quarter panel replacement?
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 139
Likes: 3
quarter panel replacement?
i need to fix the bubble rust above the rear fenders.. many have said to do the whole side of the bed which means big $$ id rather do the small panels that lmc offers.. but whats the best way of installing them, i have tools a n a mig welder should i over lap them.. or butt weld them.. or even use fiberglass bondo and fix the rust problem.. im going to do the metal work my self and have a shop paint.. but just want to do the metal work right.. any ideas? or previous post.. videos.. pics?
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 458
Likes: 122
From: Maryland
For welding in patch panels, here is a good read....
Welding in patch panels - The Garage Journal Board
Butt welding is the only way to go, overlapping will just serve as a dirt and moisture trap and in a couple years you are back where you started. Fiberglass and steel are not a good mix, Varying temperatures and the different expansion rates between the two materials will eventually cause delamination/release of the resin's bond for a short lived repair. Fiberglass bondo has less of this issue, but the only long term solution to fixing your truck bed would be to cut out the rust and weld in new metal.
Back to the bed replacement, if a paint shop is going to spray the repairs for you, their cost will likely exceed what a replacement bed will cost. If you could luck out and find one the correct color to match your truck where painting is not needed, then a replacement bed would likely be cheaper in the long run.
Welding in patch panels - The Garage Journal Board
Butt welding is the only way to go, overlapping will just serve as a dirt and moisture trap and in a couple years you are back where you started. Fiberglass and steel are not a good mix, Varying temperatures and the different expansion rates between the two materials will eventually cause delamination/release of the resin's bond for a short lived repair. Fiberglass bondo has less of this issue, but the only long term solution to fixing your truck bed would be to cut out the rust and weld in new metal.
Back to the bed replacement, if a paint shop is going to spray the repairs for you, their cost will likely exceed what a replacement bed will cost. If you could luck out and find one the correct color to match your truck where painting is not needed, then a replacement bed would likely be cheaper in the long run.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 1
From: North of Tulsa, Oklahoma
i'm doing some patch panel replacements on my '78 pickup bed. I'll be doing the butt welds so there wont be any lips to hold water/mud/etc...
If yer gonna do it yourself get some scrap metal of the same thickness and practice practice practice your mig welding of the scrap pieces together. (I'm using a mig with shielding gas; it's much cleaner than flux core mig welding.)
If you just try to hide the rust with bondo it will eventually come out and ruin the paint. The PO of my truck did that with the bottom rear bed corner on the passenger side. That is what i'm working on to replace now.
Best of luck to ya.
If yer gonna do it yourself get some scrap metal of the same thickness and practice practice practice your mig welding of the scrap pieces together. (I'm using a mig with shielding gas; it's much cleaner than flux core mig welding.)
If you just try to hide the rust with bondo it will eventually come out and ruin the paint. The PO of my truck did that with the bottom rear bed corner on the passenger side. That is what i'm working on to replace now.
Best of luck to ya.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Riskyguy
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
Jun 17, 2011 08:06 PM
