'78 Drip Rail
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Central Texas
'78 Drip Rail
My '78 Crew Cab drip rail is starting to rust through. I have a couple of small holes already. I am not ready to do a complete restoration on the body yet, but I need to have these drip rails fixed before they get really bad. How should I proceed? I can do a little of the work, but without a welder, I can not weld in patch panels. What can I do to cut out the bad rust and stop the rest of the rust from getting any worse? Any suggestions are appriciated, thanks.
Also, what should I expect to pay to have someone else weld in some patch panels?
Also, what should I expect to pay to have someone else weld in some patch panels?
Last edited by 1978Crew; May 30, 2006 at 10:53 AM.
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From: the beaches of florida
I have the exact same problem, except mine are probably alot worse than yours. You could try using an adhesive instead of welding, i dont really think welding is all that necessary for a drip rail.
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Joined: May 2006
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Me three! I just ground out the old repair today. The guy that did this was a sculpter, not a body man!! I will be welding in a patch damn near the full length of my Crew, on BOTH sides!! I will be taking pics along the way if anyone wants to watch!
For your rust spots you would do good to nip it in the bud! Don't just cover it up. Use a rust converter solution to stop what's there and then seal it up with some paint. If nothing else get some rust conversion primer.
Larry
For your rust spots you would do good to nip it in the bud! Don't just cover it up. Use a rust converter solution to stop what's there and then seal it up with some paint. If nothing else get some rust conversion primer.
Larry
Last edited by 74X4DOOR!; Jun 5, 2006 at 09:04 PM. Reason: left something out
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: in country near Boone, IA
Make that me 4!!! My 78 crew has some small pinhole in the roof panel just above the drip rail. These will have to be fixed sometime also. 74X4door - i would be interested in seeing the pics of your progress of this repair. email me or send message through FTE.
Another question for you crew cab guys - can anyone get me the exact (or damn close) measurement of the brake cables (front, and the two rears). Mine are completely broke and I don't have all the pieces so am having to have some made. Nobody (not even Inline) has made a set for a 78 Crew yet. I need to get them some measurements. Thanks a million.
Eric
johaner78
Another question for you crew cab guys - can anyone get me the exact (or damn close) measurement of the brake cables (front, and the two rears). Mine are completely broke and I don't have all the pieces so am having to have some made. Nobody (not even Inline) has made a set for a 78 Crew yet. I need to get them some measurements. Thanks a million.
Eric
johaner78
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Ok, here you go! I wish I had taken some pics before I started but I wasn't expecting it to be this bad. The previous repair was done with fiberglass. What I could see was some bubbling along the area between the drip rail and the cab. Once I started scraping it back it came off in one long chunk! I will be cutting out the remaining rust, blasting everything I can get to, treating it with a rust converter, then sealing it with something like Por15. Then I will weld in new sheetmetal, grind down the welds, take care of the distortion that I get, then a light coat of filler, prime and paint! I am not sure on the color(s) yet, but I plan to do a factory two tone.
I will also have a rust repair in a door corner, but hopefully that will be all the really bad stuff!
Any tips on suppliers other than LMC??????????
Well I told the story now I can't find a place to add a pic! I guess I will have to post them on my site. I will create a page for the truck and post a link here when it is up.
Larry
I will also have a rust repair in a door corner, but hopefully that will be all the really bad stuff!
Any tips on suppliers other than LMC??????????
Well I told the story now I can't find a place to add a pic! I guess I will have to post them on my site. I will create a page for the truck and post a link here when it is up.
Larry
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From: Calhoun, ga
Larry - there 'ya go... post 'em on yer site and send us the link, like I did...
http://us.mistynewbeak.biz/html/harrison.html
http://us.mistynewbeak.biz/html/harrison.html
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Here's the link! Be sure to follow the link at the bottom of the page to visit my web site!
http://www.voodooinside.com/F250Project.html
http://www.voodooinside.com/F250Project.html
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 362
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From: Calhoun, ga
Very nice truck, Larry except the gash on the roof. My gash isn't that bad; its more towards the rear window area.... look like we both have jobs ahead of us.
I would have driven 400 miles for that truck!! Nice extended cab!!!!
I would have driven 400 miles for that truck!! Nice extended cab!!!!
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From: Central Texas
exactly my problem
Glad to see that y'all have the same problem that I have. You both have the same white F250 also. I look forward to seeing your progress. What so you plan to use to stop the rust from growing? Is it possible to get some rust converter down in the cracks? I am not necessarily looking to make mine show room pretty, I just want the rust to stop before I drop anymore money into the project. But if I don't do it soon, it will get much more expensive.
Hope you get busy soon, I like to watch.
Hope you get busy soon, I like to watch.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 530
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From: in country near Boone, IA
74X4door - OUCH!!! Looks like a monster project to tackle. That is really bad rust - even worse than my78 crew that has been and iowa truck since new (iowa winters and road salt are hard on things) I do know that I have some rust to repair in that area but not that bad. GOOD LUCK!!!
As for different suppliers, here are ones that I have used and/or know of:
www.blueovaltruckparts.com
www.dennis-carpenter.com
www.broncograveyard.com
As for different suppliers, here are ones that I have used and/or know of:
www.blueovaltruckparts.com
www.dennis-carpenter.com
www.broncograveyard.com
