easy fix?
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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.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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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
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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.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
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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.
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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
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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.
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