Need some tool box advice for a Longhorn

[laplander]

When we brought our 71 Longhorn home, we knew the toolbox had rusted out underneath like most of the boxes do, but figured I would try and save it by buying a patch from anohter one. It turned out to be as bad as the one we had. Any of you Longhorn guys run into this? Did you just get a regular patch and do away with the tool box altogether? That's kind of where I'm leaning and could use some input on whther it's a mistake or not. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about.

[laplander]

Forgot the pics

[Longhorn Man]

very hard to find in good shape. Once you fix the bedside, then you'll spend 3 years looking for a good door.

[Bus Ted Knuckle]

I think I'd buy some sheet steel and fab up my own repair panels.

[Pick8208]

I had the same problem with my '72 Super. Odd that nobody makes this piece aftermarket - I think a lot of guys would probably add the toolbox if they could.

I managed to find a perfect non-rusty replacement door from a wrecking yard in Tri Cities, Washington (for $50!) and some friends of mine helped me make a new lower panel with a press brake and some 18-gauge steel.

We cut out the old panel and basically made two pieces to resemble it - an inner and an outer, which we welded together. Somehow we managed to nail the curve of the outer piece on the first try.

You can see the original piece in the second pic, next to the new inner panel.

It isn't perfect, but it won't take much to finish it off. I don't think you'll be able to tell after some bodywork and paint (dusted it with some rattle can white for now).

I figured this would be a lot harder than it actually was - although it would have been tough without access to a press brake.