Got a new to me truck

[mrboyy17]

the reason i bought it for 1200.   

runs top notch.....not one drop of oil under it after 3 days in the driveway...excellent shifting in the 700r4.  4 wheel drive works in high and low.... 

here is the nice seats that were in it


the body is ......rough.







was online checking the pricing on a carpet for it so i went out and tore out the vinyl on the floor.  uh oh!



do you guys think this cab/body can be saved?  how much do you think a body shop would charge to put in new floors?
im no welder but the truck ran too good to pass up for 12 hundred.
what r your guys's thoughts?
mark

[txchainsawgogi]

ouch. i had a 63 fairlane that looked like that on the passenger side. i cut it all out and cleaned it, then did what the p.o. of your truck did (kinda ). i pounded some sheet metal into the same shape and bolted it in, making sure to seal it really well with some silicone.

naval jelly and a wire brush and rustoleum to clean up the bottom, and it was good to go. i think the key is getting out ALL the old rust, because it'll just keep spreading if you dont. also, fixing the cause of it (leaky old windows).

[bake74]

     The floor does not look at that bad, the panel cost for floor replacement are cheap.  What you need to do is make a new friend that is a good welder and willing to show you how to fix it for a min. fee.  That way you win all around.  You learn how to weld and you get your truck fixed the right way.
      I have been wanting a diesel for a tow rig, I'm jealous now.

[80stepsideguy]

Nice truck to start with. Look forward to your progress on it..

thanks
pat

[jaredts]

It wouldn't take much with a welder to fix just that part of the floor, but you might want to check under the cab carefully.  I'd be surprised if you cab floor support itsn't in need of repair as well.

[big bear]

sweet truck

[mrboyy17]

i dont mind learning on this thing so i might buy a cheapo welder and hack away at it.....so you guys say it can be fixed.....i was thinking it might be easier to get a cab off of a truck someone is parting out....but then i'd have to do all the wiring etc etc....would rather learn how to weld anyways.  the cab corners need replaced too and i hope those patch panels r the whole floor cuz the drivers side rust goes all the way up to the pedals.  and out to the rocker panel.....but the rocker panel itself is solid with no rust....weird
anyways if i mess it up too bad it cant ever get any worse looking!

[paniolo]

Yeah, thats not bad.  Though there is sure to be more.  The cab corner you showed needs redone too.  Floor patch panels are cheap.  If you did the prep and cut out the cancer and took it all to a welder I bet it would be $50-$100 depending on how much additional cutting of the panel/floor he needed to do.  Go talk to a welder first and see what he recommends and then get busy with the cutoff wheel or sawzall.

[Bitzer!]

If you use a sander with a rough pad say 40 grit and feather out the rust to find the extent rather than hack out big chunks.

You usually find that welders prefer "good" shapes to weld i.e. square/rectangle/triangle to fab new metal on rather than "lightening!" shapes.

It sure looks do able. As always- take your time and get it right.

Practice welding on old panels etc. The tailgate looks a good candidate to practice on, I'm guessing you'd just bolt a new (better) one on?

As you know there are so many replacement weld on panels available, I believe Chris does many. If you get them, draw/etch round the new piece and cut 5mm inside the line. Better to cut twice than have a big hole that the panel falls through 

If you gave to put a new rocker on, try learning how to plug weld, looks a lot neater and easier to hide.

good luck

Andy

[mrboyy17]

got under the hood to check the oil today.....yikes didnt even register on the dipstick so no wonder why it didnt leak a drop! lol.   anyways off to autozone i went and 7 quarts of 15-40 diesel oil and filter later and its up to the full line now.  also got a new fuel filter for it and put that on then my buddy bled the new fuel filter while i was trying to start the motor.  about 2 min later its good as new.  checked tranny fluid and its nice and red and full....radiator is full and nice too...,...looked under the cab where the rust is and the supports/frame has no rust on it.  gonna order some patch panels soon.
mark

[bake74]

     If all the rust is contained to just the floor boards you indeed got a great deal.

[mrboyy17]

guys will a 79 cab go right onto my 86 frame?
i found a rust free cab on craigslist for 50 bucks
how much modification needed for the cab to be put on there?
or do all the cabs/doors the same?  i know the door panels r different but cab or doors themselves the same?
mark

[1979C20]

I think the cab will bolt up fine, the 79 core support would need modification for the 86 frame. I know the dash pads on 79s are round and the pads of 86s are flat, idk if the shape of the metal structure is different anc your 86 doors should bolt to the 79 cab fine.

[jaredts]

Rust free cab for $50?  Its worth more than that as scrap.  Sounds suspicious.  A rust free '79 cab would be a rare find.  If its the real deal go for it.  There are some differences in hood hinges that you'll have to deal with, but doors are no problem and I would think your dash assembly should go right in, even though the dash itself is different.

[mrboyy17]

well it may be suspicious but here is the link.....the pic looks pretty good and the guy will even deliver it?
http://yakima.craigslist.org/pts/2532298393.html