Rust holes + Duct tape = Inspection win?

[toocheaptosmoke]

This is a semi serious question about inspection. It's that time of the year again and the old dodge has a few more speed holes, only around the fenders. The frame is solid as well as the passenger compartment, I oil the frame every year. I've heard the fenders can have have rust holes, as long as they are not "hazardous" I read the inspection code, doesn't really say much. So, question is, would a few feet of tape get it through inspection for another year? Or is the cloth backed chrome just asking to be rejected? (it would match the two tone paint)

[Mack]

I have a 94 F150 that has the typical Ford rust around the rear fenders. When we took it to get inspected, the guy told my mom that she could cover it with duct tape. So duct tape is the reason mine is inspected. I think that as long as it's not visible it will pass (the rust). Just make sure you don't leave it on too long or it's a bitch to get off. I think the heat had a lot to do with it, though. Good luck.

[brent66]

i dont know about duct tape but that aluminum tape will pass

[gilly95]

great stuff (the expandable foam) is your friend..

yes it draws moisture and this and that
but i had a s-10 and that was my bed sides and cab corners....

it all depends where you go... i use to fail trucks with the foil tape, but ive seen duct tape and mud pass....

try the tape and if it dosnt work your out a faild inspection and an hour of filling it with puddy.

[justin'sbig7]

When I used to inspect, the main reason for failing a rust hole was either due to dangerous sharp jagged edge that could cut someone or leaking exhaust into a passenger compartment, or a structural problem. There's nothing structural and I can't see any holes into the passenger compartment, Cover the holes with some tape and see if they pass it.

[Super Scout]

There is no reason that shouldnt pass. When I worked in a Garage we only failed a car for rust holes if it went into the passenger compartment or it was a jagged edge which I took to mean completely rotted away. If they fail that dodge take it else where.

[Lumpy]

My 92 Toy passes with rust holes in the fenders. Now I have replaced the front but the rear still have holes. I was told as long as you do not have sharp edges it "should" pass.






Front is all better now!!! Before someone flames me for it I know they are 2wd fenders. I could not pass up the price.


So anyway....you should be good as long as the inspector is a nice guy.

[pittim]

I was told that as long as there are no sharp edges that it will pass.

Guessing it has something to do with safety for people walking next to it.

[fordfourby]

Tiger hair, stuff is hard as a rock.

[Lumpy]

Tiger hair, stuff is hard as a rock.

I like that stuff!!!!

[BigDukeSix]

Tiger hair, stuff is hard as a rock.

Beat me to it. x2 on that.

[limegreentj]

where does one buy tiger hair now? i havent seen that shit in years

[toocheaptosmoke]

where does one buy tiger hair now? i havent seen that shit in years

We sell it at Trader Horn.


Thanks for all the advice, thought it was ok to have rust holes in the fenders. Just like to make things as easy as possible for the inspection guy. I've used the expanding foam on a friends truck, rots out waaay too fast afterwords though. I would mud it in if I had to, but duct tape is just so much quicker. Will put on new fenders sometime in the future anyways.

[Lumpy]

I used to get it at the local auto parts. Not sure if they still have it. Hovis in Zelie might.

http://www.google.com/products?q=tig...l=en&scoring=p

.

[andrew2516]

I have a buddy that does inspections and hes always told me he doesn't pass anything with duct tape on it.

I would just be on the safe side and through a little puddy or rivet some metal in.

[Super Scout]

I once got my suburban to pass inspection by placing a piece of sheet metal over the hole in the floor and putting a big tool box on top of it lol. Mechanic had it up on the lift saw the patch over the hole hit it with a hammer the weight kept it in place good to go LMAO.

[88wd21]

It's the fender, not the passanger compartment. Make sure the edges ain't sharp and your normally good, little bit of duct tape as an extra precaution don't hurt. And any excuse to mess with duct tape is a good one.

[JoshF]

Duct tape is never a legit rrepair. The book says "workman like" repair. But as others have said the concern with fenders is jagged edges. Me personally if the edge catches a rag or a mechanix glove I failed it. Make the guys life a little easier and spend the 15 bucks on tiger hair.

[oros35]

I've gotten through inspection a few times with duct tape.

I always put a coat of paint on it though and tried to do a pretty good job to make it blend in with the rest of the vehicle. From 15 feet away you couldn't even tell.

[LaurelHighTim]

Duct tape is never a legit rrepair. The book says "workman like" repair. But as others have said the concern with fenders is jagged edges. Me personally if the edge catches a rag or a mechanix glove I failed it. Make the guys life a little easier and spend the 15 bucks on tiger hair.

I find flawed logic in this statement.

My door jamb post, and my license plate bracket, and my D-ring tabs, and my high lift have all caught my clothes and ripped them. I have never caught a shop rag on a rusty spot.

"Workman Like Repair"... My mechanic used to be a pit crew member on a Nascar race team. They put more miles on a duct tape repair job than they do tires. So I'm going with Ductape being a "Workman Like Repair". Actually, as bad as a bondo job really is, I'm not sure if duct tape would not work better?

The entire inspection process in Pennsylvania is a Joke.

The only thing they should be checking is tires, brakes, minimum lights, and windshield wipers and "GROSS SAFETY ISSUES" like a sevearly rotted frame, broken leaf spring, gigantic crack in windshield etc.

This whole thing about every year I gotta replace my windshield, re-install my third brake light, put my drain plugs back in my floors, and pull up my carpet and fix holes is a joke... (One guy I know mixed up fiberglass styrene resin and just dumped it right over his carpet because the mechanic told him he had to have his sheet metal patches sealed with something. Hell the factory did not even seal them on some vehicles. And one more thing... I had to argue with some little bitch once who was inspecting work vans about the "rear wiper" not working. I literally had to get out a dictionary and read the definition of "windshield" to her, and then ask her if that piece of glass on the back fits the definition of windshield? The book say windshield wipers... not rear wipers, not all wipers, not headlight wipers, not butt wipers, not any other kind of wiper at all except "windshield wipers" and windshield wipers are only found on the windshield.

OP... There is not a thing wrong with that dodge as long as you dont have holes in your cab.

[jkrob]

Related question to this. Will muffler heat tape pass inspection on a exhaust pipe?

Thanks

[steveg0690]

Related question to this. Will muffler heat tape pass inspection on a exhaust pipe?

Thanks

as long as it doesn't leak.

[tow hook]

i've used duck tape on my xj rockers for 2 years... it passed the 10 foot look, for real rockers... i hope to have enough rocker panel to pass this year... as for the inspection code.. it depends on were ya take it..

[betrayed93]

West Virginia Chrome!

Anyway an easy fix for that dodge that would be to pick up some bushwacker Flares and slap them on and you would never see any of that! Down side to it is they cost $300 I Put them on my previous truck 00 cummins sport

[JeepSteeler]

I plugged the rear fenders on my 92F150 with some tiger hair - only downside is that stuff is hard to sand, but anyway that took all of 10 minutes. Then bought cut-to-fit rubber fender flares from JC Whitney on the cheap and used self tapping sheetmetal screws to put the flares on. I eventually took it all off and did the job right but that got me through a few years.