bodywork questions bondo?

[SCHRUMGMC]

I may have to use Bondo on the bottoms of my fenders, and around the Speaker,headlight buckets

Im just not sure about using bondo, but it seems like I'm gonna have too

[roger55]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

I may have to use Bondo on the bottoms of my fenders, and around the Speaker,headlight buckets
Im just not sure about using bondo, but it seems like I'm gonna have too

Bondo to cover up rust is not a fix. It's a cover-up and the rust will be showing through in no time. The rust will continue to grow and cause even more damage. Money put into paint will be a waste.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by roger55

Bondo to cover up rust is not a fix. It's a cover-up and the rust will be showing through in no time. The rust will continue to grow and cause even more damage. Money put into paint will be a waste.

X 100.

Do NOT bondo or Fiberglas over rust. I agree that any paint work you do will then be a total waste of time. Second, you lose any/all credibility here. Just telling you the truth.

[SCHRUMGMC]

Even if the Rust has been treated properly???.I am against using it trust me, but it seems like its impossible to fix the ridge below the speaker and around the headlights.I just don't know what to do honestly, and even the top of the cab(Where the door meets, is badly rusted through)

[roger55]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

Even if the Rust has been treated properly???..Like I am against using it, but it seems like its impossible to fix the ridge below the speaker

The only way to treat rust properly is to cut it out and replace it with new metal.

Nothing is impossible to fix. A lot of metal is reproduced. When it's not that means fabricating or finding it on a donor truck and grafting it onto yours.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by roger55

The only way to treat rust properly is to cut it out and replace it with new metal.

Nothing is impossible to fix. A lot of metal is reproduced. When it's not that means fabricating or finding it on a donor truck and grafting it onto yours.

+1 the proper way is to cut the rusted out spot (s) out to good solid metal and then either fabricate a patch or buy a patch panel for that area.

The bondo (body filler) is for after you have done the best you can do with your metal work and it needs a bit of filler to slick it off.

It's too cold and too dark to go out and take photos of the spots on my 48 where I cut a few corners in the early 80's and used bondo instead of good metal work. My body work skills weren't all that good in those days and my patience was non existent at that time. At any rate there are a couple of spots where the bondo is cracking and the rust is showing through and it needs major work to fix it right.

[roger55]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

I can't seem to find the top of the door frame(cab) rust area but its bad

Those photos aren't too great but I can see you've got some serious rust issues. Looking at the kick panel condition, I'd say your are going to have rot in the lower door hinge area and the front cab mounts.
That cab is going to need to come off the frame. There is a thread going right now on how to do that.

Study my build thread for dealing with those rust areas. You are going to need a lot of new metal.

You are also going to need to have a garage to work in and a decent air compressor and some air tools. You will also need a good mig welder. Start looking at those now. I suggest you only look at Miller, Hobart or Lincoln models. A 110 Volt unit is fine but you must have gas.

[SCHRUMGMC]

There is a lot of rot in the lower door hinge.How could I fix that part on the speaker

Here is another rotted place on the Door Frame.I guess I'll have to buy the hinge pocket and a new left cowl piece or something

[roger55]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

There is a lot of rot in the lower door hinge.How could I fix that part on the speaker
Here is another rotted place on the Door Frame.I guess I'll have to buy the hinge pocket and a new left cowl piece or something

http://www.classicparts.com/1955-59-...tinfo/44-008B/


You may need the outer skin too.
http://www.classicparts.com/1955-59-...tinfo/44-008A/

Start studying all the patches available for these. You are probably going to need many of them.

http://www.classicparts.com/Patch-Pa...oducts/153/1/0

[SCHRUMGMC]

The Roof is in near perfect condition, just a small chunk of metal on the lining is gone

The right side is near perfect, its just the Driver side.
The passenger side step is still there but will eventually need to be replaced.

The bed fenders are in great shape, in some places it'll need to be re-sanded and a little metal work as well

I'll post the piece of metal thats chunked off from the lining on the back of the cab.

[_Ogre]

cab corners are pretty much a given for rust repair, poor design that captures rags, paper and dirt; then moisture does it's magic.
i'd feel above the headlights from inside the fender to see if the headlight brow has been smucked over with filler.

this headlight issue isn't even an issue in my book
i'd sandblast that and get some epoxy and paint on that and call it good



this i'd fix with a made piece of 18 ga steel, a few bends and some welding and grinding you'd never know it.

