Above visor rust

[brandster]

Been looking for a good truck to restore over time. Found a truck I like, but any rust repair/welding work I don't usually attempt myself, so thats something I would have to outsource to someone else. The truck im looking at has at least 8 places about the size of a nail head above the visors. I want to keep any truck I decide to buy original, so I don't want to swap cabs. The floors seem to be in good shape, the drip rail is pretty good, may be 2 or 3 places that need some work.

I guess my question is, is roof rot worth fixing or do most just get a different cab? I know its really about what you want to sink into the cost of a truck as anything is fixable if you have the money, but just getting feelers on what issues people usually will fix on trucks and which ones they will steer clear of.

[gmc684x4]

Depends on your area and how far are you willing to go to get a more rust free truck
I have driven across Canada and the USA to get a more rare short box 4x4 trucks in the past

They do make a patch panel for the area above the visors so many people have had this issue

Roof skin in fair shape ?

I would suggest new seam sealer after repairs to the header panel

Best bet i would say take it to your body shop of choice for an estimate

[57taskforce]

If your dead set on that truck and keeping the original cab, replacing the entire roof off with another rust free unit is likely your best option. If you’ve got pin holes or even bigger rust holes your guaranteed to find a lot more when you cut it open.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

If your dead set on that truck and keeping the original cab, replacing the entire roof off with another rust free unit is likely your best option. If you’ve got pin holes or even bigger rust holes your guaranteed to find a lot more when you cut it open.

It's like Swiss cheese- once you cut into it, you find more holes!

[Clatterville trolley]

I live right in the middle of the state of Missouri and most all the cabs I have seen recently have from moderate - few / small holes above visor to gaping hole you can stick your hand into. I keep having folks call me for a 'rust free cab' - I really hope they find one, but don't give them much hope of doing it.
The old remedy was to graft a donor roof on to the old cab, but I haven't see any donor roof sections lately that weren't eat up with rust too. I figure if the demand continues and the availability of good parts totally dries up, then a company - think Dynacorn or similar - will take all the reproduction body parts and offer a complete body just like what happened with Model A's, AD series trucks, Mustang fastbacks, etc.
I have seen some ambitious folks who drill out the spot welds around the perimeter of the cab roof and cut through the spot welds up across the upper back of the cab to take the top skin off so that they can access the inner panel to repair it and rust proof the rest once it is revealed.

[Grumpy old man]

They already do .

https://mrc10.com/product/1967-72-ch...l-back-window/

[Clatterville trolley]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

They already do .

https://mrc10.com/product/1967-72-ch...l-back-window/

Thanks Grumpy - guess I am behind the times, didn't know that they were available already. Priced way out of my price range though! Jay

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by brandster

Been looking for a good truck to restore over time. Found a truck I like, but any rust repair/welding work I don't usually attempt myself, so thats something I would have to outsource to someone else. The truck im looking at has at least 8 places about the size of a nail head above the visors. I want to keep any truck I decide to buy original, so I don't want to swap cabs. The floors seem to be in good shape, the drip rail is pretty good, may be 2 or 3 places that need some work.

I guess my question is, is roof rot worth fixing or do most just get a different cab? I know its really about what you want to sink into the cost of a truck as anything is fixable if you have the money, but just getting feelers on what issues people usually will fix on trucks and which ones they will steer clear of.

The panel above the visors on my truck was complete eaten out with rust and always dropped pieces of rust on me while I was driving. It was crazy bad. It did not keep me from proceeding with this truck. I found a body shop and had a conversation with them. I ordered a windshield seal and inside front patch panel from GMC Paul and brought them with the truck to the body shop. The body shop put in the patch panel, and since they had to remove the windshield to do that work they also replaced the windshield glass. It was about $500 about 4 years ago, and the $500 included the glass. The body shop had a guy they call who shows up with glass and does the windshields for them, a specialist. Your price may vary depending on what exactly you have going on in that area above the windshield and to account for inflation since then. I was wanting a windshield anyway because the original one was getting foggy around the edges and all the other glass on my truck is excellent.

If you're in the DFW area I recommend Jose's Auto Body & Refinishing, 3735 E University Dr, McKinney TX 75069, 469-288-0327‬

Jose put the old windshield in the bed and I took it home, and I gave it to another forum member, as it was still OK although not perfect. Jose showed me the drip rail and explained that I should put seam sealer there to keep it from getting more water in the patch panel that he just replaced, to keep it from rusting again, and also showed me the inside fender area that goes to the kick panel vent was full of leaves and told me I should clean that out. He was leaving the stuff I could handle to me, at my request.

[HeloCrewChief]

I have two areas I do not mess with. Cowl rust and roof rust. There are just too many other trucks out there without rust in those areas. I do not mind cab corner or rocker rust as I truly think they all have some sort of issue there. Even if it is just a pin hole; that means the entire panel is infected and needs replaced. $500 for that repair is beyond reasonable. Most shops are here wont even touch something this old as they stick to insurance jobs.

[Clatterville trolley]

Originally Posted by HeloCrewChief

I have two areas I do not mess with. Cowl rust and roof rust. There are just too many other trucks out there without rust in those areas. I do not mind cab corner or rocker rust as I truly think they all have some sort of issue there. Even if it is just a pin hole; that means the entire panel is infected and needs replaced. . . .

This is all well and good if you live in an area where there are still trucks without rust in the two areas you mention, but what about folks who live in areas where all the cabs without rust there are picked over / or gone??
Sometimes we all have to play the hand we are dealt? Maybe if your pockets are deep enough you travel several hundred miles to get a solid truck or pay to ship it to your door, but most folks will try to get the best / least rusted up cab they can afford and then count on doing the work themselves so that it doesn't run them broke paying someone else's labor rate.
The end result isn't always up to professional standards maybe, but it is the best the person can do with what they can afford and still be a part of this truck hobby - which I hope is why we all chase after these trucks and parts to repair them. Just my two cents worth - probably all it is worth. Jay

[bigmac73]

Mine had a few spots above the windshield gasket so i just cut them out nice little rectangle cut then went back with Ospho in a garden sprayer and douched the whole inner section of the roof skin and down the sides of the windshield frame and back of the cab section till it was dripping out the bottom. I figured this would help slow anything down until i can get the cab in the body shop. BEst to treat it now so it does not grow

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Clatterville trolley

This is all well and good if you live in an area where there are still trucks without rust in the two areas you mention, but what about folks who live in areas where all the cabs without rust there are picked over / or gone??
Sometimes we all have to play the hand we are dealt? Maybe if your pockets are deep enough you travel several hundred miles to get a solid truck or pay to ship it to your door, but most folks will try to get the best / least rusted up cab they can afford and then count on doing the work themselves so that it doesn't run them broke paying someone else's labor rate.
The end result isn't always up to professional standards maybe, but it is the best the person can do with what they can afford and still be a part of this truck hobby - which I hope is why we all chase after these trucks and parts to repair them. Just my two cents worth - probably all it is worth. Jay

I live in the north east but if you look around enough you can find rust free trucks

[Daves70]

Although there is the occasional "rust free" cab show up occasionally, they are usually priced to the point that they aren't worth it(for me). I've never seen one that was truly rust free. A truck with a little rust above the visor is totally fixable. Just cut it out and weld new steel in. After the repair, you can spray rust paint through the visor holes to help prevent it from coming back. I always spray oil in the visor holes before I install the visor. Make sure that you properly reseal your gutter.