easy fix?
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 5
From: nunya
easy fix?
I am looking at buying a '79 F350 supercab......it has this rust spot...havent gone to look at it personally,but the pics that were sent to me look like this is it for cancer.....Is this an easy fix or should I pass? BTW the truck is for a grand.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: Hedgesville WV
It's a big job to fix correctly, most of the rust is under the roof where you can't see it. If youre not concerned with how pretty it is, just want or need the truck, it will probably be good for a few years. Maybe have somebody take the headliner out and send you some pics of the underside of the roof near the drip rails to see how bad it is
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,955
Likes: 50
From: Mesa
I have a cpl spots like that too. My plan is to coat the insides with rust converter then fill and bondo the holes. The other option is to cut the roof off and pray to the supercab gods that you can find another one. $1000 sounds like a good buy. I paid $1600 for mine and have had to drop about another $1000 to get it road worthy... Still lots more to do.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 1
Trending Topics
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 83
From: NorCal
Roof rust like that starts from the inside out. I've observed the phenomenon first hand.
Condensation forms on the underside of the roof due to the difference between the temperature inside the cab and the outside air. When enough condensation forms, it'll accumulate and then trickle (due to gravity) towards which ever roof rail is closest. Over time, it causes rust-through as pictured.
Another cause of rust is bad seam sealer on the drip rails. However, I believe most roof rot cases as caused by condensation.
A solution is to insulate the inaccessible areas of the roof.. front, sides, and rear. Some have stuffed household fiberglass insulation and others expanding polyurethane foam. Then apply some sheet insulation to the open fields. Insulation is intended to slow down conduction and convection.
Easy fix? That's hard to say because it's manifesting only in small spots. The rusty area will likely be much bigger on the inside... think of it looking at a crater but you only see the bottom of it.. the rim will likely be huge.
Condensation forms on the underside of the roof due to the difference between the temperature inside the cab and the outside air. When enough condensation forms, it'll accumulate and then trickle (due to gravity) towards which ever roof rail is closest. Over time, it causes rust-through as pictured.
Another cause of rust is bad seam sealer on the drip rails. However, I believe most roof rot cases as caused by condensation.
A solution is to insulate the inaccessible areas of the roof.. front, sides, and rear. Some have stuffed household fiberglass insulation and others expanding polyurethane foam. Then apply some sheet insulation to the open fields. Insulation is intended to slow down conduction and convection.
Easy fix? That's hard to say because it's manifesting only in small spots. The rusty area will likely be much bigger on the inside... think of it looking at a crater but you only see the bottom of it.. the rim will likely be huge.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 5
From: nunya
I do not know the owner personally. My last 77 S'Cab had rust in the VERY same place....I looked all over that truck and could not find anymore.... I like the idea of a rust converter and bondo. I am moving back to Illinois in the spring time and this truck will be used for hauling and hunting back there. So I am not worried about a "show" truck...just a good truck. Now I hav to decide what to do with my '73 F250!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,742
Likes: 5
From: Near St. Joseph,MO
buy it and look for another cab. Do some patchwork to stop it, then fix up another cab over time and then swap. You'll learn a lot and love your truck more that way. 
Plus it's cheaper than having it fixed.
Plus it's cheaper than having it fixed.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
biggyfan1
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Aug 25, 2013 05:34 PM