68 shortbed rusted out at the back cab corners

[Dhill]

Hi,
I just looked at a 68 shortbed that I am considering buying, but it has rust holes on the bottom back cab corner, and a 1" rust hole with about 2" of surface cancer around it about 3" from the bottom drivers side corner of the windshield. Also is rusted out through the battery tray. How hard is this to fix? The truck only cost $700. Thanx

[OldBlue67]

Depends on your welding ablility Those are pretty common places for rust. I'm pretty sure that you can get patch pannels for the cab corners since those are a big rust spot on these trucks. NPD has them for about $20. If you don't feel up to welding that inner fender, it looks like replacements are about $175.

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whoa, I mised that part about the lower windshield rust, that ones not so common. I haven't got a clue with that one.

[FORDification]

That's about what I paid for my '67 shortbox, and the entire bottom 1/3 of the cab was rusted out. Of course, as things turn out, I paid too much, since the only parts of the original truck that will remain on mine are the frame, hood and front bumper. Oh well....

Like Liz says, the cab corners are almost always rusted out....those are $20/each at any of the major Ford vendors. If the cab corners are rusted out, more than likely the floorpans will need replacing as well, so be sure to check them out closely. I've never heard of these trucks getting a rust spot just below the windshield though...I'd be interested in seeing a picture of that.

Definitely sounds like a project truck...the question is: How much do you want to invest? With some looking around you might be able to find something will a little less rust for a little more money.

Good luck!

[shortbedCUSTOM]

ok, since we're talking about rust, how common is rust on the TOP edge of the windshield? mine looks to have a serious problem that was covered up with layer upon layer of fiberglass resin. If I can I will shoot some pics and post them up later.

Carlos

[Dhill]

Hey thanks for the replies. I didn't get a chance to really do a thorough inspection, but it did appear that that was the most of the rust. The rust hole below the window looks like it started originally as some sort of punched out hole, that was never repaired. The corners have the rust just starting to eat through the metal and paint. The batery tray is about a football sized rust hole. There was also obvious surface rust along the metal seams of the cab. I do have the 68 longbed that has a completely rust free (Arizona) cab that I could swap out if I needed to, as I think the mechanics of the longbed are about to give up the gost. I have changed cabs on a chevy before, and it was a real bear. I'll bet it is probably just has hard for this f100?

[OldBlue67]

ok, since we're talking about rust, how common is rust on the TOP edge of the windshield? mine looks to have a serious problem that was covered up with layer upon layer of fiberglass resin. If I can I will shoot some pics and post them up later.

Carlos

Grr I hate it when they do that!! I had a guy, so called professional, "fix" my rust problem with a half inch of bondo, the rust has now eaten its way up through it of course and its even worse than before

Anyway from what I've seen its another relatively common place, not quite as much as the cab corners but still something I've seen a bunch of. Heres a page where keith was dealing with it in his project:

http://www.fordification.com/my67-p18.htm

[shortbedCUSTOM]

ok, since we're talking about rust, how common is rust on the TOP edge of the windshield? mine looks to have a serious problem that was covered up with layer upon layer of fiberglass resin. If I can I will shoot some pics and post them up later.

Carlos

Grr I hate it when they do that!! I had a guy, so called professional, "fix" my rust problem with a half inch of bondo, the rust has now eaten its way up through it of course and its even worse than before

Anyway from what I've seen its another relatively common place, not quite as much as the cab corners but still something I've seen a bunch of. Heres a page where keith was dealing with it in his project:

http://www.fordification.com/my67-p18.htm

thanks, I think that will be very helpful once I decide to tackle the problem.

[fordtruckparts]

ok, since we're talking about rust, how common is rust on the TOP edge of the windshield? mine looks to have a serious problem that was covered up with layer upon layer of fiberglass resin. If I can I will shoot some pics and post them up later.

Carlos

Mine has that problem. It began rusting in the gutter trough. Fortunately, I am getting a new cab stripped down anyways as the rust was just too bad, but it was rusted there. Somebody also must have driven the roof into a parking garage roof, as there is a dent in the roof!

[FORDification]

Hey, if anyone else has got the front driprail rust in their truck and wants to fix it, I've got a perfect patch panel for you. It's the one I was going to weld into my cab, before finding the good cab I'm now using. There are some pics of it on THIS PAGE, taken before I completely sandblasted it and cleaned it up. It's now down to bare metal and ready to weld in.

[willowbilly3]

Since you live in Arizona, I presume, I would say take your time and find a truck with little or no rust. Spend a few hundrfed extra dollars up front and save a few hundred hours of patching up a rusty truck.