What should I do? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

71gmcC15 · 10-05-2019, 06:32 PM

The iner rust on my roof is getting pritty bad. Should I fix it or just run it. Some pictures of the rust. It's not the worst I've seen but just give it time. I know they sell the iner windsheld panels but what about above to doors?

**LockDoc** · 10-05-2019, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71gmcC15

The iner rust on my roof is getting pritty bad. Should I fix it or just run it. Some pictures of the rust. It's not the worst I've seen but just give it time. I know they sell the iner windsheld panels but what about above to doors?

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I bet you can find a good roof in your area if you do some looking. There is a member in Brookings (71swb4x4) that might know where parts are. Shawn is a great guy and pretty sharp on these trucks.

LockDoc

71gmcC15 · 10-05-2019, 08:11 PM

Thanks loc doc.I've seen him on here before seem like a good guy. Maby we will meet some day. As for finding a good roof I have not looked. Would it be cheaper to graft a roof from another pickup on to mine or fix what I have? I gess thats what I should of started out asking. Haha.

**LockDoc** · 10-06-2019, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71gmcC15

Thanks loc doc.I've seen him on here before seem like a good guy. Maby we will meet some day. As for finding a good roof I have not looked. Would it be cheaper to graft a roof from another pickup on to mine or fix what I have? I gess thats what I should of started out asking. Haha.

It's hard to tell what would be best without actually seeing it up close. If you can find a good original roof you could cut the pieces you need out of it. They would fit better than the aftermarket stuff. I have 3 or 4 of them but I don't want to try and ship one from Iowa....

LockDoc

**dmjlambert** · 10-06-2019, 12:47 AM

Above my driver door the rust was so bad and metal eaten away that the strip of metal holding my door weatherstrip could be wiggled with 2 fingers. There was no point in worrying about new weatherstrip because during rain the water would go into the holes under the gutter outside and come out the holes above the door and dribble on me. Plus, above the windshield was bad. I bought the replacement inner front roof patch from GMC Pauls and took it to a local body shop and had them install it. Additionally, they fabricated the bad area above the driver door. It is now very solid and problems solved. So you can get options from body shops and see what they can do. It would have to be an old school body shop.

**truckster** · 10-06-2019, 10:12 AM

The rust is coming from the back side of the sheet metal. You can bet it's worse than what you can see. I would recommend you repair it sooner than later.

71gmcC15 · 10-06-2019, 11:55 AM

Thanks for all the information. Thares a guy in my town that does really good work. He made an extended cab 65 chevy. I am going to ask him And see what he thinks. I can assuame that's it's going to cost quite a bit do to the location. All overhead work.

**bigmac73** · 10-07-2019, 07:39 AM

Until you can get it fixed, I would cut out the bad areas and the get a spray rig and shoot some OSPHO into the areas that will convert what ever is up there and slow down the corrosion until you can get it repaired properly

that is what i did with mine , i had a leaky drip rail for years

71gmcC15 · 10-07-2019, 11:04 AM

I did spark a bunch of wd 40 up thare to protect the good metal a little bit. I think I figured out what I'm going to do. I'm just going to drive it. And when the roof falls on my head then I'll find another to drive. Or if I can find a good cab for cheap I'll do a cab swap. I think this is the most cost savings way of doing it. Yes I would love to fix this roof. But for what it will cost I could go out and get another pickup. And the rail doesn't leak any more because I resealed it.

cypressbog · 10-07-2019, 03:40 PM

Most cabs I've seen with the roof rot also have other areas just as bad lower in the pillars, possibly fire wall and floor areas. Check those areas along with the cab supports, inner/outer rockers and cab corners too.

Some are better to just do a cab swap with one from out West.

71gmcC15 · 10-07-2019, 04:34 PM

The floor does need fixed wit some cab sapports. The fire wall and cowl area have no rust that I have found. Yes I removed the cowl panel and checked. And the heater box. The floor is not coercing to me because you can buy a hole new floor. You can't buy a new roof. Not all of it anyway.

**dmjlambert** · 10-07-2019, 09:06 PM

You can post a want to buy ad on the parts board for just about anything if you sign up for the premium membership (recommended). There's often somebody actively parting a truck or somebody who has parts trucks laying around. Get a whole roof or sections you need. I have seen whole cabs listed for sale.

