Hey guys,

I just bought my first Ranger, a 1991 4x4 V6/auto extended cab (not sure on the engine details just yet). The engine seems to run pretty decent, but the body has some rust spots on it, especially around the wheel wells.

I have done some *minor* body work before (some very basic prep and paint stuff). Broke college student here, so I don't have the money to put a new box on it or to cut/weld on some patch panels. I don't expect it to be a show truck, I just want it to look decent and to stop the body from furthermore decaying.

This is kind of what the rear wheel wells look like:

(Not my photo, just very similar to what mine look like.)

How should I go about fixing it? I haven't got any experience with Bondo, but I would like to try to use some so that I can still have that arch-shape above the wheel wells. After wirebrushing the rust and priming over the area, how should I go about applying Bondo so that it still has the arch shape in the wheel wells?

I hope what I am asking makes sense... any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! Thank you!

 

cut that off, and clean up the edges. You have that lip that pokes out of the bed side. Cut there along that line.

 

X2 I think just cutting out existing rust and stopping it for now will be good. Don't go nuts with the bondo, it will just look like crap. Best bet is to stop it, and maybe someday when you get the cash fix it right.

 

cut of the lips or just the bad spots, then put some rust inhibitor on it, then throw some flares on it to cover it up.

 

yup. i have some 2006-2009 ranger flares that would look great on youre truck! check my sig out for the link to the classified