Hi all, New member from Australia,


I just got another 81 long bed that has sum very minor rust starting to appear, maybe a inch long.


its pretty original so just looking to stop it without stripping and repainting,


what are my options ?


thanks

 

Using rust converter to stop the chemical reaction may be a good idea, then touch it up with paint. If we had a picture we may be able to help you more precisely.

 

Rust doesn't just simply "stop." Once it starts, there is no covering it up and making it magically disappear. The only true way to get rid of rust is to media blast it, repair the damage and coat it. Depending on how severe the damage is, sometimes it is just a matter of filling the surface pits, priming and painting. More severe issues will require cutting out sections and welding in new metal. I've done both on my truck from completely fabricating and replacing the floorpan to filling surface pitting. But basically anything you put over rust will just be a bandaid - it will come back

 

this is the rust, minor but I want to stop it,
you can see it from underneath aswell.

 

That is definitely deeper than what you think it is. The way that Toyota constructed these beds allows water to seep up under and in between that seem. They basically designed them upside down - that lap joint should have been the other way so water couldn't drip down in the seem as easily. Combine that with the low grade recycled steel that they used and you have a recipe for rust.

 

What you see on the out side is about 1/3 the size that is behind that you cant see. If it is light rust sometimes you can grind it out to good metal, other times it has to be cut out. Rust seems to me that it may stay small for a while and then in just a short amount of time just take off all of a sudden almost over night.

I have seen pin holes in a door or tail gate but on the inside it was the size of a couple of different coins. If it isn't pitted, you should be able to sand it off, if it is pitted, I would remove that section.