Rust is getting worse!!!

[76/85 Truck]

When I first bought my truck (about a year and a half ago) the box had some surface rust on both sides of the wheel opening, and the driver side (closest to the tailights) had some lifting. Now, the first layer (I think it is the first layer.. i thought it was paint lifting, but when I try to chip it off it bends, so it must be metal) is really starting to lift now, and the second layer is cracked. I'll try to get some pictures.. sorry about the bad description. But what should I do? I'll get some pictures in the morning. Thanks!!!

[Jay146992]

Either do it the right way and cut the rust out and weld a new panel on or do it the cheap way and por15 the rust then bondo it.

[76/85 Truck]

I'd like to patch it because I'm planning on keeping this truck. It is my first rig, and I love it!!! but someone told me that the back side of the patch panel will rust because there's no way of undercoating it. Is there any truth to this?
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[Jay146992]

If you paint the back of it with a good primer and rust protective paint sealer then the rust won't come back for a long time.

[76/85 Truck]

I need to patch it before it gets even worse... Will the weld penetrate still with the sealer on the backside? And what kind of welder would do the trick the best?
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[Jay146992]

Put the sealer on after you weld the panel in. Any 110 mig welder will work or you could use a flux core welder but you won't get as nice of a weld. I use a lincoln 140hd mig for all my body work and it's to much for some of the thin stuff.

[76/85 Truck]

Thanks. There's a couple welders for sale here locally... Ill have to pick one up. I'm in welding class right now in school, ill have to get some sheetmetal practice in. Does the patch panel replace both layers of sheet metal? Or just the outside panel? Because if it just replaces the outside, I need to do something with the inside panel. And I can't seal it if it only replaces the outside, because it will be covered by the inside panel.
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[Jay146992]

Yeah all it takes is practice to be a good welder. Just make sure when you weld the new panel in that your weld penetrates all the way through or else you will have problems later. Use a test panel before you actually start on your truck so you have your welder set on the right settings. If you're going to use the welder mainly for body work you should definitely get a mig. You'll have to upload some pictures for me to know exactly where you're talking about so I can give you better advice.

[76/85 Truck]

ill definitely get some pictures tomorrow. Thanks for all your help. I haven't mig welded before... Ill have to get a lot of practice before I'm comfortable.
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[1BadSS]

I'm working on a writeup currently for the do-it-yourself kind of guy who doesn't have access to thousands of dollars worth of tools.

All done with a cheap flux core welder, floors, rockers, corners.

[76/85 Truck]

Originally Posted by 1BadSS

I'm working on a writeup currently for the do-it-yourself kind of guy who doesn't have access to thousands of dollars worth of tools.

All done with a cheap flux core welder, floors, rockers, corners.

Sounds like my kind of writeup! Thanks for all your help guys.. I'm sure it will be much easier to help once I take some pictures.. I'm doing pretty good in welding class, but we're only doing acetylene welding right now. Mid-semester we switch to arc welding, but the school found out I have an implanted pacemaker (I got it when I was about 8) and apparently I need to get a doctors note saying that it is fine for me to weld (they are worried about the magnets in the welder, and the electricity emitting from the welding leads, but my doc won't approve.. Kinda stuck. Hope I can get it figured out.

[xrcr]

Rust never sleeps, cut it out and replace. As mentioned get settings on your mig before just lettin er rip. Also take your time, welding too much at a time will warp the @#$t out of body panels. Then the "fun" really begins. Good Luck!

[Jay146992]

A nice lincoln mig is like 400 bucks. I've used both and I would strongly recommend a mig over flux.

[BigBlocksRule]

Looks like you should be able to find a straight bed for less than the cost of a welder...at least you can around here. Welding 1/4" plates is easy, trying to weld this thin stuff without a lot of practice and experience is like trying to shoot pool with a rope!

[tucsonjwt]

I second the idea of getting a different bed.
I had a 73 LB C20 from Michigan with a rusted bed and I replaced it with a used 76 bed from a local Arizona junkyard. It is an easy task. In my case, I removed the bed bolts, disconnected all wiring and hoses attached to the bed, strapped the bed down to the frame, drove the truck (very slowly) to the junkyard, they had a forklift to remove the old bed, install the "new" bed, I bolted the new bed in place, hooked up wiring - done.
Just be careful of the bolt pattern - my 73 LB bolt pattern and bolt length did not match up with the 76 bed - the junkyard drilled new holes for me, since they "guaranteed" the the 76 bed would "match right up." I paid $450 for the 76 bed.
BTW - I drove that 73 for 21 years - paid $450 for the truck in 1981, and put about $4500 in repairs in it over 21 years.
You might be able to get a whole truck with a decent bed for $1500 and sell the rest of the truck for parts - maybe break even.
Another wild idea, wait until the rust is very bad and replace the bed with a small commercial flatbed. You can get a used one of those at an equipment yard for $500-$600 or less, and they are easy to sand off/repaint by hand and still look good.

[BigBlocksRule]

Post a want to buy ad on craiglist. It's free and a lot of old car and truck guys buy and sell a lot of stuff there.

[76/85 Truck]

Sorry I haven't been replying. My computer wouldn't let me browse the internet. I will upload some pictures tomorrow after work if it isn't too dark. Thanks for your advice!

[tucsonjwt]

Don't forget to crawl under the truck with a flashlight and check the whole bed. You likely have some rust in other places. If the floor is starting to rust out, then a new bed would be a better choice.