OTHER TASKS WITH THE BED REMOVED (1 of 2)
**Clean the frame
After viewing the many rustbucket examples to be found on this site, I consider myself fortunate that the extent of rust on my truck is minimal. The only place I found flaking metal due to rust was at the trailing arm reinforcement plates. Most of the frame cleaned up nicely with soap and water and revealed much original paint. Where oil/dirt buildup had accumulated at the differential leaks, I had to use solvent, a scraper, and a wire brush to clean it all off. I then gave everything a coat of boiled linseed oil thinned about 1/10 by volume with mineral spirits. Applying a thin coat, letting it sit for 15-20 minutes or so, then cleaning up remaining puddles with a rag dampened with mineral spirits gave everything a pleasant looking appearance and will inhibit rust well enough for my use of the truck (no rainy day driving, dry climate, low mileage driven, etc.). It was cheap and easy to do. I liked that part.
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Frame Before
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.Frame Half-done