My First Ford Body Repair Help

[Nhdoucette]

Hello,

 

My name is Norm, I'm 23 and i just bought my first truck. I'm a part-time student and run a small EBay business. I bought a 1992 GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with the extended cab from my uncle for $500.00. The engine is in immaculate shape, as is the interior and the exterior body is in good shape. It does have some rusty areas that need to be repaired before i can safety and register it. Manitoba safety standards say that surface rust is allowable but any holes need to be filled.

 

What i want to know is what is the best way to go about repairing my truck. Please keep in my mind that i do not have much experience with body repair or a large budget to work with. I'm not looking to make this truck a show ride or anything like that, just a good working and safe truck for my business.

 

From what i've read and seen on the internet basically all i have to do is grind down the rusted out areas to bare metal or do a total removal of the affected area and replace the sheet metal. If it is any different please let me Know.

 

Check out the pics below and tell me what you think.

 

Thank you in advance for any help or advice offered.

[REV353]

Get a sander or grinder with some 36 or 64 grit sand paper, use this to grind as much rust off as you can, then get some etching primer that acts as a filler and one you can sand. Go over it with some 100 grit sand paper to take the high spots down, then use some 400 grit to get the scratches out. Then spray paint it, if there are holes, find some fiberglass that is pre made and all you have to do is add the hardner, you can put this on with a puddy knife, and sand it down smooth and start with the primer, then paint.

[Draenor]

Some bad cancer there.

 

These will have to be cut out. There is no way body filler will work. Cut out the old, inspect the hidden area behind the rot. Then apply a rust inhibitor, weld in a new peice, fill, prime, and paint.

 

A place such as LMC truck is a good source for body parts.

[ryan_hermanutz]

Some bad cancer there.

 

These will have to be cut out. There is no way body filler will work. Cut out the old, inspect the hidden area behind the rot. Then apply a rust inhibitor, weld in a new peice, fill, prime, and paint.

 

A place such as LMC truck is a good source for body parts.

 

 

Like Draenor said, you will need to cut out the rust and replace with new metal. If after your done doing all of that you discover that some of the work is not perfect, you can cover it up with some kick panels and some fender flares. I do not suggest that you put them on over the rust, fix that first.

[Mike G]

.... Please keep in my mind that i do not have much experience with body repair or a large budget to work with....

 

First off, welcome aboard.

 

That is some seriuos stuff, in all honesty, when you have the cash, new metal is your best bet, be it new fenders/bed/door or a pro to replace the bad. I used to have a 73 blazer that would rust if it looked like rain. Here is what I would do in your spot. As recommended, clean up as much of the rust as possible with a grinder or surface disks, just get clean metal. Then see if you have clogged drain spots or create a method for the water to excape from behind the panels you want to fix. Go to the local parts shop and grab some fiberglass repair stuuf, with the activitating catalyst. The fibergalss is a little forgiving, so you can masage it around as you put it on. Let it dry, skuff with some sand paper, prime and paint. Start in an area that is easily managable, say over your rear tires and work it from start to finish, then you can get a feel for how the complete process will flow.

Just my $.02's (USD) --Mike