I have an 87 F-150 it is rusty around the edges(fenders, cab+box rocker panels). I hope to reapir all the rust over this summer. I have no experience and dont know where to start. I plan on buying a new tailgate and drivers door because of dents. What whould anyone reccomend doing. I know there are several different ways to go about this job. Any suggestions for any stage of the job would be great thanks.

 

>I have an 87 F-150 it is rusty around the edges(fenders,
>cab+box rocker panels). I hope to reapir all the rust over
>this summer. I have no experience and dont know where to
>start. I plan on buying a new tailgate and drivers door
>because of dents. What whould anyone reccomend doing. I know
>there are several different ways to go about this job. Any
>suggestions for any stage of the job would be great thanks.
>


The best way to deal with rust is eliminate it, this may include cutting out the rust and splicing in patch panels or rocker panels, depending on the amount of rust and how coarse it is.
If its light surface rust, you could try sand or media blasting.
Then sealing the bare metal. I prefer to use an epoxy primer-sealer.
In any case, it sounds like you have a complete on you hands and is by no means a small job.
But as most things, practice makes perfect, or at least better.
Working with body fillers is somewhat like drywall joint compound, as far as sanding and smoothing. There are various types of fillers out there also , depending on the type of fix.
Replacing doors, fenders and tailgates are a simple bolt ons, if you have a buddy to help, it will be that much eaiser.
In my opinion its easier to hang a door than to transfer the guts, but its nothing you cant do with basic hand tools.
Hopefully this is not your daily driver and you wont have to "hurry" to get it done, the more time you take to make sure things line up and are smooth, the better it will look when your done

Well, hope I helped a little anyhow, good luck and keep me posted.

*****

 

I have a question about replacing body panels too. My 85 bed (as they all do) has an inner and outter skin on the bed. Mine has the famous Ford rot around the rear fender wells and at the lower back of the bed. You can see all the way through. I've found the patch panels on this website (and for a very good price) but my question is.....what about the inner skin that has rusted away? I know all the rust needs to be cut out, but are there inner panels that you can buy to weld in place of what you cut out? Is this needed? Could you just weld braces in place of the inner skin to give the outter skin support? Planning on doing this project in the next couple of months but I wanna know what I'm in for ahead of time.
Thanks,
Ron