Fix the rust or just diamond plate over it??

[VT Woodsman]

My cj has the typical rust on the rockers with even a few holes the size of a walnut. Should i go thru the trouble of fixing all the rust and doing the whole bondo thing ....or just grind down all the rust and coat it with a rust killing primer and topcoat, then installing the rocker covers. All i really want to do is to stop the rust and install the diamond plate. Any ideas???

 

[Incommando]

The right way is to replace the panels ( butt cheap - find classic2current on ebay) but it is time consuming. Many do slap the covers on and call it good...if you have enough good metal to hold the covers...

 

[bondo258]

Remove as much rust as you can. Patch the metal and seal at least.

Salt, water, sand etc. will get trapped between armor and body if you don't do this. CJ's can rot out completely in a winter if you don't do this step.

rusty metal primer. scuff, wipe. paint (use a roller, the more paint the better)

Body armor. (with a thin bead of body adhesive around the edge and little circles around the backside of any mounting holes)

 

[ftwflh]

Mine has the plate over rust and is fine for what I do with my Jeep.Offroad and back roads.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I would cut out the rot, sand or grind the rest of it down to good metal then treat it with a rust converter and plate it.

 

[BajaEdition]

let us see
fix the rust or do a jury rig and cover it allowing the cancer to grow and eventually destroy the entire jeep?

I say do it CORRECT the first time, you are going have to do it sooner or later

to many guys here can tell you horror stories about buying jeeps POs have covered rust and finding the body was so far gone it needed a new tub

but it is up to you

correct or rigged

you choose, it represents you after all.

 

[VT Woodsman]

I bought the por 15 kit, so im going to cut the rot and por15 it.

 

[CJ]

I hate rust with a passion and I hate fixing the junk even more. I would fix it, but that being said it is up to you.

 

[BajaEdition]

Just an opinion
I think owning a CJ is a point of pride
If I just wanted a Cheap Jeep I would get a YJ

CJs are rarer and rarer each year and a nice tricked out CJ is a point of pride
Doing a plate over repair is about as trash as marrying your first cousin in my eyes. and shows that you have no pride in your vehicle

that is my opinion

I am not you.

 

[wadeo5247]

Hey, Guys just wondering I have the same delima as well but would like to fix it right and then put diamond plate on... what would be the best way to fix this problem? just cut out the nasty stuff then weld in new metal mine has very small problems (will post pics soon as it is not the same jeep in my cover) but I'm not a big fan of bondo... any help would be great thanks in advance....

 

[VT Woodsman]

I agree, but i have no welding skils "Im a stockbroker" . Also this is a 4th vehicle for me, i plan on using it only for flyfishing and to go out on a nice day for an icecream or burger. I just dont want to get caught up dumping a ton of money into it ,then when i go to sell it have some redneck lowball me. that would be stupid.

 

[IOPort51]

A "bean counter"?? That explains a lot!!

Us Rednecks generally pop right out of the womb and reach for a MIG torch!!

you thought you would get your money back out of this project??

Please, stop, your killing me!! LOL

I agree, but i have no welding skils "Im a stockbroker" . Also this is a 4th vehicle for me, i plan on using it only for flyfishing and to go out on a nice day for an icecream or burger. I just dont want to get caught up dumping a ton of money into it ,then when i go to sell it have some redneck lowball me. that would be stupid.

 

[tarry99]

IO,

Now ya got me laughing!

 

[1980greenmeaniecj5]

Here's my 2 cents
Have you ever rolled your Jeep? Not some tip over in the grass type thing but on the street (obviously there are some very seroius rollovers offroad too...). When I did I found out that the previous owner pop riveted some thin patches on the outside and puddied them over. All this poped out when the Jeep was sliding on it's side and hit the curb smashing the firewall back until the dash busted my shin (nearly a foot) and held the throttle wide open till I shut it down. Check and repair the reinforcement channel that goes under the cowl from floorboard to floorboard. I would fix it right even if you don't get it professionally painted. Your life may depend on it some day.