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Rust Be Gone! (Had Rust Repaired On My Dodge Ram).....And Now This.....

Started by Old Moparz, March 06, 2019, 05:07:24 PM

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Old Moparz

Over the last few years or so I started to get some rust on my 2004 Dodge Ram. It wasn't "terrible" but typically what you can see is not all of the damage. Fortunately the rust was limited to the back end of the truck at the wheel well lips, the bumper and the bottom of the tailgate. The bed, cab & other places are still in great shape & it only has 112,000 miles so I decided to get it fixed. I looked at new trucks on & off & cannot believe what they go for.  :o

The after market parts are all available and very reasonably priced since they're made in Taiwan. The left and right patch panels with the inner edges of the wheel wells were $260 shipped from a place called "MrTailLight.com".

http://www.mrtaillight.com/product_info.php?cPath=453_485&products_id=2299

The rear bumper with all the brackets, step pad, lights and hardware along with the tailgate with a new handle, cables, latches, rods and hardware was $425 shipped. These I got off ebay from a seller called "bumber-outlet". Typical issues were that the items should have been packed better. The bumper was dinged on the end & it cracked off small pieces of the plastic step pad. The tailgate was bent in the upper corner & there was a horizontal hump in the sheet metal throughout the center. This was probably just a bad stamping but the seller made good on all of it by giving me a huge discount & sending me another step pad. I would easily buy from them again because the customer service was exceptional & the parts were shipped fast & free.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Primered-Steel-Rear-Step-Bumper-Assembly-for-2003-2009-Dodge-RAM-2500-3500/282957523543?fits=Year%3A2004%7CMake%3ADodge&hash=item41e1952a57:g:KTUAAOSwd0ha8b5G:sc:ShippingMethodStandard!12553!US!-1

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Primered-Steel-Tailgate-Assembly-for-2002-2009-Dodge-RAM-Pickup-W-out-Dually/282751057972?fits=Year%3A2004%7CMake%3ADodge&hash=item41d546c034:g:WoUAAOSwmudaHDQO:sc:ShippingMethodStandard!12553!US!-1

It's not a show truck or a restoration, just my daily ride so buying expensive original parts from Dodge made no sense. I don't want to drive around a rot box and be the target to get pulled over by a cop hoping that he will be able to give me a ticket for other problems he finds.

Anyway, here are some before and after photos. The guy who did the work is local to me in NY and did the work on my yellow Plymouth Scamp back in 1992 or so. On the truck he cut out the rust in the wheel lips, welded in the new parts, sanded, prepped and primed the bumper and the tailgate, then painted these parts and did it all for $1500. All I have left to do is assemble the tailgate hardware, drop it in place & put the new license plate lights & step pad on the bumper.   :cheers:

Jerry's Auto Body in Beacon, NY.
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry

Old Moparz

 :-\
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry

Old Moparz

 :coolgleamA:
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry

TexasStroker

Founder, Amarillo Area Mopars
www.amarilloareamopars.com
Founder, Lone Star Mopars
www.lonestarmopars.com
Will set-up a regional Charger meet
Contact me for info!

Old Moparz

Quote from: TexasStroker on March 06, 2019, 05:29:30 PM
Came out nice!

Thanks, I agree.  :cheers:

When he did my Scamp back in the early 90's he replaced both quarter panels, fixed the driver's door & the passenger fender that had damage prior to when I got it. I bought the after market quarters for $250 & he painted the entire car including the inside of the trunk, door jambs, under the hood & as far inside the engine compartment he could get. That took about 3 weeks back then & all for just $1600.  :o
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry

stripedelete

Nice job and good for you!   The price of pickups (new and used)  is nuts.   And the manufactures aren't enhancing the rust resistance with their profits.  It makes the decision to repair and preserve what you have more clear cut.





hemi-hampton

Prices have quadrupled since early 1990's. Now the Scamp work would probably be $6,400. :scratchchin:

Todd Wilson

This is what piss's me off about the 3rd gen trucks. They have that inner wheel well lip support and it catches everything and causes stuff to rust out. I have a 95 Ram bought new and washed under there all the time and kept it clean and the truck is still ok. My 05 is starting to show small bubbles of rust. Its happening from the inside out and I cannot get to it due to the inner support.  I am gonna have to do this to mine before long I suspect!


Todd

Old Moparz

Quote from: Todd Wilson on March 07, 2019, 01:28:47 PM
This is what piss's me off about the 3rd gen trucks. They have that inner wheel well lip support and it catches everything and causes stuff to rust out. I have a 95 Ram bought new and washed under there all the time and kept it clean and the truck is still ok. My 05 is starting to show small bubbles of rust. Its happening from the inside out and I cannot get to it due to the inner support.  I am gonna have to do this to mine before long I suspect!


