Rust, rust, and more rust.

Well a not so good of news update. We started stripping the tub yesterday (our original goal was to move the drivers seat back a couple of inches as I've got big thighs, and it's tough to use the clutch) and found quite a bit of rust.

The good news is that the front of the tub (area just beyond the pedals) and the rear of the tub (from the step up) are in good shape, and will make for great anchor points.

Plans are to lay sheet metal over the existing floorboard (I know generally you'd want to cut out the old stuff, but I'm going to use what's left of the old one for support) and build a body frame under the middle section for extra support.

I will try to get some pictures up of the project as I go along. Keep in mind I'm not trying to restore the Jeepster, but just make it trail ready.

Scott

 

good luck dude! im going the same way with mine, i kinda gave up on doing a perfect resto and just want to drive the thing! eventuall i will buy a new tub when i have money, but for now ill live with the rust

 

Just joined the group. Used to have a '70 Commando when I was in high school (grad '79). Always wanted another, bugoht a '67 yesterday. I think I'm in the same boat, front floors ver good, bed from step-up rusty. May be salvagable, no through-holes that I can see.

Like you, I'm not trying to do a restore, just make it solid. I've thought about grinding down the rust, spray it with Ospho or some other rust-converter, then laying down a thick coating of roofing tar before laying-in the new floor panels. I think if I squish the tar between the new floor and the old, and weld it in, it will prevent further rust on the old floor, and make it generally more solid.

Any thoughts?

 

Sorry I have not checked this out. No I don't own a Commando but I would like to. Personally I would cut all the rusted metal out and put in new metal, the rear floors are easy since they basicly are flat sheet metal. Those rust converters to me do not work. I used a few different ones on my CJ and today I am going to have to go back and cut out all that metal that I converted and weld in patches.

 

I'm also new to the group, just picked up a 1969? Jeepster Commando that had been sitting for years in a backyard scrap yard. The whole thing is very rusty but recoverable. I believe it was junked because the rear driver's side frame was gone, the floor has been cut out above it. I've aquired the back of a CJ6 frame to splice in.

The front floors are good except for out by the rocker panels, all the body panels are rusty, but aside from the front fenders should be easy to build.