

[GuardianSport]

Buy sandblaster.

Remove frame from body.

Sandblast frame.

Paint with POR-15 and truck bed liner.

Drop body back on frame (and do a bodylift + lots of pics).

 

[shadowless127]

^^ What he said.

I've honestly seen WAY worse.

 

[Baddecision93]

Buy sandblaster.

Remove frame from body.

Sandblast frame.

Paint with POR-15 and truck bed liner.

Drop body back on frame (and do a bodylift + lots of pics).

Lol. I would second this motion except shadowless beat me to it.

That looks pretty average, in my opinion. A lot of that could be chipped off. That rust converter is awesome stuff. We just did the frame of my dad's semi with it and the repainted. You can still some some pitting but it's a night and day difference. Throw the rust dissolver on first for good measure if you want. You could do Herculiner over the POR 15 if you want for a little added protection.

I won't lie, it looks bad but it looks like a midwest truck. Seems like there aren't a bunch of big holes in the frame so you could probably cut it off at the pass.

 

[shadowless127]

I won't lie, it looks bad but it looks like a midwest truck. Seems like there aren't a bunch of big holes in the frame so you could probably cut it off at the pass.

Let's not forget, it's a '96 too. That is not bad at all for a vehicle that is 15yrs old and was parked for a long period of time.

 

[snoranger]

It doesnt look safe to me, drive it over to NJ and leave it with me. I'll drive it for a few years and tell you if it held up or not.

 

[backfrmcolorado]

Buy sandblaster.

Remove frame from body.

Sandblast frame.

Paint with POR-15 and truck bed liner.

Drop body back on frame (and do a bodylift + lots of pics).

Doing this to my 94 this coming summer along with body work (rusty rockers)
No lift for me tho....lowering it and putting 2wd front suspension on.

 

[G-96XLT]

That is nothing, my 96 was peeling like that 2 years after I got it. I got almost 10 more years out of it. Ignore it or spend $5 at most on black flat paint that will make it look better. honestly they all look like that after a few years.

 

[69Explorer69]

i have a 94 4x4 and it looked just like that...i got it from PA(the salt up there can eat steel)and it looked like it sat in salt all year long but the best thing to do is get some steel brushes and some friends+beer and go to town.Thats what i did and when we got done we coated it with some spray paint all is good now

 

[DrCheeto]

i have a 94 4x4 and it looked just like that...i got it from PA(the salt up there can eat steel)and it looked like it sat in salt all year long but the best thing to do is get some steel brushes and some friends+beer and go to town.Thats what i did and when we got done we coated it with some spray paint all is good now

There are two dime sized rust holes in the frame behind the leaf spring shackle on the passenger side. The actual mount on the frame that the shackle bolts to is extremely flaky, and the metal in the rear that the bumper attaches to looks like swiss cheese. The pictures don't really show the extent of it. I can patch the frame, I would probably have to be creative with the shackle mount area though.

Edit: When I did the shackles, I had to remove the trailer hitch. In the process of beating the hitch with a sledge hammer, about 5 pounds of rust flakes fell on the floor from the frame and other areas. The Metal that holds what appears to be an evap canister is almost completely gone. It was so bad I had to move the truck away from the 2 inch high pile of rust chips.

 

[69Explorer69]

do you know someone with a welder? Welder+steel=priceless..i am luckly and work for a demo company so i get first dibs on all the steel we cut down....i have made Frame connectors was thinks about making shackles and selling them but never had the time...just tackle an area and do small ones over time you will have it looking 110% better..Just dont give up..lol

 

[DrCheeto]

I'm going to put it to rest. The shock mount brace rusted off of the frame , and the top of the shock went through the floor today.

I'll probably part out the interior and engine, we'll see what happens.

 

[yeah61794]

Alright, if that happened I would get rid of it. Now the structural integrity is in question and it is probably not too safe to drive.

 

[lounge lizard]

dang!

well do that or!

look around for another one close to the same year with maybe a blown tranny or motor. and swap the good parts on to the new one and sell what you don't need