IDI's, moist salty foggy air, and cancer...

[The Warden]

Hello!

I've been pretty quiet as of late; work's been crazy and I'm beginning the process of moving yet again *sigh* and...this move is raising a question for me.

Contrary to popular belief, rust DOES exist in parts of California. And, I'm moving to a coastside town (2 blocks from the beach and 3 blocks from a very good fishing pier ) where winter's actually slightly warmer than summer and foggy/moist salty air is a serious concern. I will probably only end up living here for a year, but I'm seriously concerned about my IDI rusting away in the course of that year.

So, for you rust belt guys...how do you all deal with the cancer problem? I've got a few chips in my paint that have led to surface rust; it didn't concern me before but now I'm worried about the spots spreading. I imagine that I need to take a wire wheel and reduce the spots to bare shiny metal, but what should I paint over the metal?

I've dealt with more rust than I care to think about, but this was all in a marine environment (with a VERY limited budget) where it's accepted as a given that any rust repair is temporary; I'm kinda hoping that it'll be a bit better in the automotive world. Also, other than "don't let the paint chip any further", any preventative work I can do? The paint's not great on the truck, which has led to me not bothering to wash it...are regular truck washes something I should get into the habit of doing?

Anything else that I'm not thinking of?

BTW, there's an '85 or '86 regular-cab IDI parked right in front of the apartment complex I'm moving into, which looks like it's lived in this town all of its life. I need to get some pictures of it and post it here; this truck's body is more cancer-ridden than even my old Scout was

Thank you all!

 

[69oiler]

i spray/bruck motor oil on the undercarriage. for body rust i sand blast then reprimer and paint. but sorry to bear bad news, you will never stop it once it starts. you can only prolong the agony.

 

[The Warden]

Surprisingly, the surface spots that are on the truck now have been there since before I got my hands on her (almost 6 years now ) and haven't grown one bit. But, it's just on the surface as far as I can tell...if it started going through the metal, that would be the beginning of the end. OTOH, I need a new hood, both doors, and tailgate anyways

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I think the undercarriage will be okay (or at least as okay as the body). There isn't any snow here, so no need to salt the roads. Just, it's so close to the ocean that the air itself is salty...I imagine that anything that's exposed to the atmosphere is fair game. I don't get a garage, and I doubt the carport I do get will be enough protection, even if the truck can fit (haven't tried yet; need to find out which carport's mine first )...

 

[OkieGringo]

Just smear some grease on the rust spots. I lived in Santa Cruz, Ca. (about 50 miles south of Pacifica) for several years and never had a problem with the "R" word. don't sweat the little stuff. Okiegringo

 

[adrianspeeder]

Well, the diesel, '97, and '92 get a wash down after runnin' through salt and that has kept them rust free.

Things don't look good for OJ though, he's terminal with cancer. Just hopen' the motor lasts 'till the body and frame rust turn into just an iron smudge in the street.

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I can't figure it out either, as the truck spent most of it's life in Texas. Beach maybe?

Adrianspeeder

 

[spencnaz]

I'd be more worried about that antifreeze leak there kid.

OSPHO is great for treating rust. It turns the rust into iron phosphate and then you can paint right over it. Since you're on the ocean there, a marine supply store should have that stuff on hand. I used OSPHO on my biodiesel trailer before commissioning it.

 

[adrianspeeder]

I'd be more worried about that antifreeze leak there kid.

What leak, I don't see a leak. If I don't see a leak there is no leak...

I prefer "marking territory" incase the GPS's batteries die and I need to come home quick or save an IDI or somethin

Adrianspeeder

 

[f-two-fiddy]

Get some fogging oil. I get mine in 16 oz spray cans, about $2.50
It clings, spreads out and does not evaporate. Spray it anywhere you suspect rust will be a prob. Those rear fender corner supports back by the bumper seem to be a problem area.

 

[towcat]

tim-
having lived in pacifica for a couple of years, i can definitely tell you that it is nothing short of a fruitless battle against rust. unlike water spray, salt laden fog will attack areas of your truck's sheetmetal and whatelse in ways you would never have imagined. here's an example, take a look under your truck in the bed area, there's a cavity running the entire length of the bed on both sides. normally, water spray will not get to those areas if you have all you inner fender shields installed. Fog will find all those nooks and crannies and eat past the phosphate primer like candy. the same goes for the rest of the body. you got two choices, while you're living there resign yourself to the fact the truck will eventually be eaten alive like its cousin you saw, or two, park it inland somewhere else.
sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
only worse vehicles i have ever seen was my cousin's Ohio winter cars. The fools actuall paid to have them transported out to Kali when they moved out here