Todd



Yeah, the repair kit I ordered came with the inner 4 pieces behind the quarters. Only the outer ones were needed, Jerry at the body shop said he didn't need the inner set.
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry

Aero426

I have an 04 that is not as bad as the OP's.  I have bought a few years with a set of $100 replica factory flares from Ebay on the rear arches.    It's worked well, and I try to keep the truck inside.  Eventually, I may have to have the patches welded in.     I have hesitated as eventually, these patches tend to fail on the edges where they were welded in.     There is no free lunch versus a southern bed or a full quarter.    Regardless, the OP's truck looks nice and should be serviceable for a good long time.  

FJMG

When this happened to a friends 96, we decided to remove the entire box side by drilling out all the spot welds. There were a bunch along the top, a few along the front of the box and wheel arches, and only a couple by the taillights.
I welded in a patch panel, finished both sides and then we decided to just bolt it back on.
Now he can remove the entire panel by removing a dozen bolts and wash out all the crap in the spring. It is actually easier than removing front fender.

Old Moparz

Bumping my old thread for the new year because I got new tires....


And $1603.49 worth of damage to the work that was just done earlier this year.  ::)


The shop that I got the tires from has someone working there who obviously cannot drive. This supposedly happened when they were backing the truck out after they installed the new tires & turned the wheel too soon & hit the side of the door opening. Accidents happen but this is outright stupidity. The good thing is that the owner of the shop called me personally to tell me what happened & said he would take care of it. This tire place is not a large chain & has been in the area for decades so we'll see how he handles it. It was early enough in the day yesterday that I was able to stop by the body shop that repaired & painted it recently to get another estimate.
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry

hemi-hampton

Bummer, are they going to bump/de dent it or replace it? LEON.

P.S. Reminds me of when mine got hit. luckily I worked at a body shop & bumped & painted it myself & insurance paid for it.

TexasStroker

Man that really sucks...not a great way to start the new year.  However, very stand up of the owner to take responsibility and make it right.  Definitely use your shop though.

That Mopar Performance sticker on the back of hemi-hampton's Ram bring back some memories!
Founder, Amarillo Area Mopars
www.amarilloareamopars.com
Founder, Lone Star Mopars
www.lonestarmopars.com
Will set-up a regional Charger meet
Contact me for info!

Old Moparz

Well, tire guy is being a complete douche.  ::)

He went to the body shop that I got the estimate from & offered the guy cash to do it for less. The body shop will not do business with him now & told me what he did. My appointment was canceled & I went back to the tire shop to find out what the hell is going on. Tire guy said it's all taken care of, get it fixed & I'll pay the body shop. 

Yeah, sure, :smilielol:

I get two more estimates & they are roughly $3100 & $3300 so I send a certified letter to the tire shop saying that they need to pay me the full amount for the $1603.49 estimate or we go to court. He calls me & says he will pay me in full, so I go to his shop the next day. He prints out a statement that he wants me to sign saying that the amount is $1200 & that we are done after he gives me a check.

I'm looking at this paper in his office & fuming. I get up & simply tell him, "We're done here, you're wasting my time & I'll see you in court."

This guy had the chance to do the right thing & didn't. All he had to do was pay the first estimate I gave him & my truck would have been fixed two weeks ago & I'd be gone. Now it's going to cost him more. Friggen' dickhead.
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry


hemi-hampton


dual fours

You'd think the tire dealer would be happy to pay to fix the damage and cut a huge discount on the tires, I'm guessing you got four of them. Negative feed back is bad for business.
1970 Dodge Charger SE, 383 Magnum, dual fours, Winter's shifter and racing transmission.

26 END
J25 L31 M21 M31 N85 R22
VX1 AO1 A31 A47 C16 C55
FK5 CRXA TX9 A15
E63 D32 XP29 NOG

b5blue

Hey I'd give the local news "help line" a shot. Lots of real time exposing bull crap works wonders around here!  :scratchchin:

will


birdsandbees

Shops insurance should be taking care of it considering it was his rookie that Fawked it up..
1970 'Bird RM23UOA170163
1969 'Bee WM21H9A230241
1969 Dart Swinger LM23P9B190885
1967 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
1966 Plymouth Satellite HP2 - 9941 original miles
1964 Dodge 440 62422504487

Birdflu

Quote from: birdsandbees on February 02, 2020, 03:29:01 PM
Shops insurance should be taking care of it considering it was his rookie that Fawked it up..

