How would you guys deal with this? More questions and pics

[69rangerman]

I have zero bodywork skills, but like everything else on this truck it's time to learn something new.

These pics are of the lower door and pass. side fender ranger moulding areas. So far this is the only surface rust I've found and I'd like to try to deal with it since even if I goof it up it'll mostly be hidden under the mouldings.

Bottom front fender pass side


Bottom of door pass side


Can anybody recommend a step by step and any products needed?

Thanks for any advice.

[mljjones67]

First I would get the paint and rust off those areas to stop the rust from getting worse! Once you get that far you can see how bad it really is!

[fordman]

clean it real good with s a da or something. then see what you have. that doesnt look like its went all the way through so yuo probably just need to repaint it.

[69rangerman]

Well, they do appear to have gone through. I don't have any sanders so I'll have to borrow or rent one to see how far it really goes.

What do you think now? This one is smaller than a dime.


These are the size of a pen cap



Are we talking removal of fender and door here? Please advise

Thanks

[fordman]

sand and grind it all down. get to good metal. then take a welder and tack in some new metal in the holes. with just the welding wire. it will fill those holes. grind it flat and repaint it. removeing the fender and door depend on where the rust holes are at. you can get to the back side of the door without taking it off. the backside of the fender would have to come off if you wanted to put por15 on the back of it to keep it from rusting again.

[69rangerman]

Thanks fordman, I can do the grinding and sanding but I'll have to get somebody else on the welding. I don't suppose some of that por 15 putty would work?

Related question: How hard is it to get the fender off? If it's just a couple hour job I might as well do some prevention while I'm at it.

Thanks again,

[fordman]

yeah its not hard to pull the fender. the three grill bolts will have to come out the two front fender cup bolts the five top side fender bolts the three top front core support bolts the one at the bottom of the fender and the hardest of all the door jamb bolt.

[FORDification]

Keep in mind that these typically rust from the inside out. Since you've got that kind of rust popping through the paint now, chances are very good that you've also got areas where the rust is right of the verge of popping through, but just aren't obvious yet.

I'm guessing the rust you're showing is right along the trailing edge of the fender? There's an up/down brace that runs along the back of the fender, and it typically catches mud and debris, which holds moisture...and rusts out the fender. Judging from your pics, I don't think I'd be out of line by suggesting you start keeping your eyes and ears open for a replacement fender, just in case the rust damage is worse than it initially appears...and I'm betting it is.

Also keep in mind that a lot of members here hadn't done a lot of repair before joining the forums...but are almost semi-pro now. You'll never know what you're capable of doing until you bite the bullet and get your hands dirty.

[69rangerman]

Thanks guys. You're right Keith, it's just where that brace is.
Don't know when I'll have the time or money to spend on it and I hate not fixing a problem right away.

[R.Smith]

One thing you can do as a stop gap until you get the time a $ to do a thorough job is spray a chemical rust neutralizer into the rusty areas that you can't reach by sanding.

I'm not certain but that picture of the small holes looks like bondo under the paint.

[69rangerman]

OK..I went ahead and bit the bullet and risked my wife giving me the stink eye and removed the fender.

Amazingly? There is no other rust than this one area behind the lower moulding, and the little bit on the bottom of the passenger door. Unfortunately the rust is behind some type of re-inforcing and I can't get to it. Should I have somebody cut it out and weld it? I'd like to fix it right since it's off - please give me some suggestions.








The last one shows that filler has been used but not too much. Will a local body shop be able to cut and weld this area?

[fordman]

yes cut it out an reweld a new piece in.

[69rangerman]

Well...I chickened out. I asked a buddy at work and he gave me a guys name and number.

I called - turns out he's the body/paint guy for the local ch**y dealership.

Great guy and they let him use the shop for personal stuff. He's going to cut out the old, rust prevent that hidden area, weld metal back primer, and paint for 60$! - I'd pay at least that recuperating from ramming my fist through the sidewall after attempting in myself.

I made sure to ask him if he'd not hold the blue oval against me.

I'll post a picture in a week or 2 when he calls me to pick up the fender.