Im selling off my baby so I can pick up a shiny 2001 black L up in michigan. The price is awsome but there is a catch, check out thses pics and youll see what I mean. Its obviously only gone through 1 winter but dang! It doesnt look like something thats not fixable, the shackles will be replaced anyhow but I included the pics for reference. Let me know what you guys think, is it a problem or surface rust?

oh and it only got 19k miles on her, amazing what those salt roads do.

 

1 WINTER HUH???

 

If it's that bad underneath, make sure to check the lower lip on the doors. I clean mine religiously, undercoated, and driven through three winters, and there is a hint of rust creeping up around the seal on the bottom edge of the door. I think this is a warranty item, but look there anyway.

 

Run while you still can and never look back! You want no part of that truck!

 

...this is just normal underbody/chassis rust. If you drive in the winter, EVERY vehicle will look like this.

So, is your L from the North or has it been near salt water????

The frame/chassis stuff is nothing to worry about, but I wonder what the body and body drain channels look like????? That would definitely cause me to look at this vehicle VERY carefully before buying it.

 

Michigan still uses salt on the roads in the winter, so that rust is typical.
I don't think it is anything to worry about, but if it bothers you, then you can clean it really good and paint it with PUR 14 or spray it with the Ford undercoating to prevent the rust from getting worse.
I would check the body closely though.

Where in Michigan is it?

 

I'm Fla born and raised. And went through all kinds of contortions when I saw what happens to cars up here during my first winter! (let alone how they drive around here)

But now it's all normal to me. How sad is that?

That does look normal as far as I can tell from the pics.

WOT

 

Thatsthe reason I put mine under cover in the garage with a good book to read when the first snow arrives.

Marc

 

--Joe

 

The rest of the truck looks awsome from all the pics I have been sent. It has the wet okoles on the seats and the paint looks like a mirror. I can apreciate the well kept black as my current trucks black paint keeps me busy. The seller is being very honest and supplys me with any pic I ask for. The differential definitly looks like it could be grinded a bit and sealed. The shackles get replaced with some Belltech ones so thats not a big deal. The leafs dont look REAL bad but I'm not used to seeing any rust on my trucks. I underocated mine the 1st day I had her and its not like it snows in Tampa. If I was to buy it I would fly up there in person and drive it back, after an inspection and a phone call to my lender to give it the ok and push the paper through. I definitly wanted black again so I could keep my bed cover and not have it painted, besides blacks so bad *** IMHO, so you yankees think its going to be ok? its a 2001 so Im thinking it cant be permanent.

here is an outside pic

 

Lucky i´ve protected mine from rust ! !

 

Ok, I drove my cobra in harsh Michigan weather & no problem at all, just powerwashed it a lot. This truck will see winter too, not snowy days, slush or wet salty roads, but when its dry and the sun is shining, I am anxious to see how it reacts to 30degrees & lower. So what is the best thing to do right noe to prevent any rusting? Any ideas?

 

TTT

 

My 02 L had rusty parts from day it was new. I got home and said WTF??!! I expected better. OTOH, the parts that were already rusted appeared to be very heavy, thick sectioned parts.

I usually spray the undercarriage/body of my cars with clear motorcycle chain wax (no moly). It has a carrier solvent which allows it to penetrate, and then dries to a slightly tacky wax. So far so good.

 

That looks normal to me...many parts are designed to form a protective layer of surface rust quickly to prevent the penetration of a deeper, damaging rust.