In your case since the rust is not bad, and now that you have the gutter sealed again, I predict it will take many years before you see any progression of the rust spots. If you're going to run it until the roof falls in you may have a long drive. I think your cab may be a good candidate to stick a screwdriver into those rust holes and waller them out to get rid of the thinest metal, and use small bottle brush to swab degreaser, metal prep, and POR-15 behind the hole and in front of hole. Then put POR-15 soaked fiberglass fabric across the hole inside with tweezers, and outside by just pressing it on there and painting over with more POR-15. Give POR-15 a mist of primer while still tacky, later bondo, sand, paint. That would probably be a 25 year fix and very inexpensive. I believe I will do that on a couple of spots on my truck.

Don't get any of it on your hands or anything you don't want painted forever.
https://www.amazon.com/POR-15-40909-...dp/B077J66P27/
https://www.por15.com/POR-15-Power-Mesh

10-05-2019, 06:32 PM	#1
71gmcC15 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Doland SD Posts: 836	What should I do? The iner rust on my roof is getting pritty bad. Should I fix it or just run it. Some pictures of the rust. It's not the worst I've seen but just give it time. I know they sell the iner windsheld panels but what about above to doors? Attached Images __________________ ( second times the charm) 71 gmc c15 307 sbc 373 rear gears positrac sm 465 trans. ( not listed on spid but is original ) 94 chevy k1500 350 tbi 373 rear gears 4l60e one wheel peel. Gutless 07 gmc sierra classic rcsb 4.3 lt 5 speed w/t 04 chevy Silverado 1500 ext cab 5.3 4l60e. 81 chevy Scottsdale k10 muncie sm465 Np208 10 bolt 8.2 ( Old Green)

10-05-2019, 08:11 PM	#3
71gmcC15 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Doland SD Posts: 836	Re: What should I do? Thanks loc doc.I've seen him on here before seem like a good guy. Maby we will meet some day. As for finding a good roof I have not looked. Would it be cheaper to graft a roof from another pickup on to mine or fix what I have? I gess thats what I should of started out asking. Haha. __________________ ( second times the charm) 71 gmc c15 307 sbc 373 rear gears positrac sm 465 trans. ( not listed on spid but is original ) 94 chevy k1500 350 tbi 373 rear gears 4l60e one wheel peel. Gutless 07 gmc sierra classic rcsb 4.3 lt 5 speed w/t 04 chevy Silverado 1500 ext cab 5.3 4l60e. 81 chevy Scottsdale k10 muncie sm465 Np208 10 bolt 8.2 ( Old Green)

10-06-2019, 12:47 AM	#5
dmjlambert Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 3,811	Re: What should I do? Above my driver door the rust was so bad and metal eaten away that the strip of metal holding my door weatherstrip could be wiggled with 2 fingers. There was no point in worrying about new weatherstrip because during rain the water would go into the holes under the gutter outside and come out the holes above the door and dribble on me. Plus, above the windshield was bad. I bought the replacement inner front roof patch from GMC Pauls and took it to a local body shop and had them install it. Additionally, they fabricated the bad area above the driver door. It is now very solid and problems solved. So you can get options from body shops and see what they can do. It would have to be an old school body shop. Last edited by dmjlambert; 10-06-2019 at 11:49 AM.

10-06-2019, 10:12 AM	#6
truckster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 7,954	Re: What should I do? The rust is coming from the back side of the sheet metal. You can bet it's worse than what you can see. I would recommend you repair it sooner than later. __________________ I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. - Thomas Jefferson

10-06-2019, 11:55 AM	#7
71gmcC15 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Doland SD Posts: 836	Re: What should I do? Thanks for all the information. Thares a guy in my town that does really good work. He made an extended cab 65 chevy. I am going to ask him And see what he thinks. I can assuame that's it's going to cost quite a bit do to the location. All overhead work. __________________ ( second times the charm) 71 gmc c15 307 sbc 373 rear gears positrac sm 465 trans. ( not listed on spid but is original ) 94 chevy k1500 350 tbi 373 rear gears 4l60e one wheel peel. Gutless 07 gmc sierra classic rcsb 4.3 lt 5 speed w/t 04 chevy Silverado 1500 ext cab 5.3 4l60e. 81 chevy Scottsdale k10 muncie sm465 Np208 10 bolt 8.2 ( Old Green)

