Where to look for rust on 1986 chevy

[mockingbird]

I am going to be looking at an 86 1/2 ton 4x4 chevy and was wondering where to look for problem rust areas. I know that the cab corners, rocker panels,fenders and bed sides rust. But was wanting to know where else these trucks rust. Any help would be appreciated.

[Goldfinger]

Bring a magnet. The fender wells the floors the cab corner. check the wiring. the tailgates rust bad. knock around the sheet metal if it goes from hollow to a solid sound it might have bondo.

[donut]

Door bottoms, top of the gas tank (bottom if it has a shield on it) cowl, spring mounts....

Anyplace water, mud, dirt, salt, can sit.

If you start finding rust, you WILL find a lot more the deeper you get.

[rpmerf]

be sure to look at brake and fuel lines

[Mr. 250r]

Everywhere lol, axle housing from a rusty environment - inner fender wells on front, core support, cab seal on fire wall behind motor, all of cab/bed, frame, all exhaust and hangars etc might as well check it all I've seen rust in every spot and not just a little
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[piecesparts]

Look at the firewall seam that is behind the engine. This seam is where the cowl meets the actual firewall. If there is no bubbling at this seam, then the truck has not seen too much rain and the seam sealer that is inside the cowl is still good. Also look at the rear fenders above the wheel wells and the area just behind the front fenderwells, where the large bolt is holding the fenderwell to the cab.

[ont_guy_38]

Look at the frame , mostly the rear half

[madcow75]

Yes rear of the frame, especially at the front of the rear leaf springs. Dirt and salt get trapped and rot the frames out.

[xrcr]

Agree with everything previously posted. Would say that the Firewall is the worst to fix. Look at the A-pillars that would run a close second or tie. Everything else is fixable just varying degrees of a PITA.
Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
xrcr

[77shortstep]

everywhere

[notyo_cheez]

One of the hidden areas is the pinch welded seams under the front and rear window gaskets, you can't tell unless you remove the windows. And there aren't any aftermarket patch panels for them either. Fortunately my project came with the rear window out and the damage was obvious...

My donor cab had some rust on the firewall seam too. The seam sealant shrank after 25 years in the south Texas sun, water and pine needles settled in and damage was done. I just ground out as much as I could and crammed some fiberglass filler in it, called it done. It won't win any beauty contests, but so what.