Body experts, please help.

[FormerMember]

Posting this here, because it's a 71 cab that had cab corners and rockers welded into. Got it from another member and this project's really killing me.

How do I fix this?

You're looking at gaps at the cab corners and where the rockers were welded in. This was supposed to be a turnkey cab and I truly suck at body work.

I shined a flashlight through to make it more visible. The passenger side has the same gaps in the front the driver's side does. I can stick my hand through the gaps in the passenger side cab corner.

[Fred T]

Looks to me like someone needs to do some more cutting and weld in another patch. I would be really upset if it was sold as a ready to go cab.

[FormerMember]

Originally Posted by Fred T

Looks to me like someone needs to do some more cutting and weld in another patch. I would be really upset if it was sold as a ready to go cab.

I am really upset. The more I work on this project, the more upset I get.

This was sold as "Cab, body work complete sitting in primer " here on this board.

[ebfabman]

grendel, can you move back a little and use the camera flash on the areas you're talking about?

The second and third pics looks like somthing rusted away???

[FormerMember]

More pics with flash.

Is that orange rust?

[ebfabman]

Still hard to tell. You're to close, but its clear something is rusted away. Just a guess from the pics, you will have to do some more rust repair. There is more than one way to do it, but the best way to make everything solid is to start with the inner most areas and work out. Its very likely you will have to remove the cab corners and rockers then address any rust on the floor,cab supports, and inner rockers. Also be sure to check the lower "A" and "B" pillars. Check out the kick panels where they meet the floor as well.

[ebfabman]

How about some pics of the cab? Did you buy the cab with doors? Have you had doors mocked up yet? If so how do they fit?

[FormerMember]

Originally Posted by ebfabman

How about some pics of the cab? Did you buy the cab with doors? Have you had doors mocked up yet? If so how do they fit?

I'll take some in a bit. The cab had rust bomb doors on it when I got it, but I have different doors for it.

The rust bombs fit decently though. They didn't have any weather gaskets on it.

Now you have me very worried. Looking at that large gap, it looks like a torch cut, not rot. At least I hope so. I also hope the orangish color I am seeing is some sort of rust inhibiter or seam sealer.

hard for me to tell, I suck at body work.

I really, really don't want to get into cab work on this thing.

[ebfabman]

Its a lot of work no doubt. Could be the rust was torched away then only outer rockers and cab corners were replace without doing repairs to the inner areas. unfortunately its very common.

[72CSTC5]

Take some better pics far away so we can see the areas you are talking about. Hard to tell what you are looking at so close and we could advise you better maybe.

[FormerMember]

More pics.

[ebfabman]

Still hard to tell what area it is. Still to close. Adjust your camera maybe? It looks like maybe the rear cab support area??? Could be not all the rusty parts were removed??? New parts put over old rusty areas???

[FormerMember]

Originally Posted by ebfabman

Still hard to tell what area it is. Still to close. Adjust your camera maybe? It looks like maybe the rear cab support area??? Could be not all the rusty parts were removed??? New parts put over old rusty areas???

its the rear cab corner. the cab support looks solid.

Hard to take pictures further back, when I am on a creeper on the ground.

Looking like I have to roll this thing on it's back and chop out the rot.

Sadly, it's looking like undercoating with rust peeking through.

[FormerMember]

More pics...


Looks like whomever did the repair didn't have the floor meet the cab corner. Also, I hope they used a crappy sealer instead of not getting all the rot.

Hard to tell, as I don't know what one is supposed to look like.

[FormerMember]

Is this area (circled in red) supposed to meet the cab corner and completely seal it?

[ebfabman]

Ok, yes I see its the rear cab support area where the cab corner meets the inner rocker. It looks like only part and not all the inner rocker was replaced. It also looks like the rear flange of the rear cab support is rusted away. It also looks like there was paint or something put over some rusty sheet metal. Are you where you can gently set the cab on its back and lightly blast the bottom to reveal the rotted areas? You may be able to "patch" the worst spots. Then coat everything, inside and out, with a coating such as epoxy primer and some top coat of some type.

[FormerMember]

Well, it's currently sitting on the frame I've been working on.

I don't have a sand blaster, either.

But it looks like that's what I have to do.

[ebfabman]

At a closer look, the repairs were not done, IMO, in a proper manner. It appears that the bolts and welded nuts that hold the lower "B" pillar to the cab support were left out. Not a huge deal if everything was welded together. It would be hard to tell with the outer rockers on.

[ebfabman]

What about the fronts?
I'll dig up some pics and post them to show you how under the cab should look.

[FormerMember]

Originally Posted by ebfabman

What about the fronts?
I'll dig up some pics and post them to show you how under the cab should look.

I posted pics of the front. Looks like the inner rocker doesn't line up with the floor or the outer rocker. There's a small gap, that could probably be welded shut or seam taped?

I appreciate the pics.

[ebfabman]

rear

[ebfabman]

Front

[FormerMember]

That's awesome. Thanks.

The gent I bought this from didn't do the work. However, he's going to help me. We're going to sandblast this and replace whatever needs it.

What panel manufacturer to do you recommend?

Although it looks like yours doesn't completely seal, either?

[ebfabman]

They will require some seam sealer. However it shouldn't take very much to make a seal if your fit is close. This cab is still being repaired so the fit will be a little closer. Blast or clean the the entire bottom side, epoxy prime, seam seal, then paint. Do the same on the inside and you should be good to go if your cab has no leaks.

[FormerMember]

That's our plan. Blast, patch, acid etch, epoxy prime and seam seal.

Although I prefer welding over seam seal, myself.

then again, I've said several times that I suck at body work.