I just bought a 77 f150 super cab and it has some rust. I never have worked on rust or body work for that matter. I will put some pictures of the rust I would like to fix. I got some advice from the guy I bought it from that I could just remove the rust that's there now and to patch it I could fiberglass it for about $50. I was just wanting to get some advice on my cheapest way to fix it as I don't have hardly any money. Also after the rust is fixed I am planning on doing a Rustoleum paint job, so the patches don't have to be pretty I just want the rust gone. Also if you click the picture it will get full size picture.

<a href="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p33/jc_33777/IMG00109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p33/jc_33777/IMG00109.jpg" border="0" width="500" height="375"></a><a href="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p33/jc_33777/IMG00108.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p33/jc_33777/IMG00108.jpg" border="0" width="500" height="375"></a><a href="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p33/jc_33777/IMG00107.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p33/jc_33777/IMG00107.jpg" border="0" width="500" height="375"></a><a href="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p33/jc_33777/IMG00106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p33/jc_33777/IMG00106.jpg" border="0" width="500" height="375">

 

Well, your pictures ain't working for me, but it really doesn't matter anyway because the answer is the same. There's a time and place for everything and if the rust isn't structural, but is just cosmetic (like the back of the cab or bottom of the doors, etc) then cleaning it as best as you can and doing it with fiberglass cloth and resin will at least hide it from view. I wouldn't recommend doing that to a car or truck with a lot of value that I was gonna do a show-quality restoration on, but for a driver, it'll work for now. If you've never worked with fiberglass, here's some tips:
First off, get it clean. Use a wire wheel and clean it as best as you can. It's gonna rust again anyway, but at least give yourself a fighting chance as well as get all the paint and crap off so the resin will stick. Buy a good quality resin, I use Evercoat finishing resin, it costs about $18 a quart and that will do a fair amount of repair. Buy an extra tube of catalyst, it's only about $3 and the tube that comes with the resin isn't enough. Next, cut the cloth (buy it at the same plave you buy the resin) a little oversize to the repair and then mix your resin. Go by the ratio on the can if it's your first time. I add about 50% to get it to cure quicker because I'm always in a hurry, but I wouldn't recommend you start out like that. You'll also need a half-doxen cheap paint brushes and a few one-quart disposable painter's pails for mixing in. Brush on a coat of resin, then position the cloth, then brush on more resin until that's soaked. Then add another piece of cloth (you did cut two didn't ya?) and soak it as well. Then let it dry completely, maybe even over night, or you can use a heat gun. ONce it's dry, sand it to a better shape with 80 grit, then add two more layers of cloth and resin. Then let it dry, sand again, then use some Evercoat short-strand fiberglass filler. Once that's dry, sand it to shape then go to a thin coat of Evercoat Rage polyester filler, sand and then prime. You need to be honest with yourself and know going in that it will very likely rust again in a few years, but this will fix it for now. Hope this helps, Jim

 

Very great post Sand_Man thank you plus rep and yeah I'm not to worried about it happening again in a couple years I just want to get the holes patched up because it looks like crap now and I will post links to the pictures instead. If they work for you this way I would love it if you could look at them and give me some advice on how i could fix the hood.
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...7/IMG00109.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...7/IMG00108.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...7/IMG00107.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...7/IMG00106.jpg

 

That hood may be a goner. I honestly think you'd be money ahead finding another one. But you really have nothing to lose if you do decide to at least give it a shot. Bolt on parts, like hoods aren't often worth the effort, but again it's mostly time you'd have into it, so give it a shot, same as the rest of the rusty areas. Jim

 

I have nothing but time but money is something I just don't have, so I need the cheapest fix.

 

ouch just thought i would look and a hood from lmc is $300

 

DO not fiberglass the rot in the roof. You need a roof skin!! The only way to repair that much rot

 

i can't afford a skin or have the tools or knowledge to do that

 

Sorry to hear that. Maybe you shouldn't have a project vehicle then

 

Dude I have been on this forum like a week and all I have see is you're smart *** comments so please if you don't have something helpful to say then don't even reply to my post.
Thank You,
-Jeremy

 

BTW today I traded in the rust bucket for a rust free 88 f150 5.0

 

Funny, that truck was put on craigslist on Thursday and wasnt sold until today. Maybe you should stop lying and wasting the time of the guys on here, and especially get all pissy when they tell you the obvious. Just a thought...

 

I said i got it today

 

repairing vehicles is not cheap. not trying to be smart, thats just reality. if you got it for free and can't afford to fix it just drive it till it falls apart.

oh, just saw where you got rid of it. hopefully someone that can afford to fix it right gets it.

 

No smart *** comments here. Just the plain truth in black and white. As stated above, project vehicle are not cheap. If you cant afford one either dont have one or buy one already done. It is that simple. I just hate people that "can't afford" to do things the right way and butcher it