The sealant all along the drip edge is all dried and cracked up. There is no rotten rust holes or bubbles just a dusty surface rust along the edges of the steel at the openings. I was thinking of using a rust paint like POR or Chassis saver on the steel then find a good sealant to go on top to cover it up.


Whats the recommendation for sealant?

I was thinking of trying that heavy black window glue that is used to glue in a windshield, it seams like it would go on thick and not dry out or crack. Not sure if a flexible sealant would be good or how well it would accept paint though. The PO had a bunch of silicone on there which did very little to seal anything, but they still couldn't figure out why the floor was always wet.

Any thought on this?

 

Whatever you use, it absolutely must not have silicone in it. The surface rust has to be taken care of whether you use phosphoric acid and sand it off or eastwood rust encapsulator. I've also used 3m Marine 5200 sealant in either tan or black. i've had black on my 92 for a year now and its holding fast (paint too) on the rockers and a-pillars.

Yikes Bridgewater? At least its not Mars Hill. I'm in bangor right now.

 

Thats funny I live in Hermon now. How long are you here for?

 

I work here. Until I get fired again.
I tried using Napa brushable seam sealer. All I have to say is its not brushable. I have developed a fondness for 3M products with these trucks. Heres the 92 I used it on.
http://ramchargercentral.com/mopar-t...-w250-project/

That 3M stuff is sealing my NOS rockers on that pig. Luckily the diesel did not need it.

 

Just noticed what you added. Not many people know much about "The County" you must be from around there too?

 

poly urethane will do the trick, its paintable and will last years. Its messy though and hard to tool

 

3M 5200 The best

 

What about windshield urethane?

 

I looked into this previously as well. The 3M seam sealer was also recommended to me.

 

Just ground mine down tonight before the rain began. I'll treat it with phosphoric acid tommorow. Found two dime and nickel sized holes. Will try to get them migged tomorrow before using the body putty recommended by the trade school instructor for this oparticular problem. Then sand and paint and seal the edges with 5200.

 

Mine is getting done with zero rust under 3M seam sealer then paint. It lasted almost 20 years in the first application the rest of the truck might not make it another 20.

 

Thank you for the input, it looks like the 3M 5200 is the best option so I ordered a tube of it. Should have it in the morning.

Now I just need to think of everything else that might need a squirt of sealant to use up the entire tube before it dries out.

 

Further grinding revealed that the original seam sealer was brittle and had rust under it. I ground away as much as I could get to and applied phosphoric acid. In an hour or so, I'll rinse, wire brush, and let dry. Then I'll apply 5200 to the seam and FiberTech to the weakened rusted areas directly above the drip rails. This fall, I'll bodywork and paint that area if I find time!

 

Couldn't find my five tubes of 5200, so I used a leftover tube of Polyseamseal RV sealant. Tomorrow morning, I'll smear on the FiberTech. It's WAY too hot to work outside now!

 

No time to work on it today.