Cleaning, cracks and bottle caps … Oh my!

by trixter on May.11, 2009, under Truck stuff

I started to clean the truck, it appears that it had not been cleaned in a long time. As I pulled back the rubber matting on the floor, I noticed that it had rotted a bit, and the insulation underneath was even worse. The insulation was stuck to the truck body in a few places requiring scrubbing to remove. I have decided that I would apply Herculiner (DIY rhino liner type stuff) to the entire inside of the truck. This will protect it from scratches, dirt, liquids as well as rust.

In order to clean the vehicle completly I had to remove everything, and I do mean everything. There was mud, beer bottle caps (at least 50), and other debris in every crack and crevice of the vehicle.

While cleaning I noticed two cracks, one where the passenger seat bolts to the truck, and the other where the drivers seat bolts to the truck.

I am glad that I decided to clean as much as I did since I found these and can weld them shut so they dont spread. The brake parts are supposed to arrive tomorrow, so I might see about renting a welding rig to fix these, although I will also have to find some sheet steel and the only place that I know that has this is far away . I also planned on getting a tin of Herculiner tomorrow, it seems that I will only be able to do the rear part until this is fixed.

Given the quantity of bottle caps that I found – all bud light – in the truck, it gives me a little more insight into the “mechanic” that I bought this truck from. Now I wont say who it is, but I will say he is from Rio Linda, and anyone that knows should understand that this is probably more normal than not there.