Preventing rust

[ghetdjc320]

I had never noticed the small plugs in the wheel wells just above the rear tires. I’m sure many of you know which ones I’m talking about but in case you don’t I attached a picture. Mine were covered in undercoating and had pretty much become almost unrecognizable but I was under the Jeep the last 2 days cleaning, wire brushing, painting, and replacing any plugs and seals under there (gas tank seals, hoses and vents). I noticed the 4 plugs at the base of the cab between the bed and the cab when I removed the gas tank. It seems like these little plugs were strategically placed to get to “rust areas” . I popped them all off and shot some rust killer into each of the holes and replaced them with a new plug. If only the previous owners would have know of these little plugs it’s possible that a lot of corrosion could have been prevented. It took a solid week of sheet metal work to get my bedsides over the wheel wells to turn out right... lots of rust when I first bought it. 
 

if you haven’t done so yet, pull these plugs and spray the inside with your favorite rust killer or preventer. I like to use spray on rust converter and rattle can clear for these little spots. Eastwood internal frame coating would be great too

[ghetdjc320]

Changed the topic to “preventing rust”

[Pete M]

where are these exactly?

[MiNi Beast]

prevent rust=don't live in Michigan

[ghetdjc320]

1 hour ago, Pete M said:

where are these exactly?

Literally just above the wheel in the wheel well

[ghetdjc320]

1 hour ago, MiNi Beast said:

prevent rust=don't live in Michigan

I can always see the salt spray here 24x7 since I’m parked 50’ from the ocean. 

[AZJeff]

On 1/5/2021 at 6:41 PM, ghetdjc320 said:

I can always see the salt spray here 24x7 since I’m parked 50’ from the ocean. 

Since we are on the topic of salt, and how it causes rust, here is a tidbit I remember from my youth:

 

I grew up in N. Illinois, where salt is commonly used on the roads in winter, of course.   To extend the life of his cars, my dad always got his vehicles rustproofed with "Zeibart" undercoating, which was quite popular at the time.   I remember the Zeibart guy saying that how/where they applied the Zeibart undercoating/innercoating varied across the country.  

 

Areas along the coasts often had issues with the inside of the roof panels rusting where insulation used as a heat barrier would trap and hold salt vapors, causing rust.  In those regions, Zeibart would take down the headliner and spray a protective coating on the inside of the roof panel, and reinstall the headliner.   It was something they did only in the coastal regions.

[PCO6]

On 1/5/2021 at 8:36 PM, ghetdjc320 said:

Literally just above the wheel in the wheel well

 

I have them on my '88 Eliminator and you're right, they were hard to find and I'm happy I did.

 

I've been going to Krown Rustproofng for all of my vehicles for at least 2 decades.   They're good but they miss spots and aren't consistent from year to year.   They've never pulled the plugs shown in the first post for example.   I've started to do my own rustproofing with a plan to drop Krown within a year or two.   I do my TJ & LJ myself and they are fairly easy.   One major thing they can't get to is the windshield frames which are notorious for rusting out.   I just replaced the frame in my LJ with a new one and am determined to make it last.   Krown said "we got it" and I knew damn well they never even touched it.   I do a lot of my MJ & XJ myself.   Because of the similarities you would think that Krown would drill the plug holes in the same spots.   Nope.   

 

I've started to use Fluid Film and I like it.   It goes on sale all the time so I stock up on the aerosols and the 1 gallon cans.   I use a few different guns as they came and with a few hoses I fabricobbled.  You can get a wand for the aerosols and it works surprisingly well.  I don't know what's up with the price though.   I got mine on Amazon for less that $20 CDN about 4 months ago and it's now $40.  They also have several sizes of plugs.   

 

Fluid Film 360° Extension Wand for spray cans by Fluid Film: Amazon.ca: Home & Kitchen 

 

1/2" 0.5 inch Flush Mount Black Plastic Body and Sheet Metal Hole Plug Qty 25 by Caplugs, Plugs - Amazon Canada

 

Buytools Rust proofing Gun ***Free Shipping in Canada!!!: Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement

 

Astro Pneumatic 4538 Economy Air Undercoat Gun: Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement