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Can main bed panel be replaced with tub on

LetchcoreCJ7

LetchcoreCJ7

Legacy Registered User
City
Nashville
State
TN
I have an 82 Scrambler I am cleaning up as a kick around scrambler. Problem is the bed is pitted bad. It's still pretty solid but so pitted. I wonder could the main middle bed panel be replaced without taking the tub off? Has anyone done it?
 
Throw a can of por paint on it and call it a day. Its looks bad at first but actually looks like its just surface rust...

Sent from my SPH-L900
 
I think it probably could be replaced without pulling the tub off the frame, but not easily. Get underneath it and look at the cross-bracing and body mounts you'd have to work around. May be a can-o-worms you want to avoid. Brkylnz advice is worth thinking about.
 
I guess it wouldn't hurt to POR 15 it a couple coats and live with it like that. I would have to top coat it with something then and most likely I would want to use some kind of bed liner which I hate using but given the pits in the metal I would have no option.
 
LetchcoreCJ7 said:
I guess it wouldn't hurt to POR 15 it a couple coats and live with it like that. I would have to top coat it with something then and most likely I would want to use some kind of bed liner which I hate using but given the pits in the metal I would have no option.
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How bout after heavy coat of por 15, put a rubber bed mat in it and call it done ?
 
Bad Karma said:
I WANT YOUR HOOD!!! :drool:
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Yep 32 years of Alabama sun and 10 years of sitting makes will do that. Funny thing is its hard to tell the difference between the red clay mud and rust. I thought the engine bay had a lot of rust till I started cleaning and realized its mud!
 
Theres a few write ups on how to make one and what materials to use.. unless you want to spend 800 bucks for a used one..

Sent from my SPH-L900
 
I would go at it with there rust converter/prep (POR15). Then do a good coat with the Silver POR15 it has metal flake in it that will help to fill the pits and then a second coat with the black. Once that sets use their top coat or hit it with a light coat of regular porous primer while it is still tacky. You need to use one of the porous tie coat primers as the POR15 will continue to outgass for a week or so and needs to get that moisture out out it will cause the primer to delaminate. All you need is a spotty light coat to get a top coat of automotive paint to bond with the primer.

POR15 has a primer too that you can use but I have not worked with that. However with the black color of your Jeep I would think that the Semi Gloss black topcoat from POR should work fine if you coat the whole floor with it.

Another alternative is the similar moisture cure paint from Eastwood. It comes in several colors and has a UV stabilizer in it so it does not need to be top coated. I have had good success with that too.

But as long as that steel is basically good I would just convert rust and paint. Worry about replacing the bed later. Put that Jeep back into use and enjoy it. The metal may deteriorate more but really it will not hurt as you stated you are just looking for a knock around Jeep. It is much more important to have fun than a project. Lots of them get started and get out of control. Having a usefull Jeep will be more satisfying.

Now if you want a show Jeep......

That is a whole nuther' can of worms, and good luck.



Best advise is to coat and slow rust way down, and enjoy.



Carl
 
Wire wheel the bed. Then put metal prep (ospho http://ospho.com/ ). After that epoxy primer then paint. Por 15 doesn't hold up as well as epoxy (Por 15 becomes rock hard and can crack, doesn't bond as good to the metal which lets moisture in). I have epoxy on the two work trucks that I've built and because I didn't put enough paint on, (My mistake), I wet sanded through the paint to expose the epoxy. That was 3 yrs. ago and still no rust. Look the same as the day I sanded it. I live in cleveland and drive the truck yr. round and in this weather it's still holding up. I've used por 15 and had the rust come back within a year.
 
I agree with all of the others here. Just from the pictures, it doesn't look that bed. If you do go with POR 15, you must top coat it with something UV resistant. POR 15 will crack off in the sunlight.
 
Also I forgot to say that you need to wire wheel/brush the bottom of the floor then treat. The rust will continue to work it's way through the metal.
 
To answer your original question, yes it can be done. A buddy of mine and I have done it, he is a paint/body guy and it took about 20 hours to complete. I picked up a bed panel from classic enterprises (~$500 shipped), he meticulously drilled out every spot weld and left the cross members in place (they were in good shape). dropped the new panel in and mig welded back where the spot welds were originally. Turned out nice, but was a lot of work! If you can save the bed with POR or any other means, do it!
 
I did the floor in my CJ7 with the tub on. Yea, it can be done but as easily as the body comes off I'd recommend doing it that way so no worries with the gas tank, etc..
 
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