Cleaning Up Frame Above Skid Plate

[Bossler]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a 2006 Wrangler and have been slowly replacing parts on it. I am in the process of doing a Savvy cable shift conversion for the transfer case. The Jeep is incredibly clean considering it has spent its whole life in NH and Maine.

I just dropped the transfer case skid plate and found rust between the frame and skid plate. I know this is common and I was expecting some rust here. I chipped a few scales off with a screwdriver, maybe 1/32" thick. I am hoping there is still plenty of good metal left underneath.

After scraping with a screwdriver, I am going to thoroughly wire wheel this section of the frame and then sand it by hand. After that I am debating what to do.

I could just apply Surface Shield to the frame at that point and put the skid plate back up once the cable shift conversion is done. Then I was thinking maybe I should use some sort of rust converter on the frame, then paint it and apply surface shield. My only concern with that is that I will not get rid of all of the rust and then I will be sealing it in under the paint.

If anyone has any advice for me I'd really appreciate it. I will post a few pictures tomorrow as I'm curious what the consensus is on the severity of the rust in its present state.

 

[JMT]

Remove ALL the rust, self etch prime, paint, allow to cure, then surface shield or fluid film.

 

[TheBoogieman]

The INSIDE of the frame is more of a concern. Post pics.
p.s. I just use Rust-Oleum stop rust paint after wire wheeling the frame.

 

[Weasellee]

The INSIDE of the frame is more of a concern. Post pics.
p.s. I just use Rust-Oleum stop rust paint after wire wheeling the frame.

That’s fine in Va Not in NH. Bare metal then prime, paint, protect and it will still rot unless it’s a garage machine

 

[TheBoogieman]

That’s fine in Va Not in NH. Bare metal then prime, paint, protect and it will still rot unless it’s a garage machine

Washing off the salt worked for me for many years in CT. I even had chrome wheels on my old Camaro.
p.s. Va uses plenty of chemicals on the roads too.

 

[Zorba]

I wire wheeled mine, then used rust converter. The most important thing as far as I'm concerned is to space it off so water won't sit there and destroy it again. Like so much else on these Jeeps, rust prevention and water drainage was inconceivable to the designers.

I used some large galvanized washers:

 

[Superjay5]

How every you chose to clean it up, then a washer in-between is a good idea as it allows water/moisture to escape and not be trapped.

Or I also take some used motor oil and coat that area between the frame and skid. I take my skid on an off a few times a year and since I’ve been doing this I have found no rust starting to reform. I also coat the skid plate bolts with a healthy amount of anti seize.

 

[Weasellee]

Washing off the salt worked for me for many years in CT. I even had chrome wheels on my old Camaro.
p.s. Va uses plenty of chemicals on the roads too.

Today it is mostly a salt brine. No way to wash that shit off of everything. I posted photos of JJ’s that were 2 seasons old and I hit the car wash at least once a week.

 

[Bossler]

Thank you very much for all of the feedback everyone. The washers in between the skid plate and frame is a great idea and I will be doing that when I put it back together.

As far as I can tell (by feeling through the access holes) the inside of the frame is rust free. The previous owner did many applications of oil undercoating that appears to have been generously applied inside the frame.

I have attached a few photos below of what one frame rail looks like after a wire wheel, polycarbide abrasive wheel and 80 grit sand paper. Looks like there's plenty of good metal left.

How much more rust removal / sanding would be recommended? I think whatever is remaining will need to come off with sandpaper by hand at this point. Also, what is the consensus on self etching primer vs rust converter in this application? Would one be any better than the other?

 

[Camdenst]

@Zorba

Cover that up before the boys get excited