Questions about body work

[gotyourgoat]

Well the fenders rotting on a round eye is nothing new. Or a cab corner on any square for that matter. That clean ass frame is a nice gem though. Cleaner than mine which does not have body panel rot like yours. Knock on wood.

Patch panels are relatively cheap. It's the time and work to install them and then the bodywork and paint.

I'm not sure I'd throw all this metal work at a shop all at once or you may never see this truck again. Other jobs come in, it could end up getting shuffled to dust collector status. Piece it out, test the work.

 

[Ricko1966]

I'd rather fix an original fender than use a reproduction, that's only from my experiences with aftermarket hoods and fenders. I've seen them with marker light openings stamped in the wrong location,stuff that just doesn't fit as good as original and most of the aftermarket body parts I've bought,sold, or seen were thinner gauge.I worked where we sold lots aftermarket body panels for imports for a few years.As for rust coming back, I'd spray everything that's is hidden with ospho and a garden sprayer. Inside the doors anywhere not visible that's rust prone then hit those area's with enamel. On all the visible surfaces acid etch then epoxy prime.

 

[trukman1]

Try looking on Rock Auto for some of the parts. They, at one time, had a clearance sale on a lot of square body stuff. I bought front inner fender wells for around $40 each, nerf bars for the sides (K5) FOR $120-140 for the pair in stainless steel, can't remember exact price as it's been over a year ago.

Only thing I would not buy again is spark plugs. I ordered AC Delco plugs and received Autolite plugs instead. I thought I must have made a mistake so I re-ordered making sure to order the AC Delco and got Autolite's again.

Only downside of Rock Auto is if you get the wrong thing, returns are a nightmare! No number to just call for returns that I could find. Therefore, I'm stuck with two sets of Autolite plugs.

 

[Scott91370]

Too bad you're in Northern Illinois and I don't have a trip planned any time soon (I'm from the NW suburbs and usually come visit a couple times a year just haven't had time this year). I know you want to keep as much original as possible but I have a long bed (dual tanks) that's I'm going to be getting rid of very soon. Heck, I even have a cab I'd let go with it that you could cut all the needed parts from.

If you feel like a road trip, PM me and I can take as many pics as you want and make you a deal!!

 

[peats]

you didn't say what you paid for your truck, expect to be upside down money wise like most square owners till your done.

 

[80BrownK10]

Try looking on Rock Auto for some of the parts. They, at one time, had a clearance sale on a lot of square body stuff. I bought front inner fender wells for around $40 each, nerf bars for the sides (K5) FOR $120-140 for the pair in stainless steel, can't remember exact price as it's been over a year ago.

Only thing I would not buy again is spark plugs. I ordered AC Delco plugs and received Autolite plugs instead. I thought I must have made a mistake so I re-ordered making sure to order the AC Delco and got Autolite's again.

Only downside of Rock Auto is if you get the wrong thing, returns are a nightmare! No number to just call for returns that I could find. Therefore, I'm stuck with two sets of Autolite plugs.

Glad I got my AC Delco plugs when I ordered then a few years ago.

I did order a wrong size belt, but I only got like a 50% refund cause it listed it as fitting but it didn't, they said it couldn't be their fault cause it says it fit and it just didn't. I was like well that's not my fault. If it wasn't like a $3 V belt I would of made more noise. But I was literally argueing at this point for less than $2. I did talk to a person though. Not sure why others can get a person? This was several years ago. Maybe they have changed customer service procedures?

 

[Green79k10]

Well the fenders rotting on a round eye is nothing new. Or a cab corner on any square for that matter. That clean ass frame is a nice gem though. Cleaner than mine which does not have body panel rot like yours. Knock on wood.

Patch panels are relatively cheap. It's the time and work to install them and then the bodywork and paint.

I'm not sure I'd throw all this metal work at a shop all at once or you may never see this truck again. Other jobs come in, it could end up getting shuffled to dust collector status. Piece it out, test the work.

Yeah the frame is the main reason I bought the truck.. I owned a 86 before this and among other issues it had frame rot on it.. so I am happy to not have to worry about that with my 79.. and the truck has spent the majority of its life in Colorado until the previous owner brought it to Illinois..

 

[RoryH19]

Too bad you're in Northern Illinois and I don't have a trip planned any time soon (I'm from the NW suburbs and usually come visit a couple times a year just haven't had time this year). I know you want to keep as much original as possible but I have a long bed (dual tanks) that's I'm going to be getting rid of very soon. Heck, I even have a cab I'd let go with it that you could cut all the needed parts from.

If you feel like a road trip, PM me and I can take as many pics as you want and make you a deal!!

My thoughts exactly.
I've had to replace floors, inner/outer rocks, inner fenders, fenders, and quarters before. Not on the same truck and not including any supports.
I would find a solid donor from the south. It will probably cost less if you need to have a shop repair and your truck won't have patch panels everywhere.

 

[Ricko1966]

Try looking on Rock Auto for some of the parts. They, at one time, had a clearance sale on a lot of square body stuff. I bought front inner fender wells for around $40 each, nerf bars for the sides (K5) FOR $120-140 for the pair in stainless steel, can't remember exact price as it's been over a year ago.

