Repaint the frame- how much do I have to take off?

[madtom]

I'm doing a complete body swap, including inner fenders and core support. While the body is off, will this provide enough access to the frame to do a good cleaning and get a coat of primer and paint on without pulling the engine, transmission, driveline etc?

I'm afraid if I pull the engine etc, it will become a bigger job than I'm ready for and take me forever to get back together, . Thanks for any advice

[Madman]

I have torn my 70 F250 4x4 down to the frame and cleaned and painted it like you are working on as well. It does take time, and may be longer than you want, but if you are going that far into rebuilding your truck, why not do pull the engine as well and do a complete job? With the body removed, yanking the engine is a relatively simple process.

[Bill Ramsey]

as long as the engine is out, might as well rebuild it.
as long as the transmission is out, might as well rebuild it.
as long as the transfer case is out....

see where im going?

[Canonman67]

as long as the engine is out, might as well rebuild it.
as long as the transmission is out, might as well rebuild it.
as long as the transfer case is out....

see where im going?

As long as you can exercise restraint the time to pull everything is when the body is off, it will never be any easier. Go ahead and finish stripping the frame, pressure wash everything and paint it. The job will be easier and you will end up with better results.

[mikejc]

Yes you will be able to it just depends on how time and patience you have cleaning and working around all that stuff. If you're just trying to make it look a bit cleaner but not really perfect then go for it

[Ranchero50]

I wouldn't get insane with the cleaning and painting of the frame. Scuff the loose rust and use kerosene to dissolve the oily stuff, them hit it with some Rustoleum industrial black.

[Lone Ranger]

I wire wheeled my whole frame which took forever and sucked. I then put two coats of rust bullet over the whole thing and two coats of rustoleum gloss black over that. Turned out great. That rust bullet is tough stuff

[HIO Silver]

.. enough to reach every nook and cranny. And there are lots of them.