Is this beyond saving?
See A Man About A Horse
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,899
Likes: 655
From: Mariposa, Ca.
You can get a pretty decent-condition, relatively rust-free, running truck in the western states, for around 5-7K, way less than what you’d ever spend getting one into decent shape. Fly-n-drive, in four or five days you’re back home, saving money, months or years of headaches, and you’ll get to see some of the country, to boot.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 954
From: Tri Cities, TN
Well drag it back out. Unless there is sentimental value. Seriously, what I'm seeing there will take a frame off and months to repair. A lot of that rusty stuff is reproduced but some of it isn't and will require a donor truck or the skill to make it yourself. I would bet the rear stiffeners on the front fenders are gone also. Good Luck.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 862
From: Foothills of NC
Is this a unibody truck or a regular cab and bed? If not a unibody, I would look for another cab.
Get under the truck with heavy sheet metal/steel, jack up the cab, and slide the metal where you can and bolt/rivet it from above to what metal you have. This is only for support to keep the cab from collapsing around the mounts. It's already started collapsing under the clutch pedal.
Drive it and keep looking for a cab. I would put as little as possible into this cab to keep it going. Hammer and rivet metal where you can to cover the holes to the outside.
Get under the truck with heavy sheet metal/steel, jack up the cab, and slide the metal where you can and bolt/rivet it from above to what metal you have. This is only for support to keep the cab from collapsing around the mounts. It's already started collapsing under the clutch pedal.
Drive it and keep looking for a cab. I would put as little as possible into this cab to keep it going. Hammer and rivet metal where you can to cover the holes to the outside.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 596
Likes: 58
From: West Plains, MO
Anything's fixable with enough patch panels and MIG welding wire...
But I do agree, at some point getting another cab would be better.
(Don't forget, rust is always worse than it first appears!)
My '65 F-350 had significant floor and A-pillar rust, although not as bad as yours. It took me two months and about $700 worth of panels from Carolina Classics. The thread is on this forum:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...body-work.html
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
But I do agree, at some point getting another cab would be better.
(Don't forget, rust is always worse than it first appears!)
My '65 F-350 had significant floor and A-pillar rust, although not as bad as yours. It took me two months and about $700 worth of panels from Carolina Classics. The thread is on this forum:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...body-work.html
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 639
Likes: 202
From: Grants Pass, Oregon
The complete floor pan is reproduced, steps and all. I would look to that route if you cannot find a donor cab. Don't try and get all the other pieces individually. Even though they are available, welding them together would be a nightmare. Replace thewhole floor as one.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 423
From: Lehigh Valley, Penna.
Anything's fixable with enough patch panels and MIG welding wire...
But I do agree, at some point getting another cab would be better.
(Don't forget, rust is always worse than it first appears!)
My '65 F-350 had significant floor and A-pillar rust, although not as bad as yours. It took me two months and about $700 worth of panels from Carolina Classics. The thread is on this forum:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...body-work.html
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
But I do agree, at some point getting another cab would be better.
(Don't forget, rust is always worse than it first appears!)
My '65 F-350 had significant floor and A-pillar rust, although not as bad as yours. It took me two months and about $700 worth of panels from Carolina Classics. The thread is on this forum:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...body-work.html
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 529
Likes: 14
Depends on what you like to do. Your truck is similar & maybe not quite as bad as mine (mine was sunk onto the frame, rust up the firewall from mud splatter, doors sprung, bottom half of the A and B pillars gone etc.). Anyway I like welding in panels I can buy & making a few I can't so that's what I did. I also don't like driving six states west to get a new cab so screw it I fixed what I got & it turned out pretty good. There's a short thread I put up on my rebuild a few years ago in the archives somewhere if you want to check it out.
If you want to try it go ahead it's a ****** ton of work and time though (gets to be a bit of a rabbit hole) & won't look as nice as if you buy a good replacement cab etc. As far as price goes it may be a bit of a wash if you get a fare priced cab since replacement panels cost some $$. Doing it myself was probably cheaper for me than hunting up a new cab but not by much especially if you consider my time but like I say I enjoyed it so...
Good luck.
If you want to try it go ahead it's a ****** ton of work and time though (gets to be a bit of a rabbit hole) & won't look as nice as if you buy a good replacement cab etc. As far as price goes it may be a bit of a wash if you get a fare priced cab since replacement panels cost some $$. Doing it myself was probably cheaper for me than hunting up a new cab but not by much especially if you consider my time but like I say I enjoyed it so...
Good luck.