tailgate rust out

[Papa Smurf]

Can anyone give me suggestions on how to keep a tailgate from rusting out from the inside. I just found a 71 GMC tailgate that has been on a shelf for 25 years. Looks great with just a little surface rust on outside. I have one now on my GMC that rusted to shreds from the inside after I had it painted. Don't want that to happen again.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Short of cutting a hole on the inside and coating the entire inside with rust inhibitor I don't think you have any options. Other than don't drive it in the rain and store it in a humidity-controlled environment.

[dozerbill72]

Take it off and dump a little diesel fuel in it and slash it around do this about once a year. It will stink for a bit but as the fuel dries it leaves behind a paraffin base. A few old farmers around here do the entire under side of their trucks and they seem to last forever.

[72MARIO]

Product like Rust Check Krown Fluid Film and Corrosion Free are well knowan in Canada for providing rust proofing products thats work very well at preventing inner pannel deterioration.

[Coley]

Originally Posted by 72MARIO

Product like Rust Check Krown Fluid Film and Corrosion Free are well knowan in Canada for providing rust proofing products thats work very well at preventing inner pannel deterioration.

BINGO!
I was just going to write up on this product and process.
Each can comes with a small squirter tube (like WD40) so I take that and insert it up around the tailgate latch handle and let fly in there...all directions. If memory serves correct...you might also have a very small access at the left/right inner panel join points...can't quite remember. All you need is enough space for that little tube to fit in.
The rustcheck runs down and spreads out in there...at some point you can see it leaking out a bit.
Its a great product tho'....it has rust stabilizer/etchers in it as well as creep agents, repellents, etc...and it works well. It looks a lot like pinkish/red transmission fluid and it is not unpleasant to work with.
Regardless...after several cans of that put into the truck every fall......I know I'm good to go, no more rust or winter storage/moisture worries.
I do this exact same process with both rocker panels...from below!! It is messy but there are a few small rocker drain holes on the underside of the rocker area that allow for that little squirter tube to fit up in and I fill both those rockers with this spray (all directions)...and then....sleep like a baby in the Canadian winter...lol.
All Good
Coley

[72MARIO]

http://www.fluid-film.com/shop/

My favourite. Smells funny at first but work amazing.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Why do you have to put it on more than once?

[72MARIO]

In Ontario people that want to drive there new truck/cars for more than 5 years have there cars undercoated yearly. There is always a oilly residue that has to be wiped from the panel bottoms but thats easier to deal with than rust.


Careful using the straws that come with the can of spray i have one inside my rocker it flew out while spraying. No way to get it out now !!