Advice on body work..
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Advice on body work..
Ive been reading this forum since 2011, everything I've looked for I've found. Just an amazing wealth of information here.
I have a 1978 F250 SWB, over the past 3 years I've been working on it, just basic improvements as and when i can. Working guy, family, responsibilities, 99% the same as everyone else.
I' getting to closer to repainting it, but i have some questions around body work, on the tailgate. I'm not looking to go show car, but id like it to look clean and nice.
Here is an image of the tailgate.
On the bottom side its pretty rusty, I've been reading about fiber glass filler (Fiber glass mixed with body filler paste). A better option than normal body putty, keeping moisture at bay, the way I understood it. Would you guys suggest this as a good way to go to fill these holes?
A major dent in the tailgate, is where the previous owner dropped the gate onto the ball of the tow-bar, over and over. leaving this dent in it. I'm not really keen to fill the hole with body putty, what would be a better way to smooth it out? My thought pattern is along the lines of cutting it out, bashing it straight on the bench and welding it back. smooth it off with a grinder then putty if needed.. Again thoughts??
Thanx for reading..
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
R/H drive and in RSA, cool. Cutting out the rust and replacing with metal is really the best way to go. If that is not really an option you have to kill (rust convertor) or stop the rust process before you start repairing it.
So where is your tailgate handle? I can not ses it in the middle, and see some odd latch handle? on the l/h side of the t/g in the last pic.
So where is your tailgate handle? I can not ses it in the middle, and see some odd latch handle? on the l/h side of the t/g in the last pic.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
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Body filler is based on polyester resin. It bonds well enough to sound sanded steel to stay in place... but not strong enough to repair gaps. Also, the fillers in standard putty can absorb moisture. Repairing rust with filler and fiberglass is very frustrating... it can start to bubble up and off in a few months. This is a used car dealers trick to get it off the lot.
Epoxy (JB Weld, PC7, others) bonds better to steel. If the rust is neutralized and repaired with epoxy and fiberglass followed by normal filler it can last a bit longer. Maybe a few years.
Cut it out and weld new in is the best. Depending on how much time, equipment and experience you have, a better used or re-pop tailgate may be a better option.
Epoxy (JB Weld, PC7, others) bonds better to steel. If the rust is neutralized and repaired with epoxy and fiberglass followed by normal filler it can last a bit longer. Maybe a few years.
Cut it out and weld new in is the best. Depending on how much time, equipment and experience you have, a better used or re-pop tailgate may be a better option.
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Joined: Jun 2015
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From: Blackstock On. Canada.
Hey Mark. That tailgate is in rough shape and it's not the proper gate for the truck. It's off of a 67-72. Unless, are you from Australia? Maybe they still used the older tailgate there.
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Thanx for the replies everyone..
Seems a better route would be to hunt down another one that's in a better condition, Ill see what i can find.
77&79F250 - Yes it has this very basic latch on each side. All the older F series Ford's I've seen only have this type of latch over here.
Thanx again.
Seems a better route would be to hunt down another one that's in a better condition, Ill see what i can find.
77&79F250 - Yes it has this very basic latch on each side. All the older F series Ford's I've seen only have this type of latch over here.
Thanx again.
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