Trucks are incredibly stylish and powerful, but like all vehicles, their frames can experience rusting, wear and tear, and other damage over time. If damage to a truck is not addressed quickly, it can spread. Fortunately, a solution for this type of issue exists: truck frame restoration. Let’s analyze this process and the amazing results it can produce.
The Importance Of Truck Frame Restoration
Before anything else, it’s imperative for you to fully understand what “restoration” is. When a vehicle is restored, it is rebuilt completely to look as if it had just rolled off the assembly line at the manufacturer’s factory. This is different from refurbishment, which implies that only certain parts of the truck have been upgraded.
Whenever rust begins to accumulate on your truck, the paint can gradually peel and any metal parts can become weaker. The negative effects of rust and corrosion can become especially severe during the winter and summertime when temperatures reach extreme levels and there is salt on the roads (in the former case). Therefore, be sure to thoroughly wash and clean your truck before winter arrives and add a coat of wax for the finish.
Three Types Of Rust
In 2017, AAA revealed that 70% of American drivers deal with rust issues. It also reported that over the previous five years, 22 million U.S. drivers have seen their trucks experience rust damage to their vehicles due to de-icing chemicals. There are three types of rust that can form on your truck: surface rust, scale rust and penetrating rust. Here is a close look at each of these types of rust.
Surface Rust
As its name indicates, this type of rust appears on your truck’s surface and begins with seemingly minor cracks and paint scratches. In order to repair surface rust, you can use sandpaper or a grinding wheel. Be sure to utilize these tools until the metal parts shine again. Afterward, apply a coat of paint and another coat of primer. To blend these coats, buff the rust and paint one more time for good measure.
Scale Rust
This is the type of rust that forms if surface rust is not immediately fixed. Scale rust can substantially weaken your truck’s metal parts. For this type of rust, you can also use a grinding wheel and sandpaper, as well as a wire brush. Apply a coat of paint and primer to top it all off.
Penetration Rust
This is the most severe kind of rust, and it is named “penetration rust” because it can pierce a vehicle’s body. When rust goes untreated for long periods of time, your truck’s metal sheets can become weak and holes can begin to form on them.
Preventing Rust On Truck Frames
In order to prevent rust from forming on your truck and worsening, just follow three simple steps:
- Use a jack to lift your truck so that you may more easily work on the frame. Remove all mudguards, plastic wheel well covers, and anything else that may impede you from cleaning the frame.
- Begin to eliminate any loose dust with the help of a wire wheel brush and a drill. Don’t forget to wear personal protective equipment. Utilize sandpaper or another similar material to brush off any remaining patches of rust.
- Wash your truck’s frame with soap and water in order to eliminate any remaining rust dust, and then give it some time to dry off.
If you detect any holes in the frame, use screen wires and body filler.
Speak To A Custom Auto Body Shop
Reach out to the experts at Robs Customs & Restorations in Manassas, Virginia for more information about how to restore a truck frame and eliminate rust from it. We have experience working with classic, antique, and vintage trucks, and we always begin a restoration project with bodywork, which includes frame straightening and alignment so that your vehicle can drive safely on the roads. Rob’s professionals will then restore your truck’s interior, including the seats, glove box, and dashboard.
For truck frame repair, we utilize advanced tools (grinding wheels, wire brushes, etc.) and materials such as filler and primer. We will always strive to remove every spot of dust, rust, or corrosion with as much precision as possible. Robs also provides custom paint jobs, so your truck can benefit from an elegant new look.
Whether you are seeking a partial or full restoration, and regardless of whether you wish to display your truck at a show or simply hope to enjoy a more elegant vehicle, Robs is here to assist you. Call Robs Customs & Restorations today at (7703) 552-5001 or contact us online to learn more about our services.