Good Day Amigos ...I have just acquired a 1999 ford f-150 four wheel drive with a 4.2 engine..This truck submergered for atleast 4 hours in the pacifac ocean and now sits in my back yard for me to play with. So far its dry and been a month since the dip..lol....Ive changed the oil and man was it watery and I smelled fuel..I changed the oil and put in new spark plugs and put in new battery cleaned up the solenoid connections and now I got to take off the starter cause I've been getting the click"n noise! My question is there anyone who has ever had salt water damage and been successful at restoring vehicle back to par condition......ya know to me..the truck still looks in Great Shape and salvagable..I'd never sell it and just interested in using for a part time work truck.

 

you are asking for a one big headache in my opinion. it was completely submerged for 4 hours??? first off the motor is junk and even if you do put a new motor in your gonna be chasing all kinds of problems in the future.

 

If you want to have a chance I would say remove the interrior and take a water hose to everything for days. Then let it dry out and buy corrosion x or ACF 50 and a mineral spirits sprayer (attaches to an air hose) and spray everything you can get too. I mean everywhere. Small holes, under side, under dash, anywhere. We do this to aircraft and manage to stop about 90% of the issues. Always have wiring problems later but if you catch it early it can stop it.

http://corrosionxproducts.com/corrosionxpage.htm

http://www.corrosion-control.com/acf50.html

 

My friend forgot to set the brake on his 74 f100 at the boat dock it rolled all the way under. He towed it home drained every fluid and it started up and he still is driving it to this day. That was a fresh water deal but I dont think that make a big difference. The computer **** on a newer truck would make me nervous..

 

That was my thought but the products I list above can be sprayed directly on PC board and wires. It will not do a tape deck or CD player any good due to the heads but it will not hurt other items. I spray the crap out of my boat all the time. It lives in salt water and it does help.

 

Thanks for your inputs everyone...I appreciate all comments for my post. So far the only money spent was for the tow and a new battery,plugs, oil & filter. My thought now maybe is to salvage the body parts.like the fenders,doors, tires and box as they are in dent free condition and spay them with that chemical agent and buy a wreck from the auto wreckers then scrap the rest of the truck.

 

I know Insurance companies total vehicles if water has entered the cab.

That's gottuh be for good reason IMO.