Ryoken's Guide to Rust Treatment and Bodywork 101

[diesel4me]

Would these things work ?..(backing plate plugs )..

 

[Chief Brody]

Would these things work ?..(backing plate plugs )..

if they are the right size they would be great...I don't know what the dimensions look like but they are the right shape

 

[Chief Brody]

I have an idea but I am not a fab guy so I need some help.

I thought about somehow making a template that would allow me to Dremel or Carbide barrel bit the openings on the bed rails a little larger, then install a rubber grommet.

I am not sure what to use to give me the smoothest edges and not grind up the paint.

These are a couple of the holes on top of my bedrails...one looks like it has some filler in it

 

[Chief Brody]

Now...what I was thinking was a template that looks like this...but is the right size...this is way too big:

 

[Chief Brody]

And then a grommet...this isn't big enough either

 

[Chief Brody]

I thought about somehow making a template that would allow me to Dremel or Carbide barrel bit the openings on the bed rails a little larger, then install a rubber grommet.

I am not sure what to use to give me the smoothest edges and not grind up the paint...a real Dremel with a sandpaper barrel or a very fine die grinder?

Also, any thoughts on grommet vs plastic or something else?

 

[Chief Brody]

any opinions on how these grommets would look with the top off?

 

[Chief Brody]

eh...screw it, I'll do something else

 

[tRustyK5]

Seeing as nobody else is chiming in...I'll throw my opinion out there. Leave the holes alone, that was how they were from the factory and you just don't notice them much with the top off.

 

[Chief Brody]

Seeing as nobody else is chiming in...I'll throw my opinion out there. Leave the holes alone, that was how they were from the factory and you just don't notice them much with the top off.

I'm leaning in that direction...I just need to be able to put the top on and it's driving me crazy to scuff, scar and chip up around the bed rail holes...you can't put the bolts in without doing it...

I just wanted to make them look more "neat" and not all chewed up...but I guess if you use it that is way it has to be.

 

[ryoken]

I agree with Rene.. just take your time and be careful with a good hoist setup.. no reason it HAS to get scratched doing it...

 

[Chief Brody]

So here is what I tried today...since the "world reknowned" paintshop left filler in the bedrail holes and then painted over it, I have a few with a problem...I can't get the bolt in without messing up paint.

So I removed one of the cages off my original quarter panels and used it as the template to straighten the hole.

I them inserted a brake dust plug...which I kind of don't like. So now I have to put touchup paint around the inside perimeter of the hole and / or use a christmas tree retainer to push down into the nut and cover the hole.

 

[Chief Brody]

...

 

[Chief Brody]

how stupid would these look pushed into the holes when the top is off?

 

[tRustyK5]

Not a matter of stupid, just that you won't get them back out easily...those barbed plastic dealies hold pretty tight and can require a lot of physical persuasion to remove.

 

[max 02]

Not a matter of stupid, just that you won't get them back out easily...those barbed plastic dealies hold pretty tight and can require a lot of physical persuasion to remove.

Indeed! Two screwdrivers and some F words for those little guys!!

 

[AbramJ]

I may have missed it in the thread, but I was curious how you attached the side body trim? Did you attach it as it was originally? I'm hesitant to drill holes in my new body panels and was thinking of getting a thick enough 3M double sided automotive tape to put in the little channel on the back of the trim to hold it to the truck, like how body molding is held onto today's cars.

 

[Chief Brody]

I used the sticky back stuff but it didn't stick. Then I bought high quality 3M double sided tape and it stuck way out away from the body and eventually released in some places. I said to Heck with it and used black panhead screws to help hide them in the trim black.
It may have been a bad move but I couldn't take the look and failure of the sticky tape.

 

[AbramJ]

I used the sticky back stuff but it didn't stick. Then I bought high quality 3M double sided tape and it stuck way out away from the body and eventually released in some places. I said to Heck with it and used black panhead screws to help hide them in the trim black.
It may have been a bad move but I couldn't take the look and failure of the sticky tape.

Ah got it.

 

[y5mgisi]

Bummer. I was hoping to use tape when I put my trim back on.