I got into the back of my cab pretty hard today and the rust is worse than I anticipated. I am looking for recommendations on how to fix this. I know the right way is to cut it out, make a new piece and weld it in. I don't have the capabilities to make this piece though and theres nowhere you can get a repair patch. The bottom lip is good, it is mainly the area in the curve. My thought is to hit it with some rust converter put the floor in and then when the whole cab is blasted pay close attention to this area and try to weld up the holes that I can. Or maybe use some lead or brass. Just curious what you guys would do/ have done in this type of area.
Why can't you make that ? Almost Anything you do is just throwing good after bad. Get it clean as can be, rust free as can be,*****er it up with some fiberglass resin nice thin coat inside and out to seal it then fill the pits.********* bandaide
with the cut and weld already in progress there's nothing there you cant handle just need some 18 gauge metal and a few thick wall sections of pipe (for a shape to hammer on ) and slowly tap and slap the shape to what you need , cut to final size and tack weld in till its done , if my HACK**** can do lower cowl's on my pick up , you can handle that , just take your time and use them imagination skills
I have no idea what equipment you have ... But you could bend the lip in a brake (short side) and then pull it back down by hand and that will be damn close to the shape you need. Fashion a table edge/ bar clamped on top bender. Bend the edge over the table. Turn it around, clamp the edge then push is down . Not to bust your balls but I could hand you that piece in 15 mins or less and so could any sheet metal shop.
Because you have the chance, cut it out and repair it. I think you'd be surprised at how simple it would be to make with no fancy tools.
Well dang. That's what I figured you all would say...I saw them using brass on an area just like that on a high end car builder show. I was hoping that would be an answer... I was looking through my scrap pile and found an old bed side we replaced off of an OT truck. The curve matches pretty well. Think I've found my patch. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
To fab that part would be way more fun than the welding!!! Have at it and let us know how it goes. I've hand built windshield posts for my cabriolet with a hammer, dolly a piece of pipe and square tubing.
That's nothin! Get it cleaned up as possible and coat it with a inhibitor or por15 or something. Drill out the little holes and tack em closed. Doesn't look like It needs to be cut and changed out, unless your building a show car
That's kind of what I was thinking..... I have carp load of sheet metal welding to do. I have learned a good lesson on this one. I will never purchase a northern truck for a project again. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
..... carp load ?.... if that was a northern truck that part of the cab wouldnt show up in the picture! Some times I dream about a cab that good.
crap....lol, if you notice that's the only lower part of the cab that is left. Top ain't much better....
I feel your pain. I bought a truck out of Connecticut and there is not one single panel anywhere on it that I did not have to either repair, replace or weld in a patch for. Even had to replace the frame.
Yeah I have another cab that has a better top. The bottom on this one was a little better and UN molested so I started here. This part of the build is rough. I spend about six hours a week on it, and at the end of the day it seems like I have accomplished nothing. I feel like the thing looks the same as it did six months ago! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The roof ain't too bad. Do any metal work you feel like. More the better, if I didn't have the time or money for a donor roof, get some flap discs and knock down that surface. Clean it and seal it. I don't kill myself of stuff I won't see if I'm building a driver. I clean and seal it enough so it won't get worse but if I don't have the time to do all metal I won't. Remember, the car isn't sitting outside in the sun,rain, snow etc etc anymore, it's in your garage and being driven. Rust won't come back as hard as it would sitting in a Feild with the windows open. I bought a 48 buick that sat in a swamp in Florida for 30 years, it was basically a Fred flintstone car and I still drove that thing everywhere! Rust never got worse after I had it. Slowly replaced metal and por15 sealed everything. It takes time and yes, your in the area where it feels like nothing is happening, but that's the base of what your doing. Once you start on other stuff that goes around that you will see progress. Gotta crawl before you can walk Good luck man!!
Well, here yah go..... Instead of forming the ridges in it, I cut some out of the old cab I have and welded them in. Kind of a PITA but its all good metal now.
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