I have a small amount of
rust on the passenger side. Is this something I can do myself? If so, what are your suggestions on how to go about this? I might have messed with it to see what was underneath.
Small body rust, can I fix it myself?
- Thread starter Meli
- Start date
I’m jealous that’s all the rust you have! 
If that’s really metal under there and not a sign of prior repair (check it with a magnet) then that’s a very simple fix.
This is a great how-to:
If that’s really metal under there and not a sign of prior repair (check it with a magnet) then that’s a very simple fix.
This is a great how-to:
You don’t even really have to do a full on paint job with color match and clear coat. With that lucky location you can ditch your dog-leg fender extension and get rocker rails or covers once it’s all properly removed and primed.
depends on your skills and knowledge of the process, but get rid of all the rust, all of it, don't leave any at all. Afterward, if you're not competent with paint prep and painting you could get a rock slider to cover
OP
OP
I have thought about this! Recommendations for best place to get one? Extreme terrain? eBay?
OP
I’m jealous that’s all the rust you have!
If that’s really metal under there and not a sign of prior repair (check it with a magnet) then that’s a very simple fix.
This is a great how-to:
I think it’s metal, but I was just taping it with my keys. I’m gonna try a magnet.
Can you weld? In my experience, that is the only way to REALLY get rid of rust.
OP
That's just to get him to see if he'll weld it. It might cost you a couple more beers to get him to actually weld it.
It's not as small as you think. If that is what you can see on the outside, the rusted area is most likely the size of what I colored below. It will have to be cut out and a patch welded in to be done correctly. Just because of the location, the rust is most likely deeper in and effecting (rusting) the panel next to it. The straight red lines I drew are where the panel will likely have to be cut and replaced. Body and paint work will be the entire rocker to be done correctly.
Luckily, this is an area that can be hidden, so finished body and paint work don't have to be perfect, but if you can't weld and have no body work experience, you need to let someone else do it.
For reference, here's some rust on my truck that has recently been fixed.
The main/visible rust area was probably 5" wide by 2" tall.
The area cut out was probably 18" long by 6" tall. In addition, we found that the inner wheel well has started rusting through.
The area that had to be worked before the entire bedside was painted.
The main/visible rust area was probably 5" wide by 2" tall.
The area cut out was probably 18" long by 6" tall. In addition, we found that the inner wheel well has started rusting through.
The area that had to be worked before the entire bedside was painted.
Here is my repair...Bigger than yours but I bet you find the same...this was hiding under my rubicon "rub rail"
Tub skin cut out, you can see the floorboard behind is rusted as well
New Steel welded in
Some of the body work
And painted. I didn't spend a ton of time on this (obviously) because I was slapping a real slider on, but the thing with rust is its ALWAYS worse than it looks
Eventually, I put a new tub on my Jeep.
Tub skin cut out, you can see the floorboard behind is rusted as well
New Steel welded in
Some of the body work
And painted. I didn't spend a ton of time on this (obviously) because I was slapping a real slider on, but the thing with rust is its ALWAYS worse than it looks
Eventually, I put a new tub on my Jeep.
OP
This is the pic that would concern me. Cutting out the section as BlueC is definitely the first step. It might get tricky down at the bottom, I'm not sure how the rocker & floor come together. But what I see is more rust through that hole...is there a 2nd piece of metal behind that area? Because now you have a 2nd piece to replace that's more on the inside. I started down this road on my CJ, and ultimately why that project went abandoned (and sold for a profit thanks!!)
OP
I 100% thought about it...and If I were doing that repair now, I totally would. Back then, I didn't even have my own welding machine and never thought I'd go bigger than 32's...LOL