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1st Gen. Ram - All TopicsDiscussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.
Me, I'm on the Way Back Machine listening to the Talking Heads and grilling some kabobs with home grown beef and veggies and wondering what the normal folks are doing...
I have been working with a company here that does all my powder coating for me for my biz and personal. They're the ones who did the powder coating of my custom rear bumper I made a billion years ago, and we've been working together since.
The company started doing frame coatings for new trucks, and ventured off to do old trucks too. I had them blast my bumper and entire truck frame on my box truck and coat that with the specialty frame coating stuff they do on the new trucks. THey also sprayed my rear bumper of my new box with the same stuff. Well, I decided to have the do the brick, and here are some of the photos from it.
Started off with just removing everything that was physically able to be removed, including the fuel tank, exhaust, shocks, brake lines were pulled off the frame and hung, outboard boat fuel tank was mounted in the bed, and hoses run up to it to be able to drive it around. I must have drove it for 2 weeks or so with no fuel tank in the truck, no shocks, no exhaust. It was really bumpy, and LOUD.
Here's where I started. Boat fuel tank under there Yuk. Yuck too. Driving around with no stuff underneath
Next was the blasting, which was contracted out to a blasting dude that loves to breath in dust. Man that stuff got everywhere, and it took forever to get it all out, but I think most of it is gone now.
FIrst they spray some sort of rust converter on everything.
They spray some sort of waxy stuff on there after that.
Then they spray some sort of black undercoating on the entire underbody.
Took about 5 days sitting in their shop. I was restoring the exhaust, welding sections together so "no more clamps", and painting the exhaust with an engine paint from Eastwood. Good Stuff !
They finished up the undercoating and I took the truck back. Takes a couple weeks for the stuff to fully cure, but I didn't go anywhere anyway with it being in that condition. I had all the parts I took off the truck powder coated (most of them), including skid plates, sway bar brackets, frame spring slappers, E brake brackets, shock brackets, and just about anything I could, I had them blast and powder coat. I didn't want to have to ever go through this again, so here she is.
I haven't fully replaced everything back under there, but it's 90% at this point. What it looked like when I got it back. 3 days of grinding rust with a dremmel and rust converting the oil pan
Looks great!! I really hope the coating lasts, that was a lot of work! What is their guarantee, or best prediction of longevity?
I'm going the have to take patches off the road within the next year or two to do a complete tear down and redo...the wear tear from the winter driving is really starting to take it's toll. Gonna try and get Sno-Ball done so I can use that while Patches is down for the redo.
****, like the end result. Ball park cost to have it done? Been wanting to do something with the frame on my truck but want something like that and not just undercoat.
Looks great!! I really hope the coating lasts, that was a lot of work! What is their guarantee, or best prediction of longevity?
I'm going the have to take patches off the road within the next year or two to do a complete tear down and redo...the wear tear from the winter driving is really starting to take it's toll. Gonna try and get Sno-Ball done so I can use that while Patches is down for the redo.
I don't know the warranty, as I haven't heard back from the manufacturer as of yet. Once I do, I'll let you know.
These photos were taken today. Been several weeks, and I'm mostly happy with the product. It is failing on the leaf springs, but I can't be mad about that because what survives being applied to our leaf springs ? Not much. LEaf springs failing Valugard flier Valugard flier Valugard flier Frame today
****, like the end result. Ball park cost to have it done? Been wanting to do something with the frame on my truck but want something like that and not just undercoat.
You sitting down ?
The blasting, fogging and coating of the frame cost me $3800.00.
The powder coating of all the stuff I took off was another $800.00.
Figure $5000 was about right, and I did all the labor except for the coating process.
To me, it's a business expense, and worth every penny. It was this or go out and buy another truck. I got off cheap if you ask me.
...Ben
