rust repair
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 321
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From: Metamora
rust repair
Has anyone attempted major rust repair before on their 80-86 F-150? I have already replaced the outer parts of the floor pans and purchased used fenders. Now I noticed that the rocker panels and cab corners are on their last leg, the wheelwells on the bed are gone the inner fenders in the bed are dissappearing and the underside of the hood is slowly starting to bubble. The door frame and the skins are non-existent about 4 inches up from the bottom. I did some research on what it would cost to buy new sheetmetal and it came to around $800 not to mention my time in replacing all of the rust not to mention paint. Mechanically, the truck is perfect (only 97k) and it is the only 4wd / utility vehicle that I own. Would it be worth it to A) fix the rust on the current body? B) buy a newer truck (maybe a 2wd) that has a blown engine or trans and swap my running gear including 4Wd? or C) Scrap / sell the truck and saddle myself with monthly payments. I've heard the horror stories about converting a 2wd into 4wd, but it seems like there are plenty of late model 2wd trucks out there around $1000 with decent bodies that are itching for some 4wd traction.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 458
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From: northwestern missouri
best bet in my opinion would be to find a 2wd with a blown motor or no motor at all then just swap out bodys and beds instead of trying to swap running gears less work to swap out body&bed than it would be to swap running gears unless your frame is badly rusted if that is the case i would strip all the good parts off of the truck then pitch the rest find another 4wd in decent-good condition then start the trans process