Only thing I would not buy again is spark plugs. I ordered AC Delco plugs and received Autolite plugs instead. I thought I must have made a mistake so I re-ordered making sure to order the AC Delco and got Autolite's again.

Only downside of Rock Auto is if you get the wrong thing, returns are a nightmare! No number to just call for returns that I could find. Therefore, I'm stuck with two sets of Autolite plugs.

I got stuck with a bad new electric fuel pump and had to buy a second pump it was miss boxed.So I now have a new junk pump and a misboxed new pump.This whole deal was a giant night mere, check their BBB rating,They are on my never again list. On the bright side I heard Summit will price match and free shipping over 100.00 bucks.

 

[BigDaddy72]

I don’t want this to sound mean or rude. Please keep this in mind.

If you don’t have $10,000.00 laying around or the skills, tools time and place to restore it, then don’t take it apart.

Drive it and enjoy it until you have at least 10k to spend on it.

Most of what you have rust on would’ve easier to replace than repair and that’s what most body shops will do. That is if you can find a good one that would take on that much work.

Its hard these days to find a reputable body shop that would stop doing collision repair to take on a big project like that. Sadly to say there is no money in doing what your needing done.

So that leaves you with two choices take it to an individual who does it on the side and wait forever possibly years before it’s done.

Or go to a restoration shop and spend $40,000-$60,000 to get it done right and in on a reasonable time frame.

Lastly you could buy used parts from the southern states and just replace basically everything with rust. Or buy another square with a good body. Use your truck and the one you buy to build yourself one solid one.

But don’t take it apart, drive it and enjoy it.

If you are gonna tackle it yourself.

Do it in very small several jobs you can start and finish on a Saturday.

Sorry bud probably not what you wanted to hear.

My opinion it’s a very cool truck just the way it is. Just have fun with er! You can’t see the outside when your driving the wheels off it anyway!

 

[Ricko1966]

Maybe my view I s skewed because of my work expierience.1 restoration shop 1 mom and pop body shop 1 dealer body shop and years of doing it.But. I think I'd buy a good used welder a fair used cab, a decent used air compressor and rebuild a cab, you can do it, hell you can paint it,but the cabs going to be the most time consuming so build it as you have time, learn to weld, learn to paint or at least prime, that way you don't have huge down time and huge money in it.And it will be sweet while the cabs off you can take care of things no one else can or will like cleaning and painting the frame changing body mounts etc.

 

[BigDaddy72]

Biggest factor is can he pull all this apart in his driveway or does he have a big enough shop to do the work.

I’ve seen guys do amazing stuff in small spaces and in there driveway and or 2 car garage but small spaces or exposed to the elements makes it more than twice as hard.

It’s alot of work making a place to do a lot of work.

Shop, tools, some knowledge (or help from someone who has the knowledge) most of all the time to do it. Don’t forget the cash to see it through.

I’ve seen so many rip cars apart only to realize they don’t have one or none of the needed elements to do the job and end up with a huge pile of parts that used to be a running driving vehicle. Most end up in the scrap yard or on Craigslist in an attempt to recoup some of the money they got in it.

Bite it off little pieces at a time stuff you can get done in a day or two.

 

[Vbb199]

I wish I had a truck in that condition to start on.
The 2 squares and s10 I have virtually have no rust.

I've been looking for a k10 in that condition I learn body work skills on.

Many have seen, I can do fab, welding, machining, and everything else to achieve whatever the hell I want, but body work isn't my strong suit.
I wanna find a k10 like that to practice on.

 

[Ricko1966]

If he never completes the cab he will still have a running driving truck, and a cab and tools he can still sell if he wants.Also he may learn he has skills I convinced my dad to try his hand at at a 1957 Eldorado seville, he took his time asked questions read up. First mild restoration it ended up on a calendar, showed it for a while, and was offered and took a brand new Prowler for it in trade from the owner of Weinburg Dodge. This car was done all in driveway a and a 2 car garage including paint.Now dad has a hobby and a lift, oh well maybe he has an addiction and a lift and a bunch of really nice tools.

 

[BigDaddy72]

If he never completes the cab he will still have a running driving truck, and a cab and tools he can still sell if he wants.Also he may learn he has skills I convinced my dad to try his hand at at a 1957 Eldorado seville, he took his time asked questions read up. First mild restoration it ended up on a calendar, showed it for a while, and was offered and took a brand new Prowler for it in trade from the owner of Weinburg Dodge. This car was done all in driveway a and a 2 car garage including paint.Now dad has a hobby and a lift, oh well maybe he has an addiction and a lift and a bunch of really nice tools.

Maybe he can and will but what you are talking about is the exception to the rule of diy bodywork, not the rule or norm.

Sounds like you have been a body man for quite sometime and no doubt are very good at what you do and probably make it look easy.

If he has someone like you around to help show him the hands on right way to do the job then as I said before he probably will be able to do a great job.

The question is how many variables are for him or against him.

He hasn’t replied yet so we don’t know his situation and that will depend a lot on the job at hand.

Taking that truck with all the rust issues (if he is a novice) no doubt you will agree is a big task for a person new to body work and fabrication to get right.

No matter who you are that truck is a big time consuming job.