07 Silverado Rust Belt Damage Repair

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The time has come to get to work on my DD. bought new in July of 2007, lowered and added wheels within 1st month.

Driven Daily now for 8 years and about 100,000 miles. For the winters I take off wheels and go back to stock 17" that came on it. Actually the front spoiler pushes snow sometimes! I watch for frozen chuncks and debris that might take off spoiler / deflector.

So in the last year I have begun to notice a few spots of rust starting and progressing.
First and worst is the tailgate.

Bottom seam is really bad and now has small holes in outside on back.

Area above passenger rear wheel is coming through at this point.

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So I have a different tailgate that I bought from local body shop. Found it on craigslist, listed for $125 but when I looked it over and where it was I thought what the heck and offered $75 and they took it!!! Empty shell and a couple of light dents. Have it in primer and straight so set aside for now, In GM cardboard box they gave me.
Been wanting to put summer wheels back on but ....
Can't until I deal with some body issues. Passenger side box side is coming through pretty fast after last winter. This week I started to put in patch panel, figured how much to cut and got outside removed. as you can see ....inner wheel house is gone where it was attached to boxside.

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Tried today to locate a boxside from local GM dealer thinking if they have collision dented up panel I can get wheelhouse metal....none to be had right now. They said have cleaned out parts and scrapped. Will look around , I'll find one!!!!!GOT PATCH PANEL CUT DOWN AND FITTIN GOOD. Weld it in I believe and then go back and install wheel house when I find one. More pictures tomorrow!!!