box rebuild - worth it?

[Gearhead1]

I just dug out the box for my truck project and I'm debating on whether or not its worth fixing. The nonexistant budget and scarcity of rustfree shortboxes around here have me leaning towards patch panels, but I'm not sure if they will be complete enough to fix all.

The front half is solid, but the rear is really crispy. The taillight areas are very bad with one trunnion missing and nothing left to attach a new one to. The rear valance is toast and the floor near the tailgate has rust holes in it. The wheel arches are fair but the lower fenders fore/aft the wheel openings have perforations. The inner fenders between the wheel housing and the outer fender are intact but the lower extension at the rear of the wheel openings are rotten and I haven't seen these available anywhere.

Entire box sides are out of my budget and I don't want to scrap the box for a flatbed. Has anyone spliced a partial box side from a donor truck? (primarily the taillight section) Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

[Gearhead1]

The photos don`t do justice...but the entire outer skin flaps in the wind

[dunedigger]

In my opinion a box is not worth fixing rust to be nice.  Even around here where they are hard to come by they are still out there.  I just found a mint short box for 500 about an hour away.  It was near a jobsite I am working on.  After all the time and money you will put into repair it just doesn't pay in the long run.  I would only do it if you could not find anything out there.  I've been finding shipping quotes are down too in the bad economy.

[Marc]

Mine was worse but I fixed it.  I'd have paid $1000 or $1500 for one but it was going to be close to $3000 for a box at a place 3 hours from here.  The rear piece I bought (the support), welded in new floor and supports, and bottoms of the fenders as the arches were OK except for the corners.  It was probably about $500 in parts plus my time to patch and fix.  Get it up and put it uspide down and go at it.  It makes it easier.   

[VileZambonie]

Where are you from? I would hunt around on craigslist for a used one.

[dunedigger]

Wow, I have bought several souther rust free beds shiped up here for 400, 500 bucks. 

[1980c10]

I would wait for a used box. look hard and you will find one. I bought my short box attached to the rest of my truck for 800. you might look into buying an entire truck taking what you need and selling the rest. you never know maybe you'll break even.

[Gearhead1]

Dune, where abouts are you? I'm in Southern Ont, and parts for these sem to be getting scarce. Even most wrecking yards dont keep these trucks...too old.
All I've seen so far is $1000-$1500 boxes if I can find them. I can get donor tailight sections (1/4 of box side) in ok shape for about $50 and the remaining panels for another $100-$150 or so. I can fab my own Valance or box end.

So for under $300 I can have enough new metal. I'm just wondering how much of an undertaking it is, or if he results warrant the total investment. Its gotta be cheap, but good in the end.

Thanks 1980...If I found a decent enough truck....for cheap