Having owned a drive line shop for the last 27 years...that was the first thought that came to mind. I know if something like that happened in my shop (glad it never has!)...I know I'd eat it and make it 100% RIGHT and then some!  :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:

birdsandbees

1970 'Bird RM23UOA170163
1969 'Bee WM21H9A230241
1969 Dart Swinger LM23P9B190885
1967 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S
1966 Plymouth Satellite HP2 - 9941 original miles
1964 Dodge 440 62422504487

Aero426

Quote from: b5blue on February 02, 2020, 11:34:04 AM
Hey I'd give the local news "help line" a shot. Lots of real time exposing bull crap works wonders around here!  :scratchchin:

Since he has revealed his true colors to the body shop and to you,  the local TV consumer advocate could be an effective strategy.      

There's no way any reputable body shop will fix that for $1200.

He's banking that you'll fold and turn it in to your insurance company on your deductible.    


67440chrg

Sorry he is not a stand up kind of man. People think they can just push a victim around and not pay for their screw ups. Get the law involved.

Mike DC


This does sound ripe for media or legal action. 

There's no gray area about what happened.  Nor is there any gray area for who is at fault.  And establishing a fair price is a very straightforward normal procedure. 

Old Moparz

Finally fixed my truck......Again.  ::)

The timeline of events isn't over yet either, I have only collected less than half of the money owed to me. The damage was on 12-31-19, but the head douchebag at the tire shop kept trying to haggle the payment down & refused to pay even the lowest estimate in full. I send him a certified letter to tell him that if he doesn't pay me to get the truck fixed it's going to cost him even more going to court. He calls me after getting the letter & finally agrees to pay, but says he wants me to sign a letter stating that he paid in full & the issue is resolved. I agree & leave work to go to the tire shop to get a check.


So I'm sitting in tire douche's office with him & he's on his computer setting up the printer to print a check & the letter. After making me wait 20 minutes he prints the letter he wants signed telling me that the check is for full payment. I read it, see that it's for $1200 & not the $1600+ & tell him,"WE'RE DONE, I'LL SEE YOU IN COURT!"

Now he has some stupid look on his face like he has no idea why I won't take his check & says, "Where are you going? Why won't you take my check?"

I tell him, "You wasted my time, I asked you on the phone if the check was going to be for the full amount & made out to me & you said yes. This is why I will see you in court."

My voice was raised so his douchebag manager came in to see what was going on. He gets between me & the head tire douche & says, "Please keep it down, I have customers here."

I'm already heading for the door but tell him, "I don't care if you have customers, my truck is screwed up because of incompetence in this place & I want it fixed."

As I'm leaving he pulls the door shut & says, "Get the fuck out of here!"

Real professionals at their finest.  ::)

I went straight to the courthouse, picked up the forms I needed & started the process to sue the tire shop. Now it's April & before the judge hears the case he sends us into a room with an arbitrator. I'm asked to tell my side of the story & I do. Tire douche tells his side but also adds that I showed up at his shop drunk, yelling & threatening him.  :smilielol:

The arbitrator seems to take his side & asked me why I don't want to settle if he's willing to pay. I have to reexplain to this idiot that tire douche is full of crap, has been lying to me since day one & I have no reason whatsoever to believe he's going to pay me at all. The arbitrator tells me that whether I think I have a case or not that the judge may not rule in my favor & that I'm taking a huge chance by not accepting tire douche's offer.

I got up & said "WE'RE DONE, I'LL SEE THE JUDGE IN COURT!"

That's what I did & won the decision. I had three estimates, photos, copies of all my letters that wasted my time & the tire receipt that had a note from tire douche saying that the shop damaged the truck & that he'd pay for the repair. I refused to pay him for the tires unless that note was added to the receipt which is clearly what prompted the judge to tell tire douche to pay up.  :D

Anyway, I've been sent two checks so far totaling just under half of the repair estimate. It was enough to at least let me get the truck fixed without having to eat the entire cost myself. If he stops sending me checks I'll go back to the court & have them collect the rest.

Here are the After-After-Before & the After-After-After pics....  :lol:

That's just sanding dust above the rear wheel, not a scuff. And the paint is a bit off from the door to the bed but I can live with it.
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry

Old Moparz

Quote from: will on February 02, 2020, 02:23:45 PM
Care to name names for those of us who are local to you?


I will but I do want to collect the rest of my money first. The last thing I need right now is for tire douche to go crying to the court saying defamation. He's a lying sack of s**t so I have no doubt that he'd try whatever possible to avoid paying the rest.

It'll be fun to start posting the negative crap about this guy's tire shop because it's all true & will have court documentation to back up the claim.  :cheers:
               Bob               



              Going Nowhere In A Hurry