cab corners help

[xshadow]

I have never replaced cab corners before. Are there any tricks to it or should I just cut out the old ones and install the new? Do you guys have any pointers? I know someone with a wire welder that can weld them but they aren't experts on welding at all (He is very new at welding.) Should we just weld in spots and fill the crease with bondo? Or weld the entire seam and grind it down? can someone give me a little instructions or pictures.
thanks

also where is the best place to order the cab corners?

[pebbleboy]

I'd weld it fully using spot welds taking alot of time to not warp anything. Then grind it down again letting it cool off alot.

[xshadow]

Thats pretty much what I had planned. I would spot weld all of the way across. Weld a spot..wait for it to cool and then weld another small area...let it cool and repeat until I was finished. I didn't want to warp anything.

How far up should I go with the patch? Only the very bottom is rusted.
I guess it really doesn't matter...... I'm fairly new to body work. I have worked with a dent puller and body putty in the past but not welding in new metal....I'm trying to learn and i'll appreciate any help.
thanks again

I almost forgot where is the best place to order cab corners?

[Southpa]

Heres a quick runthrough on what I did. I downsized the pics to 30K each but they should be fine. If the extent of the damage is not far up the corner then you can cut off what you need from the new one. Then trace its outline onto the old corner and cut the old corner out... with some degree of precision, of course.

The new corner is then "butt" welded to the cab. Tack it on in 3 or 4 areas, then continue tacking netween previous tacks, etc, etc. until you have a welded seam. Make sure you don't spend too much time in one area, try to keep the heat down. Then grind smooth, add metal to low spots or just do a bondo skim coat.

[krue]

Check the FAQ Submissions board, look in the index thread and under the "Basics" section is a few links to threads on welding in patch panels. Great info that will help with most any repair.

[49studebaker]

I agree with Southpa, only cut out what you need. Better to throw away part of a new panel rather than cut holes larger than the rusted area. I cut mine in about the same place because once I install the lower trim piece, my seam will be hid. You can't see my seams, but at the time I didn't know how well I would do. Once you have the patch cut (make it a bit larger than the hole) reach inside the cab and scribe a line onto the new piece. To get a good fit, you may end up taking it on and off numerous times. The experts on this board will tell you to take your time and measure lots. Drill a few holes (small sheet metal screws) and hold the panel in place, that way everytime you check for your fit, you're putting the panel back in exactly the same place. Hope this helps. :-)

[chevyboy55]

I would cut it so the weld will be underneath the moulding.

[Southpa]

Just a little add on. If your rear cab supports need replacing then now is the time to do it. Once you get the old corners cut off there is lots of room to work. The pic shows how I tied 12 ga. inner rocker, 14 ga. floor patch and rear support together and then covered it all later with the corner patch.