Painting inside tailgate

[EBGeek]

Hey guys, I've done some searching on this before posting, but do far coming up blank... I know I can't be the first one to try to paint/seal the inside of my tailgate, but I'm not finding any threads on the subject.

Basically I found some loose rust inside my tailgate (both upper and lower) and despite there being no easy access holes have applied tons of rust converter in an effort to slow down the inevitable rot.

Here's my question - now that my tailgate is somewhat 'clean' is there any possible way to paint / seal the inside to slow down any future rusting? I can't possibly think of any way to get something inside except pouring a liquid paint of some kind and rolling it around to coat.

Anyone been down this road before?

 

[73azbronco]

I used Eastwoods interior frame sealer/paint, came out great I think.

 

[RonJones]

I used KBS Cavity Wax - they have a nifty wand you can feed into the tailgate nooks and crannies to get it everywhere. Having an epoxy paint, I used MEK for cleanup. Also, the taillight housing and windshield frame were done, too.

https://www.kbs-coatings.com/Cavity-Wax.html

 

[Bronco-Brian]

POR 50 all the way... It flows out nice, sticks to everything, and is controllable when you continuously flip the tailgate allowing gravity to pull the paint. I've also used an air wand to push it around. Be sure to tape any edge gaps and holes like license plate light wiring so the stuff doesn't just drip out. It's too pricey to waste.

 

[needsmoarturbo]

Cavity wax is how you prevent rust on good panels but I'm not sure if it does the trick if you already have some rest going on.

 

[EBGeek]

I'm going to look into these suggestions, thank you all for your responses. However, one thing remains unanswered - how do you get access to the inside of the bottom section of the tailgate? On the upper part, you have the latch hole, along with several openings for license light and latches, but the bottom has no access to the inside, except 3 very small drain holes at the bottom. Am I missing something?

 

[RonJones]

Rust formation needs oxygen to form the iron oxide; the wax limits the steel’s access to same. Another option is to preceed it with phosphoric acid prep like Loctite Extend.

I gained access to the lower tailgate through the license plate light wiring holes with grommets removed.

 

[73azbronco]

Bolt holes for bottom hinge, slide the eastwood spray tube and let it go. Wife has still not noticed the primer green on some the the bricks out front. Shhhh.

 

[Shulaps]

I drilled a hole where the pivot slides in to give good access to the lower portion of the tailgate. POR15 with an improvised spays nozzle on a small sand blaster system and once in there rotate the gate around. Did pre paint so I wasn’t too worried about drips etc . Work very well.

 

[ransil]

I used por15 or equivalent sprayed it in with a shootz / under coating gun turned it 360 till it leaked out of every crack and seam, once cured for a week or 3 I shot in thinned down with laquer thinner inside panel rust proofing ( fluid film ), did the same 360 till it leaked out every crack and seam, let cure a few more days or more and shoot un thinned rust proofing ( not under coating) inside.

 

[Pa PITT]

Many years ago some guys got on a kick Of water maybe like Pee Gravel .. & tHEY EXCHANGED Ways to shake the tail gates . Dirt & Rust drained out until clean.
Then the MEK ..& HERE I'VE FORGOTTEN . Maybe the PO15 or something like that. Let dry & anything EXPOXY.
...................
..... OLD GUYS RULE!!!.