Is this a normal thing?

 

normal, just like the crankshaft pulley

i thought about cleaning, priming and
painting those things when i first
brought the car home, but never did.

 

yea I hit mine with some rattle can when I was putting in my panhard bar, I wish they would have hit are undercarriage with some paint...

 

Brush that schit with por15 like I did, and you're done for good!

 

When I swapped my 8.8 rear onto my V6 I took some Rustoleum to it and it's held up pretty well I'd say.

Just don't be an idiot like me and leave the rear end upside-down after painting... had to get more diff fluid!!!

 

If I leave it alone how long can I expect it to last? I don't really want to take it apart which is what you'd need to do for a real thorough job.

 

thats is my plain

 

Whats por15?

 

http://www.mojeepin.com/prod_POR15.html

 

It's a rust stop/treatment that works great on metal.
Perfect for surface rust and even pitted areas.
No need to sand blast or grinding because it's not designed for clean metal.
Wire brush or sand the rusted area, blow it off and apply 2 coats of that stuff directly on it and walk away. Simple as that.
Cost about $35 a quart.

Don't get any on your skin, it stains like a biatch!

Only one problem: Short shelf life

I used it on my 68 inside the rear frame rails, there's always surface rust in there (see pic)