Advice on using POR-15 on the frame

[trevino33]

Hello everyone, I am looking to POR15 my frame this weekend. I am completely new to working on my own vehicle and am excited to learn. So far I have learned to change my alternator and 02 sensor! I was wondering a couple of things, first, is there any kind of list of things I might need for this job? Second, what else can be POR'd underneath as there is a lot of surface rust underneath. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[JDS123]

POR is some nasty stuff. If you are going for aesthetics, a good sand and paint job will look better and not be such a pain in the ass in the future, IMO.

Have you also checked the inside of the frame for rust? That is the part that matters the most. The outside is purely cosmetic.

 

[trevino33]

I have poked my finger around in there but don't really know what to look for. There is some debris in there. What should I be looking for?

 

[trevino33]

POR is some nasty stuff. If you are going for aesthetics, a good sand and paint job will look better and not be such a pain in the ass in the future, IMO.

Have you also checked the inside of the frame for rust? That is the part that matters the most. The outside is purely cosmetic.

Also fellow Illinoisan here so it is not technically purely cosmetic

 

[Fughuert]

Foam brushes work best imo and don’t wear anything you care about and avoid skin contact cause it takes a week to wash off.

I’m pretty happy with how my por has held up but the most important protection is the inside, I would get like 3 cans of fluid film and a 360 wand and just hit every nook you can see.

When I spray or paint underneath I pretty much hit everything in sight, not much down there isn’t supposed to be black.

 

[trevino33]

Foam brushes work best imo and don’t wear anything you care about and avoid skin contact cause it takes a week to wash off.

I’m pretty happy with how my por has held up but the most important protection is the inside, I would get like 3 cans of fluid film and a 360 wand and just hit every nook you can see.

When I spray or paint underneath I pretty much hit everything in sight, not much down there isn’t supposed to be black.

Thank you for the information, so would it be better to do the fluid film and maybe just get all surface rust off and paint the exterior? as @jodomcfrodo has said? and if this is the case what kind of paint should I use?

 

[JDS123]

The condition of the exterior is purely cosmetic. You could leave all the surface rust you have on there and be just fine. The real problem is the inside of the frame. If you can pull rust chunks out of the frame, then you have a larger problem.

Since the outside of the frame isn't really that important to keep in good shape, I wouldn't use something as harsh as POR, but that is just my personal preference. Many people do use it and like it. I think paint tends to look a bit better and isn't as hard to remove in the future if needed.

 

[Fughuert]

If you’re willing, I would do the por once then each year top coat it with just some black spray paint.

I buy a big can of rust oleum enamel and indiscriminately hit everything, front axle and steering especially, for cosmetic reasons.

 

[trevino33]

The condition of the exterior is purely cosmetic. You could leave all the surface rust you have on there and be just fine. The real problem is the inside of the frame. If you can pull rust chunks out of the frame, then you have a larger problem.

Since the outside of the frame isn't really that important to keep in good shape, I wouldn't use something as harsh as POR, but that is just my personal preference. Many people do use it and like it. I think paint tends to look a bit better and isn't as hard to remove in the future if needed.

I will have to go poke around on my break in all of the holes but from what I can see the frame looks good. This is now most likely what I will do as I am a college student, and my budget is low. I do want to paint the outside for cosmetic reasons and paint everything else underneath. What kind of paint would work best?

 

[trevino33]

The condition of the exterior is purely cosmetic. You could leave all the surface rust you have on there and be just fine. The real problem is the inside of the frame. If you can pull rust chunks out of the frame, then you have a larger problem.

Since the outside of the frame isn't really that important to keep in good shape, I wouldn't use something as harsh as POR, but that is just my personal preference. Many people do use it and like it. I think paint tends to look a bit better and isn't as hard to remove in the future if needed.

and is there anything I should do to prep the inside of the frame before fluid filming it?

 

[JDS123]

and is there anything I should do to prep the inside of the frame before fluid filming it?

I would just make sure there isn't a bunch of dirt and junk inside before fluid filming. Otherwise fluid film on the inside is a good plan.

If you haven't already, drilling drain holes is a good idea as well.

 

[JeepingNet]

Por15 needs the rust to stick too so don't grind it right down to raw metal. Remove the flakey loose rust.

Do a small section at a time and don't get it on you and certainly wear a good mask.

I did my whole frame and under body then did eastwood internal frame paint. I'm glad I did it all and its all held up well other than the areas I went down to bare metal.

 

[trevino33]

The condition of the exterior is purely cosmetic. You could leave all the surface rust you have on there and be just fine. The real problem is the inside of the frame. If you can pull rust chunks out of the frame, then you have a larger problem.

Since the outside of the frame isn't really that important to keep in good shape, I wouldn't use something as harsh as POR, but that is just my personal preference. Many people do use it and like it. I think paint tends to look a bit better and isn't as hard to remove in the fu

Por15 needs the rust to stick too so don't grind it right down to raw metal. Remove the flakey loose rust.