[SCHRUMGMC]

Wow, I would of never thought a battery would do that to a floor pan my passenger side is in near perfect condition



Those holes look factory on the Door Skin, what did they possibly go to ???


Theres the back of the lining that as rusted away

[FirstNation]

Schrumgmc, if you've got rust where the speaker box is, i'd say you've got bigger rust problems hidden in the roof. Water has definately been leaking in over time and laying inside there. Looking at the overall condition and rust out in the various places in your cab, i'd say you might be better off looking for a good cab to swap with rather than spening the money for all the patch panels you're gonna need and all the labor that goes with installing them..

[roger55]

Originally Posted by FirstNation

Schrumgmc, if you've got rust where the speaker box is, i'd say you've got bigger rust problems hidden in the roof. Water has definately been leaking in over time and laying inside there. Looking at the overall condition and rust out in the various places in your cab, i'd say you might be better off looking for a good cab to swap with rather than spening the money for all the patch panels you're gonna need and all the labor that goes with installing them..

I was afraid to say that but it is what I was thinking as well.

[HiRMKin]

Have a look at my build tread I fixed above my window. I formed some 20ga steel into some angles then used a shirker/stretcher then tacked it all together. I also replaced the inside roof panel.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by HiRMKin

Have a look at my build tread I fixed above my window. I formed some 20ga steel into some angles then used a shirker/stretcher then tacked it all together. I also replaced the inside roof panel.

Nice job on the eyebrow

[SCHRUMGMC]

I've checked the inside of the "inner skin" and things seem to be okay, and I believe the ridge of the roof is good as well, I know it'll sound stupid, but it looks like I'll just fix this cab over time, I will look again and get a flashlight and look in there and make sure its not rusty in there.If it was that bad, wouldn't the whole piece of metal be gone ??. Maybe it was just moisture over time.Keep in mind my Grandfather didn't take care of this truck what so ever and to be honest I think it sat on an angle and thats why the Driver side is so bad compared to the Passenger side.Lucky me, the pillars aren't rusted through



Can anyone tell me what that small holes on the lower skin on the door?, they look factory

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

I've checked the inside of the "inner skin" and things seem to be okay, and I believe the ridge of the roof is good as well, I know it'll sound stupid, but it looks like I'll just fix this cab over time, I will look again and get a flashlight and look in there and make sure its not rusty in there.If it was that bad, wouldn't the whole piece of metal be gone ??. Maybe it was just moisture over time.Keep in mind my Grandfather didn't take care of this truck what so ever and to be honest I think it sat on an angle and thats why the Driver side is so bad compared to the Passenger side.Lucky me, the pillars aren't rusted through



Can anyone tell me what that small holes on the lower skin on the door?, they look factory

Most always if the inner is rusted out then the outer eyebrow is badly pitted. The roof itself may well be ok. The rust is from condensation the runs down the roof on the inside and mice building nests and the nest collection moisture.

The other reason a little less known is that when you have the side vents closed the air coming into the outside cowl vent goes up into the windshield frame and out the lower air box vents, if you have a radio the air tries to come out that way or around the inner roof skin edge. Dirt and leaves are brought up by that air flow. So now you have dust and dirt in there and its parked for an extended period with one side in the sun and one not. Perfect conditions for a mini weather system in the cab that makes rust.

[SCHRUMGMC]

I'll look into that dwcsr but can you explain to me what the small holes on the door are ???

But I'll check the eyebrow when I head over there

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

I'll look into that dwcsr but can you explain to me what the small holes on the door are ???

But I'll check the eyebrow when I head over there

They are for rubber bumpers in the lower corners and other holes around the edge are for the push in fasteners that hold the door seal in place

[_Ogre]

epoxy primer. that will never show.
should be small holes every 6'' around the door for door weather stripping.
bigger holes at every corner for door bumpers

[SCHRUMGMC]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

epoxy primer. that will never show.
should be small holes every 6'' around the door for door weather stripping.
bigger holes at every corner for door bumpers

So they could of been Door bumpers at one time?, because those holes on the door skin just don't make any sense because there isn't any on the Driver side door, its quite confusing if you ask me."Epoxy primer", I'll see what I can do
Its weird because there isn't anything on the Driver side door, can someone post a photo on what exactly it looks like ??

[dwcsr]

I just looked at that picture, They look like there from a dent puller

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

I just looked at that picture, They look like there from a dent puller

Or poorly grouped .22....

[coralhead]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Or poorly grouped .22....

very poorly......