I'm working on a 68 F-100 that our father bought new. Unfortunately, even though it's been in Colorado its entire life, it's pretty eaten up with tinworm. The fenders can be replaced but I'm pretty worried about the cab. It has some rust around the lower rear corners but it looks like patch panels are available for them. What I'm most concerned is the way the rust has attacked the area where the rocker panel/running board curves up toward the lower door hinge. The picture below is the driver's side; the right side is not so bad but it certainly needs repair there, as well.



The patch pieces I've found at Mac's specifically say that they "don't curve upward toward the hinge like the original", or something like that. So they won't do me any good. I guess what I'm looking for is how some of you have fixed this area in the past. My brother will be here on Thanksgiving day if the weather is good and since he used to be a body and fender guy, I'll get his expert opinion but just in case it turns winter here, I'm looking for others who have been down this road.

I might have a line on a solid cab but 2 things that make me look for this repair: 1), the guy doesn't know when he'll be able to let me have the cab, and 2), I'd like to keep the truck original if possible.

Thanks in advance,

Dan

 

Mind wasn't as this bad but close. I cut mostly all the cancer out where I had some good metal to weld to. I pickup some flat sheet metal about 18 ga. Got out my sheet metal sheers cut a piece that I could shape bend around a coffee can then just kelp trimming it down to what I wanted, then I used some pop rivets and clamps to brazed it in place.
I did one side at a time so I could see as a guide. It's best to remove your fender so you can coat it the por-15. I did use a little bondo to finish it off. Once you get started you'll see how to do it..It's been 15 yrs since, I did mind still looks good...
my 2cents
orich

 

Mine has this to i'll be doing something like orich said how he did his except I'm going to put a access door around there so I can suck out the dirt that gets stuck underneith the jamb every so often I forget where i saw a patch panel at for there but they said it measures 9" up the door jamb

 

Found a place that sells what I think is replacement pieces for this area. Fixmyrust.com, apparently a company in the rust belt. Don't have the parts in hand yet but I hope they're what I need. Only $14 each so it's not even much of a risk. More to come.

 

Rust Doctor is pretty good as it's a water base ez clean up, about 1/2 hr to dry. Also Great working stuff in a spray bottle and you can return unused back in it's bottle..I use this in those hard to reach places. Its the surface to a black oxide like primer..my 2cents
orich

 

I have seen these pieces offered from sherman autobody.

I have also heard from some that they don't fit, but I've seen sharman's pictures of the part and they sure look right to me.

Best of luck, I have the same troubles.