After my last post with the photos, I removed the crossmember and was left with most everything I didn't want. Aside from a few parts here and there, everything was scheduled to be scrapped.
I didn't have any cutting equipment so I went about finding some. Trying to keep the budget down, I looked for sales on new tools and scoured CraigsList for used ones. Eventually, I ended up at my local pawn shop and got a Dewalt 4.5" angle grinder and also a Dewalt reciprocating saw, after testing them out in store, for the paltry sum of $45. Since I'm building my tool inventory from the ground up, this was such a score! I got some assorted cutting and grinding wheels for the grinder and metal cutting blades for the saw.
On a side note, I would have liked to have kept the truck until I was done with the swap, but that was not an option, it needed to be gone. So, with my tools of destruction in hand, I set about cutting this thing up.
I don't have any fun picture of the demo as it progressed but there was plenty of noise, smoke, dirt, sparks, sweat and side eyes from the neighbors. Luckily the whole ordeal only took about a week. I took it slow, cutting things down to manageable sizes and cutting further to make it carry-able. I put the majority of the scrap on the boulevard with a sign and it was picked up within the following week. Coveralls, leather boots, gloves, glasses and hear protection made everything happen without a hitch.
All this work got me down to what I needed: the crossmember. Finally, about a year later! I did also keep the brake booster, power steering pump and engine. I was able to sell the trans and much of the interior to offset the trucks original cost.
I'll rebuild the suspension and brakes with all new parts but I want to refurbish the crossmember itself before hand.
I considered using my grinder to take all the surface rust off, but I knew there would be areas I couldn't reach. I thought about having it sandblasted but would have had to drive 45 minutes and the guy quoted me way more than I wanted to spend. I want this thing to be as clean as possible before I put it in the new truck so I considered chemicals. For the non-toxic DIY route, Evapo-rust has great reviews but its expensive. Prohibitively so for the size part I am working with. With all that taken into consideration, I chose another option. Very clean and easy to do with minimal investment, and also slightly scientific.
In my next post, I'll let you know what I decided to do and show you how I did it.