10-07-2019, 07:39 AM	#8
bigmac73 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Chesapeake, Va Posts: 1,275	Re: What should I do? Until you can get it fixed, I would cut out the bad areas and the get a spray rig and shoot some OSPHO into the areas that will convert what ever is up there and slow down the corrosion until you can get it repaired properly that is what i did with mine , i had a leaky drip rail for years __________________ Mike 72 C-10 Cheyenne off frame resto and Upgraded to 4 wheel disk, Tilt, Dakota Digital Dash / Rear slider. 421 SBC / TH350 3000RPM Stall Progression Ignition /Holley 750 DP/3:73 gear Eaton Limited Slip unit / 2 1/2 exhaust glasspacks

10-07-2019, 11:04 AM	#9
71gmcC15 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Doland SD Posts: 836	Re: What should I do? I did spark a bunch of wd 40 up thare to protect the good metal a little bit. I think I figured out what I'm going to do. I'm just going to drive it. And when the roof falls on my head then I'll find another to drive. Or if I can find a good cab for cheap I'll do a cab swap. I think this is the most cost savings way of doing it. Yes I would love to fix this roof. But for what it will cost I could go out and get another pickup. And the rail doesn't leak any more because I resealed it. __________________ ( second times the charm) 71 gmc c15 307 sbc 373 rear gears positrac sm 465 trans. ( not listed on spid but is original ) 94 chevy k1500 350 tbi 373 rear gears 4l60e one wheel peel. Gutless 07 gmc sierra classic rcsb 4.3 lt 5 speed w/t 04 chevy Silverado 1500 ext cab 5.3 4l60e. 81 chevy Scottsdale k10 muncie sm465 Np208 10 bolt 8.2 ( Old Green)

10-07-2019, 03:40 PM	#10
cypressbog Go Pack Go! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Green Bay Posts: 2,669	Re: What should I do? Most cabs I've seen with the roof rot also have other areas just as bad lower in the pillars, possibly fire wall and floor areas. Check those areas along with the cab supports, inner/outer rockers and cab corners too. Some are better to just do a cab swap with one from out West.

10-07-2019, 04:34 PM	#11
71gmcC15 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Doland SD Posts: 836	Re: What should I do? The floor does need fixed wit some cab sapports. The fire wall and cowl area have no rust that I have found. Yes I removed the cowl panel and checked. And the heater box. The floor is not coercing to me because you can buy a hole new floor. You can't buy a new roof. Not all of it anyway. __________________ ( second times the charm) 71 gmc c15 307 sbc 373 rear gears positrac sm 465 trans. ( not listed on spid but is original ) 94 chevy k1500 350 tbi 373 rear gears 4l60e one wheel peel. Gutless 07 gmc sierra classic rcsb 4.3 lt 5 speed w/t 04 chevy Silverado 1500 ext cab 5.3 4l60e. 81 chevy Scottsdale k10 muncie sm465 Np208 10 bolt 8.2 ( Old Green)

10-07-2019, 09:06 PM	#12
dmjlambert Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 3,811	Re: What should I do? You can post a want to buy ad on the parts board for just about anything if you sign up for the premium membership (recommended). There's often somebody actively parting a truck or somebody who has parts trucks laying around. Get a whole roof or sections you need. I have seen whole cabs listed for sale. In your case since the rust is not bad, and now that you have the gutter sealed again, I predict it will take many years before you see any progression of the rust spots. If you're going to run it until the roof falls in you may have a long drive. I think your cab may be a good candidate to stick a screwdriver into those rust holes and waller them out to get rid of the thinest metal, and use small bottle brush to swab degreaser, metal prep, and POR-15 behind the hole and in front of hole. Then put POR-15 soaked fiberglass fabric across the hole inside with tweezers, and outside by just pressing it on there and painting over with more POR-15. Give POR-15 a mist of primer while still tacky, later bondo, sand, paint. That would probably be a 25 year fix and very inexpensive. I believe I will do that on a couple of spots on my truck. Don't get any of it on your hands or anything you don't want painted forever. https://www.amazon.com/POR-15-40909-...dp/B077J66P27/ https://www.por15.com/POR-15-Power-Mesh



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