I removed the carpet to get the floor ready for bed liner and as I suspected the insulation underneath was soaked, even after sitting in the garage out of the weather for 5 months. The floor pans have a considerable amount of surface rust, but they are still solid with no holes yet. I am thinking the best thing to do is grind all of the surface rust off then spray some rust preventative on it before putting the bed liner on it. Does that sound like a solid plan or not, any other ideas?

 

Find and fix the leaks. Thats not too bad this is what mine looked like

 

I got the leaks pretty much taken care of, but water will still get in when going through deep water and mud, that's why I am bed lining the floor LOL.

 

Diffently grind down all surface rust. Prime and paint it then bed liner it. Cut and fix any holes mater how small they are.

 

The rust isn't too bad really. Removing those factory heat shields will be a bit of a chore.

I personally haven't had great luck with rust converters. My default plan of attack is to remove it and start fresh.
I recommend using a good rust dissolver. Lay it on thick for a day or two, then put on a face shield go to town with a wire brush cup.
A 120 flap disc will help with the rough areas. You don't want to remove any more metal than you have to.
You will want to tack weld any holes and smooth them.

Wipe it down with alcohol (and tons of towels), then get a protective layer on. Epoxy primer is the best for this application, but standard etching primer would work. It will take a couple cans.
After that you will be ready to scuff and spray the bedliner.


You are going to get some heat (150*) and noise from the trans tunnel / exhaust pipe without any carpet. However you decide to tackle that problem is up to you.

 

I had a water leak in the front passenger side it was coming in from the radio antenna wire at the front right kick panel, a rubber plug the wire is in came loose and letting water run down the wire. Something to check while you are looking around. Overall that amount of rust is what I had in my driver side front floor (that water leak was coming in from the windshield).

 

Zinc Primer does a good job.
So does a bucket of Damp Rid during the damp months.