Replace or not?

[J48chevy]

Curious what the "experienced" builders on here think about my dilemma. I just had my truck stripped down and guess what, more rust spots I did not know about. The 2 pics show this. It is the inner cab panel around the 3 windows. My big question is it is below the back center window and a little on the drivers side below corner window. Would you replace with new entire panel or patch this one? How hard is it to remove the interior panel as I am sure there are 100+ spot welds. Or do I keep original and patch it? I am new to all of this and not sure which way to go. Just not sure if I am capable of doing entire panel or not. If anyone has replaced, please share. So thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

[J48chevy]

One more pic. The first on is a close up as it is just the center section inside. Rust is not thru the outer cab.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by J48chevy

One more pic. The first on is a close up as it is just the center section inside. Rust is not thru the outer cab.

You just can't see the rust. Its going to be very badly pitted and will poke through in a year. I'll bet if you took an awl and started poking the outer panel in the area in that the inside is rotted you'll go through. its also a place mice like to nest there also helps with the rot.

I think I'd cut it open and see if the rest is as bad as the visible is and go from there

[J48chevy]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

You just can't see the rust. Its going to be very badly pitted and will poke through in a year. I'll bet if you took an awl and started poking the outer panel in the area in that the inside is rotted you'll go through. its also a place mice like to nest there also helps with the rot.

I think I'd cut it open and see if the rest is as bad as the visible is and go from there

Thanks. I did have the outer cab stripped to bare metal as well and it is strong outside. That was one of the areas I wanted to check too. That is why I was surprised by this area and the holes. Could have leaked around seal for years?

[Iceburgh]

Never seen that and Zi have built a bunch of these trucks. However I would fix what is there. If you stat cutting out spot welds pulling and tugging you could warp the outer skin

[dwcsr]

They all leak around the seals after a while. Its just the design of it once the rubber shrinks its going to get water in. you need to see what is in there holding on to the water. Generally water comes in and goes out with little rust activity, water that sits rots the panel so something, dirt , mouse nest or what ever needs to come out.

[J48chevy]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

They all leak around the seals after a while. Its just the design of it once the rubber shrinks its going to get water in. you need to see what is in there holding on to the water. Generally water comes in and goes out with little rust activity, water that sits rots the panel so something, dirt , mouse nest or what ever needs to come out.

Ok. Will do that next and check it out. Thanks.