Do a small section at a time and don't get it on you and certainly wear a good mask.

I did my whole frame and under body then did eastwood internal frame paint. I'm glad I did it all and its all held up well other than the areas I went down to bare metal.

So I just messaged the previous owner and he said he did Eastwood a couple of years back and it should still be good internally. I planned on having a friend help. Would it be smart to each tackle a side of the frame at the same time?

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

One side of the frame isn't trying to beat the other side in avoiding getting more rusty or rusting to death and two on one is usually better no matter what is being done.

Depending on how the Eastwood was done it could still be good internally, but it may not be.

You said there is some debris in there. What is that debris?

Regardless, mainly what you want to do is make sure the inside of the frame is as empty (of rust, mud or anything else) as you can get it before doing the Fluid Film which will never allow rust to grow behind it as long as it's there. To continually stop that rust F-F will need done at least before every winter. Some people prefer it be done more often than that.

 

[trevino33]

One side of the frame isn't trying to beat the other side in avoiding getting more rusty or rusting to death and two on one is usually better no matter what is being done.

Depending on how the Eastwood was done it could still be good internally, but it may not be.

You said there is some debris in there. What is that debris?

Regardless, mainly what you want to do is make sure the inside of the frame is as empty (of rust, mud or anything else) as you can get it before doing the Fluid Film which will never allow rust to grow behind it as long as it's there. To continually stop that rust F-F will need done at least before every winter. Some people prefer it be done more often than that.

I just went out and checked it during my lunch break and it appears to be just dust and small particles of dirt and tiny little pebbles. I will investigate further but I did pull out one tiny piece of the Eastwood paint that chipped off. I will most likely F-F it in the next month just in case before snow season hits. I would like to preserve this TJ and keep it around as long as possible so I will try not cutting any corners. My cousin told me that he uses rustoleum bedliner on his YJ frame and it has worked so far. Has anyone else done this?

 

[Rubicon88]

Thank you for the information, so would it be better to do the fluid film and maybe just get all surface rust off and paint the exterior? as @jodomcfrodo has said? and if this is the case what kind of paint should I use?

Good luck getting all that off.

Spray it wuth a good under coating oil abd get inside the frame too.

Too much oil is almost enough. I did mine two months ago (yearly) and I can still smell it on the exhaust after running for a while.

In other words the only thing I'm liberal with is spraying undercoating oil.

Spray it and go wheeling. It's a Jeep. It's at home on the trail.

Good luck

 

[ballpark]

So, I use a POR15 like product to help to slow down rust. In Michigan, everything rusts like crazy. Please post pictures so we know what you are dealing with in terms of rust.

My routine:

• Clean with a degreaser the entire undercarriage.
• Use a paint scraper, and scrap off anything that scrapes including previous applications of Corroseal.
• Using a 1/2 gallon pressurized garden sprayer I apply a product called Corroseal. Its like milk and it spatters everywhere.
• Take a brush and spread out the corroseal evenly.
• Repeat 2 times per year.
• I apply this to anything that is steel and anything that has rust.

Also, if I repair anything, I give it the corroseal coating as well (like removing a bumper gives me access to other areas)

I also rinse the frame after big snow falls here in Michigan. I have drain holes drilled, and I just fill the inner frame with water at the car wash flushing the internal frame with with water.

 

[Midtenn]

How do you get the dirt and such out of the inside of the frame?

 

[ballpark]

How do you get the dirt and such out of the inside of the frame?

Well, most of the garbage in my frame seems to be around the rear control arm mount as well as the nutserts where the skid plate mounts. I used water pressure and my fingers to pull out what I could. I also stick tools in to try to break things up.

My TJ is not rust free, but I am just trying to extend its life...

I drilled a 1/2" hole in front of the rear control arms and 1/2" holes in between the bolts for the skid plate. (but i have a t-case drop so the water has room to flow). When I flush it at the car wash, I often see a change in color of the water coming out. (brown to clear)

 

[trevino33]

So, I use a POR15 like product to help to slow down rust. In Michigan, everything rusts like crazy. Please post pictures so we know what you are dealing with in terms of rust.

My routine:

• Clean with a degreaser the entire undercarriage.
• Use a paint scraper, and scrap off anything that scrapes including previous applications of Corroseal.
• Using a 1/2 gallon pressurized garden sprayer I apply a product called Corroseal. Its like milk and it spatters everywhere.
• Take a brush and spread out the corroseal evenly.
• Repeat 2 times per year.
• I apply this to anything that is steel and anything that has rust.

Also, if I repair anything, I give it the corroseal coating as well (like removing a bumper gives me access to other areas)

I also rinse the frame after big snow falls here in Michigan. I have drain holes drilled, and I just fill the inner frame with water at the car wash flushing the internal frame with with water.

Here are the photos of the frame and the last picture is really the only part on the body that I think needs to be addressed. Just figured id throw it in there as well. I plan on removing anything that I can to get as much of the frame as possible and other components while I am under there. I will look up Corroseal now! Thanks for responding!