2nd look under the carpets....Is there any reason to save the rubber mat

[Jay-P]

Jay - My initial goal is to get it running well and to enjoy it as a weekend cruiser out on the North Fork of LI. It isn't my intention to do body work, painting, etc. I started removing the carpets because there was a recent leak of radiator fluid into the passenger side floor pan area. As I lifted the carpets and sensed dampness, I figured it was a good idea to get the rugs out. The rust that I see is really not that bothersome to me as I've tried to show the absolute worst that I see and haven't found anything rusted through. What I'd like to do is prevent this from worsening...not necessarily have a mint Bronco.

Sounds like a good plan to me. I would just use some sort of rust converter on your floors (choice is up to you, I've had great success with por15), and enjoy your Bronco.

 

[Kim]

Bad heater core? Was that the source of the coolant leak?

Yes. It was replaced by the PO but not sure why he just left the fluid in the rug!

 

[Kim]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I would just use some sort of rust converter on your floors (choice is up to you, I've had great success with por15), and enjoy your Bronco.

Jay - In your opinion, if I do this will it halt further rusting or just slow it down? So far, that floor panel is the only significant rust I'vee come across - knock wood- and I'm not sure it won't clean up pretty well as the floor is not in the least bit soft....and I did poke around quite a bit with that little pick....

Are there really rust free ORIGINAL Broncos or do they all have some degree of rust to contend with?


*with the Por15 product do you do all three steps?
Thanks

 

[clarrance]

The worst find under the carpet.....

What to,do?

The worst part of your floor is still better than 90% of the Broncos out there with the original floor pans.

 

[Kim]

The worst part of your floor is still better than 90% of the Broncos out there with the original floor pans.

Thanks, I needed to hear this.

Frankly, I was hoping for better with this floor pan....but if this the worst rust on the truck.....I think I have fared well.

I still have some more carpet to remove (need a Torx screwdriver) but when I peek under the remaining carpet and rubber mat all look good. The wheel wells, door jams, exterior, and floor all appear solid.

 

[Kim]

Any idea which replacement carpet and color your going to go with, I need some new too.

Not a clue.

 

[Jay-P]

Kim, yes I do all three steps. Marine clean, metal ready, then the top coating. My applications have worked out well, and held up for several years. It is fairly simple and straight forward to apply. Amazon had the best price for kits when I was doing my searching

If your bronco was mine, I would do something to the entire floor of the rig. This way it will stay nice or years to come.

 

[Kim]

Some good news to report....I took a wire brush to the driver's side floor pan and the pan looks to be in better condition than I originally thought. A lot of the rust was just on the surface. There is just 1 one spot...a touch larger than a pinhole....that I can see.

I'm researching the various rust converter products with por15 or Ospho being the probable choice.

 

[rusty2078]

hi Kim, congrats on the Bronco! Just echoing what the others are saying for body work...treat the floor pan with something to stop the oxidation process and enjoy driving it. The residual coolant in the carpet will just sit there until the carpet gets pulled out, washed out and dried...good news is that new carpets aren't all that expensive. Most of us that are rebuilding tend to go to great lengths to prevent rust, and given the expense of replacing floor pans, painting, etc it's a good idea to do rustproofing/POR 15'ing/rhino lining/etc etc. with a little rust treatment and using it for an occasional weekend driver (and park it inside if you have a garage) you shouldn't have any concerns. please post more pics!!! Buy 1 or 2 shop manuals for it as well...between the community here and some technical reading they are very simple to maintain and work on!

 

[Kim]

Thank you, Rusty!

 

[904Bronco]

Glad to see that you kept the Bronco, it looks very solid.

As you can see there are plenty of folks here ready to give advice and help. You will become a seasoned Veteran before you know it!

Great plan you have established, they (Broncos) are meant to be driven.

Doug

 

[73azbronco]

My floors looked worse, and I was thinking it needed new pans. The shop I took it to ground off the rust, welded up two pinholes, , primed and painted for an immense savings.