Hey guys I'm kind off a new guy here, i'v picked up a 1970 f100, and want to start fixing her up, I have welding and some body work skills but, I'm no pro or journeyman in auto body ( I'm automotive thecnician journeyman) any how I'm seeing if anyone could give me some pointers on how to fix some rust along the roof of my truck near the windshield, windshield would need to be removed. But from what I can see once I start working it some hole might come thru. Also I'm in Canada where would be a good place to get body panels, thanks for your help guys

Pigbait.

 

The proper fix would be to weld in new metal where there are holes. Might be easier to find a rust free cab and swap it.

 

My 70 bump also has the same roof rot issues...no one makes repro roof panels nor stamped patches for the roof. The options include sectioning in new metal, find a clean roof from a donor and cut yours off, or swap the cab. The latter is more of a PITA in my opinion.

Repro body panels sources include LMC Truck, Dennis Carpenter, National Parts Depot, Blue Oval Truck Parts, and Mac's. Order their free catalogs and have at it..

 

Rusty roofs: This is a very common uccurrence on these trucks, it even occurs in dry desert states.

The w/shield drip rail and the drip rails above the doors were separate parts, were welded to the roof. Ford then used paintable caulking to fill in the gap between the rails and the roof.

The caulking cracks apart, water seeps in, the drip rails and roof begin to rust.

 

Here's another cause of roof rot......I observed in my 73 condensation forming on the underside of the roof panel and then making its way to the outer edges of the roof. A good step, of course after repairing the roof, is to spray some rust preventative along the inaccessible perimeter and then lining the roof with insulation.

 

The proper way to fix panel is to remove all the rust "weld wont stick if not all removed" secure the help of a bud take brass large brass drift works well weld area of hole weld wont stick to brass weld from outside and then use resuface wheel with fine grit to polish use encapsulation primer around area will prevent new rust and keep any old rust in small amounts from spreading thin bead "about the size of the ball on a pen" of window urathane placed under window welting will ensure water tight seal. urathane needs to be pretty warm to get thin bead best way use heated gun but letting it sit in bucket of boiling water will help with a good caulk gun. on body seams best to use seam sealer not caulk better hold and a flex addtive to paint will prevent lifting and cracking during paint job. hope this info helps the weld trick useful for filling unwanted holes all over the truck just time i use to fill firewall holes that will not be used

 

Wow ok great tips guys, I just got a hold of a guy who might be parting out a truck, I'm gonna go see what the cab is like it's a 72 but should all be the same right?

 

Close enough.

 

What's the diff? Is there any? When you say close enought what do you mean?

 

There may be a couple very minute details but for all intensive purposes they are the same.