Box wheel arch rust

I've got tiny bubble of rust starting on bed wheel arches, 1 each side. I talked to an old friend that does body work he said the only way to fix is to cut out and repaint the whole box side. Also told me that when these start it's from small rocks that get wedged down in there from under the bed but on top of that splash guard metal and it doesn't help that there's some type of foam strip the factory used up in there that just helps hold moisture there. Only good thing is the price is the same for a little or a lot of rust as far as the fixing. Probably around 5000?

Do we have any body guys/gal that have experience with this? Thanks!

 

For $5000 I'm gonna sand, prime, touch up and get some fender flares to cover it up. ouch.

 

Pushing nearly 20yrs old. If the rest of the truck is good, I'd likely sand down, cut and fill as needed, soda blast, mask, prime, and paint the entire truck. If you do most of the labor and the rest of the truck is good, you can get another solid ten years out of it easily. Won't cost 5 grand either. You can buy a used soda blaster and other used tools and then resale them and maybe even make money if you buy right. Pawn shops, Marketplace, Craigslist, are all good sources.

 

Got pics of both in the bed and the rust from underneath? I know you can replace the whole bed floor as a part but that requires welding. If it's clearly on the arch, that's not gonna help though.

 

I'll get some later today. Super tiny just wanted to remedy it before it's super ugly.

 

Lol. I hear ya but these are basically flares built into the bed side on my truck. I'll likely ask another shop I know that painted the cab/roof, hood and front clip last year to see what he says.

 

Flatbed time

 

But how does it look from underneath the bed though? Usually it’s pretty bad before rust comes through into the bed.

 

It's not bad from the wheel well at all there isn't any. I'll try and get a pic when.i get home of between the actual bed and top side.of arch.

LMAO! Not yet. Not in Iowa winter! Though I could buy a small camper for what they want to fix this at a shop....

 

I have the same problem. I just ground out the rust, filled the hole with bondo, sanded, repainted. So far so good.

 

Best pics I can get atm. Guy I talked to was pretty spot on looks like. Starts with little rocks and shit chiseling their way in where the arch and bedside meet from up top. I'm pretty diligent about spraying up under there too. FML.....

 

What??? Mine was way worse than that about 7 years ago (had small holes through the panel). Sanded spots, POR15, then installed flares all around.

Slowed it down - now I need to address them as it's grown over the flares. Will probably get the dodge panels to fix the bed sides as the rest of the bed isn't too bad.

I mean, the guy you talked to is right - the only way to permanently fix it is to replace the bed side and wheel well. Seems like a lot of work for an old truck, but I plan to drive mine right into the ground, not make it look new.

 

Some Simichrome to get that last bit of rust.

 

wait whats this about dodge panels? Just curious & dumb.

 

Instructions unclear. Set truck on fire.

Simichrome?

 

I plan to keep.this forever or one of us dies. Then I'll fix the truck. I like shiny shit without rust. Super disappointed that I didn't catch this as being a thing to be looking for.

 

$13 Simichrome Simichrome Polish 1.76oz 1.76 OZ TUBE

https://www.amazon.com/Simichrome-P...rome,aps,148&sr=8-2-spons&smid=A1LQK6ID58S7JC

 

My rust is creeping past the body line, so a flat panel isn't enough to fix it. Found this buried in a google search: Apparently, the same generation Dodge Dakota's have a very similar shape - so that's my plan.

@Hi06silver - I would prefer shiny too, but I live in the Northeast, so it won't happen. I'm disappointed too as I had an old Pathfinder that was the same way - sand got caught between the wheel well and panel seam and rotted it out from there. This should have been one of the first areas I checked.

 

I'll probably end up fixing it if I can find a couple reputable shops. If they're all about the same price I'll take it to the first guy. Glad it's not too bad yet but I'll try to clean it up and stop what's starting. Wondering if after finding a way to clean it out really well and spraying some ospho on the back side up where it started will stop it for a while?

Gotta find some way to slightly push the pieces away from each other enough to used compressed air to blow all the little rocks/ sand out then spray..some sort of balloon type device comes to.mind I can't remember what they are used for though?
Then at that point I'll stop driving the unicorn as much lol, get another job to pay for the damn stickers from Toyota. Ha!

 

I wonder if you could get a stiff wire brush up in there? Maybe even rig something up to an air powered reciprocating saw(because they are fairly small) to scrub it out really well. A rotary might work as well. Can't really tell, just brainstorming a little bit.

 

Balloon type device? Blood pressure cuff.

 

Yeah, that may work. I'm beginning to wonder if I just have it fixed because all of this brainstorming I'm doing is probably not going to be a long term fix, though I do want to see if ospho will halt anymore rusting lol. It'll likely eat the paint if it seems through those tiny holes too.
I do like the BPC idea. I knew I needed my ex for something other than stress......

 

They make inflatable air wedges for stealing cars/ getting into them when you lock your keys inside. I'd try one of those.

 

The pros have been using blood pressure cuffs for decades. Plus once finished with the project, it is still useful for blood pressure testing. Can you do both with the locksmith tool? Nope. Just my opinion. Carry on!