Rust\rot under and around Tahoe?

[James417]

Hello I have a 2003 Tahoe. Been in service with a fire department and saw plenty of winters and salt. Due to that it has plenty of rust as well. Some minor rot and bubbling on panel below drivers door. But the frame and spare tire holder is pretty rusty. Lots of flaking and rust. No complete rot but you get the picture imagine almost any truck in NY states winters. It is still structurally perfect but enough rust to be alarming sense I want to put money into this truck and keep it. Any ideas on what to do? It has a rubberized undercoat I tried to do back when I first got it when I was stupid enough to believe just that was enough thinking it would slow the rust but now I realize its doing nothing but traping it. I would like to have the rot under drivers door cut out and patched. Any suggestions? I'll post pics as soon as I can.

 

[ladorn45]

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74403

 

[James417]

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74403

Thanks this is exactly the information was looking for. I'm gonna try my best to get the flaking off and do some rust prevention before undercoating.

 

[James417]

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74403

Thanks this is exactly the information was looking for. I'm gonna try my best to get the flaking off and do some rust prevention before undercoating.

Got a better look around the Tahoe today. Power washed as much loose rubber uncoat crap as I could and its just some surface rust and flaking in the rear where spare tire was. I removed the spare tire to work on rust a while ago and don't know when if ever I'll put it back and then some surface rust here or there on the frame and body further up very scattered though. Anyways my father and I did a super redneck floor pan replacement job on passenger side where it rotted due to a leak in door seal. We literally knocked out loose rotted metal then wire brushed and sanded as much as we could get off without cutting then sprayed rust inhibitor on and rubber coat several times then just dropped the new floor pan on top and screwed it in with a thick bead of silicone around the edges to help seal. I wish we would have done a better job but had no welder and though it was gonna be a beater/off road truck I mean it looks ugly with carpet lifted but it works and you can't see it or notice it otherwise. Also on drivers side there is surface rust and peeling paint so last summer I sanded and rubber coated it before putting the carpet back down. Now I notice there's areas under the plastic liner under the pedals that are rusting a decent amount pealing pain and bubbling a tiny bit under paint. Also the rails by the door frame on floor where the runner trim clips into is rotted out so I'm gonna try to find those at a local junk yard so the plastic trim is fully clipped. Anyways sorry for a novel but with the winter and salt taking over NY like usual I feel like I have to do something. I have already had one car rot away I want to prevent that with this. Don't get me wrong its solid as hell. Better than a lot of NY trucks its age but still I don't want to get that far. Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[James417]

Now have pics like to my album:



https://www.flickr.com/photos/87811337@N02/albums/72157656986853593

I'm thinking of using phosphoric acid then undercoat but is it worth it with this much rust?