Need some help/advice about my truck cab

[68c10rat]

I bought a 68 a couple of days ago. I was told by a friend that the normal rust spots are ok and not to worry about it. Heres the deal though,the floors are pretty much rotted out,the cab corners are gone, the dash is rotted out on the pass. side, the cab mount on the pass. side is gone,theres a pretty good size hole under the dash as well. Also the bottom of the kick panels on the insides are ate up. There is some rust on the outside of the kick panel area as well,near the rear of the fender on the inside.What I am wondering is,is this the typical rust,should I try and fix it or should I start looking for a replacement cab or truck. I really did not know that much when I bought this one and I think that I gave too much for it now. I gave $750 for it. It has a step side bed that was wood but someone welded a piece of metal in the back of it. The hood is in decent shape and the grill is ok. The back window is alright for now,I havent taken it out yet,driver inner fender is good as well. I bought some replacement panels to get started with but I think I will be wasting my time welding them in. I took out the driver rocker today and it is ate up on the bottom of both a pillars as well,so I guess that would be another part to replace if I keep this cab. What is a good price for a decent cab?
thanks for any help and sorry for the long thread,but I need some help.

[JDL]

got ant pics But if it is that bad you may want to look for another one. And welcome abord

[68c10rat]

hey thanks. I dont have any pics at the moment. i can probably get something together tomorrow but its probably worse than Im saying. I havent found everything yet,I was going to pull the cab tomorrow. I may keep the frame and trash anything thats not any good then.

[Longhorn Man]

If it was a running driving truck, then you got a deal IMO. You can either locate a used cab and then all the other parts (new or used) or you can use your truck as a parts truck. A solid truck will cost quite a bit, but paint and body is the single most expensive aspect on a rebuild.

[68c10rat]

Unfortunely mine was not a running driving truck.It has nothing in it. I guess I am going to part it out and look for a running driving truck.That may be my best option at the moment just to try and get some of my money back out of it. The up side is it did have a title so I may be able to do something with that too.

[redbaron69]

the areas in the floor that have rot are pretty common in this area. you said the dash has rust? im guessing behind the dash in the cowl area? you could get a full floor replacement and take care of most of the rust there but, the areas around the windsheild, roof, and cowl are a little harder to fix. at least now you will know were to look at another truck to see if it has issues......good luck with your search, getting harded to find nice stuff in this area.

[68c10rat]

Yea I will definitely know where to look from now on. The area on the dash is right where the windsheild and dash come together it is completely gone right there which I didnt see before. Im not sure that a full floor would cover the big hole,its sort of in the firewall, but I guess that may be the cowl area. I put it up on craigslist for parts and I am going to start shopping around. I really want to try and find a running/driving truck though I think. i may have to spend a little extra though,so I will be very careful and look the truck over very good. I just didnt realize all the stuff that goes into it to make it complete. I think I would need one of everything,the wiring was shot in it as well. My wife knows a guy that is real big into the c10's and i want him to come by and take a look but I have a feeling theres not much there to look at to someone who knows alot about these trucks. I have learned a pretty good bit in the past few days though.

[68c10rat]

Ok so I just had a friend come over and take a look at the truck. He said unless I want a full resto with a big price tag,this is what they look like. So I guess I will keep it and start a build thread. I will get on it heavy here pretty soon. thanks guys

[Newtz67]

# 1 task, pics!

[leddzepp]

If you have the time/money, I suggest looking out West for a truck (AZ, Calif, New Mexico, etc). In the end, you will be $$$ ahead starting out with a truck that has little/no rust issues. As stated, body and paint are the most expensive part of rebuuilding a truck. Good luck with whatever route you choose.

[oldgold70c10]

Originally Posted by 68c10rat

Ok so I just had a friend come over and take a look at the truck. He said unless I want a full resto with a big price tag,this is what they look like. So I guess I will keep it and start a build thread. I will get on it heavy here pretty soon. thanks guys

Unless you just want to beat the heck out of it using it as a work beater, your not going to be happy with a cab like that. If you can weld, your going to be ahead, because you can do a lot of the repair work yourself, and that means $$$ saved. People have brought them back, do a search and you can see some scary pics of the Swiss cheese some members have started with. Just depends on your skill and if you can find a better cab. But you definitely want to fix the cab mount if it that far gone, it just won't be safe to drive without it.

[Newtz67]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

If you have the time/money, I suggest looking out West for a truck (AZ, Calif, New Mexico, etc). In the end, you will be $$$ ahead starting out with a truck that has little/no rust issues. As stated, body and paint are the most expensive part of rebuuilding a truck. Good luck with whatever route you choose.

Hey, don't give our trucks away!

[STOCKISH]

You will be way ahead of the game if you find a good cab and doors! I paid $2500 for a 70 rust free cab and perfect doors a few months ago. Knowing I dont have to replace half the cab with patch panels is worth the cost for me.

[Eddie H.]

You guys need to come to Texas, I see good cabs with only minor rust in the rockers and cab corners going for around $300-$600. There are a couple on the local CL right now for $150-$200

[68c10rat]

bring me one out this way,lol. I would be willing to give a a little bit for it.

[AustinScott]

Originally Posted by Eddie H.

You guys need to come to Texas, I see good cabs with only minor rust in the rockers and cab corners going for around $300-$600. There are a couple on the local CL right now for $150-$200

can you point me to these please.. link?

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I have a pretty solid cab in oregon if someone wants to come get it.. Welcome to the board..

[68c10rat]

It would cost me an arm and a leg to get it or i would be out there.

[Longhorn Man]

still cheaper than having yours redone I'll bet.

[dajn]

You say that the hood is in decent shape. If even the hood is rusted than the truck trully is gone. the hood is always way behind everything else as far as rust. scrap it and take a little loss and find a decent runner for 1000 that can be saved. but if you decide to bring this truck back from the grave than more power to you. It can be done.

[Eddie H.]

Originally Posted by AustinScott

can you point me to these please.. link?

Here's one in Weatherford for $175

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/pts/2330592356.html

[Longhorn Man]

you've left out an important tidbit...
whats the wheelbase on it?

[Rob H.]

I keep thinking if I can get some money saved up, to take a road trip to the southwest and bring back some of those rust free cabs and beds, as stated by others, I think I'd be money ahead. Seems rust never sleeps around here! Good luck with your truck, you're not alone in dealing with all of this.

[68c10rat]

I actually pulled the cab off the frame last night. I am going today after lunch to look at a cab locally that the guy says it is very solid. There is a fellow member here as well that has a 3/4 ton GMC cab for sale as well that has already had the welding work done. So I have a couple in mind for now,just have to see how it goes I guess. My hood is nice. My bed is not real bad,other than it was wooden and someone welded a plate in the bottom to haul stuff I guess. I am really wanting a fleetside though b/c I my ideas in my head would look great with a fleetside bed I think. I am wanting to go rat rod on it but without all the rust.
Will the 3/4 cab be the same as a 1/2 ton cab?
I do want to keep the front a 68 too,I like the one piece grill.

[72chevy383]

Hey neighbor, there's a guy in Kings Mountain that has a cab he's looking to get rid of, He works at the Napa store in KM. He says it in pretty good shape, my brother in law talked to him this past week, maybe I can see if he still has it, might be worth looking into.