Rust around rear window, job for professional or DIY at home project

[Papawoodi]

Getting closer to start sand blasting the cab and working on the rust problems for my 1986 Extended Cab project. The only rust on the body is the rear window. I have a new patch panel and wanted everyone’s opinion on fixing it. Has anyone done this before, or do you know of any links of how to for our trucks? I am pretty determined to do it myself so I really would not like to take it to a body shop to fix.
Just trying to get some opinions on how to approach it.

[jetmech]

Since no one has chimed in on this and I am no body man I will offer a suggestion. I assume the conversion company cut the back of the cab and re-attached it to their shop made extension. I would look at the seam that they used and see if it is feasible to attach the "new" rear cab at the same seam.

[burbboysgc]

 Or just patch it up, it's only metal. If you screw up, cut it out and try again until it's right.

[Papawoodi]

Thanks for the looking at my post guys. I was looking at some videos and it seems to be kind of easy to just cut it out and replace. Will take my time and figure it out before chopping it up.
I did think about removing the rear half but not sure if my skills would put it back correctly. If I screw the back window up bad after trying to patch it then I might have to do this as well. I have two rear half’s of a cab now to use if needed.

[Captkaos]

If you have a donor cut the bad out and make a template and transfer it to the donor and cut it a little oversize and cut it down to fit.

[TheFiendKD]

I'm not sure if the extended cab rear window area would be the same as a easier to find the single cabs but what might be a possibility is to try to find some rust free donor pieces to put in there rather than a complete extended part.

[Captkaos]

It will be the same.  The whole back of the cab moved and they added space in the middle.

[roundhouse]

Does it even show when the window rubber is installed ?

[Papawoodi]

Don't think so, but its a nasty cancer.

[roundhouse]

It doesn't look too bad


I'd chemically treat it to stop it from spreading and put the window  back in
I wouldn't do a lt of cutting and welding for that

[78BIG-TEN]

I would do what capt said at least that's what I did on my 78 windshield pillars.They were rusted in the lower corners so got some clean salvaged pieces cut to fit just the rusted areas,migged em in and smoothed it out,not a big deal and trust me ,I'm no body man by any means

[datadave49]

Hey Hey
What have you done so far? I can send you some pix of what I have done. When I bought my new panel I was new to this type of body and were I had them cut it off about 8" short at the bottom. I see you got that part of the panel (that will make a lot easier) it will take me a few days to get to my pix when I have them I will let you know
Dave

[Papawoodi]

Yea datadave49 please send some pictures. Mine is still in the same shape as the picture in this post, have not had time to get out and mess with it right now.