Rusty Cab: Fix or Replace?
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Near Providence, RI
Rusty Cab: Fix or Replace?
Is it worth trying to save a rusty cab on these trucks or should I be looking to swap to a better one from a salvage yard or wherever? Just got me a truck and the cab appears to be from a '77 F350 and it's rusting in every corner (including the interior roof corners, water leaking in from roof clearance lights!). Floor pans are rotting out behind the seat as well.
Also just how hard is it to remove the cab from the chassis? (reg. cab) I just got my first garage so I have room to do stuff but I don't have a lot of equipment yet. i.e. stands, hoists, etc.
My fantasy is to just ship it off somewhere and let them restore the metal work and dip it, and paint it. But that's obviously not quite in my budget!
Appreciate any info/opinions!
Also just how hard is it to remove the cab from the chassis? (reg. cab) I just got my first garage so I have room to do stuff but I don't have a lot of equipment yet. i.e. stands, hoists, etc.
My fantasy is to just ship it off somewhere and let them restore the metal work and dip it, and paint it. But that's obviously not quite in my budget!
Appreciate any info/opinions!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
From: Salem,Oregon
HAHAH 
well said!
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 448
Likes: 31
From: Park City, Utah
I would also go with the cab swap. While the rust issues that you can currently see are pretty bad (and justify the swap alone) there are other areas that are undoubtedly rusty as well. That rust just hasn't manifested itself in perforation or bubbles... yet.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
I'd also look for a replacement. Even if you find one that needs cab mounts or cab corners or floor pans, that would be easier to fix than the one you have.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 319
Likes: 47
From: Eastern TN
Do a cab swap. The cab that came on my 76 was so rusty that replacement panels aren't made for all of the places I had rust. I got one cab that need new floors and cab corners, but kept looking and scored a cab from the west coast that only has surface rust. There are cabs in the northeast you just need to keep looking. The cab that I got was in Pa so it wasn't to far to go. Good luck on you search.
Ray
Ray
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 4
From: Victoria , BC
I took this pic just the other day. Its a good cab minus the corners and floor section in these spots. I figure its a typical rust spot on these and I've used cheap aftermarket china replacement cabcorners before but with the jumping and offroading style I do I collapse the thin sheet metal. I cut the entire section out on each side(2'x2' square holes) and started to fit in them today. Im using 1/16 galvanized pieces formed to the shape I need. The cab mount will be custom as well using 1/8 plate. I just need a good starting point with a good floor to be able to weld on the new mount. I figure if I change my cab again,which I'm sure I will in the next couple years after I smash this one, i'll be able to cut this section out and transfer over to the new one.
I'll post pics tomorow of my patch job I started to weld in tonite when I get time tomorow..
I'll post pics tomorow of my patch job I started to weld in tonite when I get time tomorow..