When does a truck stop being the same truck? (factory stamped parts locations, etc..)

[79 silverado]

This will be an abbreviated version:

I've gotten ahold of our family's old truck, an 87 Suburban. Its tired, and seen better days - the rear sill the tailgate mounts to is rusted out, quarter panel has rust holes low, rear wheelwells are rusted out at the seams between inner and outer, outer rocker panels have some rust starting... you get the idea.

Firewall is nice including in the cowl seam, floors were undercoated new so real issues there, but I'm wondering... at what point does rebuilding the truck leave it not the same truck?

Just a rebody with vin swap is out of the question for me, that would NOT feel like the same truck anymore. Are there certain areas that could be saved off the body I have that had date stamps into the metal, partial vin stamps, etc and re-incorporated into a partial shell from a donor, maybe re-use my cowl/dash panels and hinge pillars?

I'm curious for input from anyone who has crawled around and either fully parted out several or even restored one of these trucks that could give some direction into what parts/pieces I could shift/re-use to help me "feel" like this is the same truck we brought home back before I got my license all those years ago.

I don't have immeasurable amounts of money to throw at it and I know that although new quarters can be had through a contact of mine, the pair of those alone will run about $5500... and that doesn't include all the other metal areas needing work or the labor costs for it to be done "right"...

[cableguy0]

Theres comes a point when its just not worth it and you have to look past whatever sentimental value there is. The memories will still be there regardless of whether its the same truck or not. If its completely rotted out to the point your looking at replacing every body panel its probably time to find a new body. You can always reuse interior pieces from the original body etc.

[GmtGmt]

got any pics?

[67_C-30]

I'd re-adjust my "feelings" and do whatever is the most cost effecient route. For instance, on a truck, I see no reason to spend thousands of dollars fixing a terribly rusty cab, when I can buy a nearly rust-free truck for $800 - $1000. It just doesn't make sense to me to not only spend that kind of money, but also to worry about warping, panel and door fitment, etc. due to heat generated by that much welding and patching. That feeling is way more important to me than the "feeling" of the truck being the same. You are looking at $5500 to replace the panels, but I actually know a guy with a very solid '85 4X4 Suburban with the engine and trans gone for $1000. Even if you had to travel down south to get one, it would still be less than half the money. Another thing to consider is that repro panels aren't near as good as originals. Whether you replace the whole body or replace 40% of the sheet metal to "fix" it, it still isn't the same and it is forever altered. Just my $.02

[spudz]

i agree, there is a 87 burb local here a guy is selling for 1K and nobody is buying lol.. Id NEVER spend that much to fix a rusted one. BUT 5k is too much for quarters lol.