Really rusty cab..
 

With this being my first official post, I would like to thank everybody who has posted here on the topics of rust and how to fix it. It has really helped me out so far. But, moving on to my main issue is my 72's cab. This truck has been in the family for several years and has a ton of sentimental value so I would like to keep the original cab. This is the most rust I've seen in the roof of one of these trucks. Where should I go from this now?

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

Holy crap!

I'd suggest a new donor roof, but with the roof that bad you really need to pull the cowl and fenders off and inspect the cowl/vent areas, along with the floor/rockers, etc.

I know you want to save it, but to save it, you may literally have to replace almost every piece of it.

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

ditto, I was expecting to see "rust", not rusted out. I'd agree, get a donor roof, or find a body shop that can cut the roof out and weld in a new one. then you can keep the cab. And if the roof has rusted away that much, you better look elsewhere, I'm sure you'll find more of this "rust". Good luck

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

If the roof looks that bad... how are the front floor pans and rocker panels?

Man that's A LOT of rust and rot. I know you said it's got sentimental value... but in this instance, it will really hit you in the wallet unless you can do these repairs yourself. Just pull the glove box door off to keep the SPID and look for another cab. :)

Gary

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

I'm in east AR. What part of TN are you in? I would cut that sucker off and add a new roof . But first you need to double check the areas like the cowl[I have a on my dolly now] that I replaced the roof due to rust and past wreck damage. The truck was all together and the owner swore the rust was not that bad elsewhere. it had upper cowl rust and some other places. I had put the roof on but then we saved the cab. If you were to find a decent donor clip roof, It could be fixed somewhat inexpensively. Jim

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

i vote for a better cab, i just gave away a complete 72 GMC that had much less rust than that, you could see bubbles above the windshield. i checked with a couple body shops locally and the price to replace the roof was crazy-12+ hours labor at 150 per hour. the truck was given to me and i gave it to a friend who plans on replacing the body with better sheetmetal.

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

When I saw the pictures, I figured you'd be from up in the rust belt. How did a tn truck get cancer like that? Anything can be fixed, but first sit back and ask yourself this. Would you rather spend a King's Ransom on keeping , and patching what's left of the original cab? Or get a good replacement, and finish your restoration with a lot less money spent? I empathize with you on the sentimental value, I would love to be able to have my dad's 68 GMC, but the Rust Moths did away with it some 40 years ago (I grew up in northern Michigan).

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

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Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

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Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

Again, you really need to remove the cowl and fenders (and even pull out the cowl/vent doors inside the cab where the kick panels are) to really assess the entire cab. A cowl replacement/repair in some respects is just as difficult/more work than replacing the entire roof.

Check these out:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=72472

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421682

Here's a pic of a really nasty one:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1345305827

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

There are a lot of better cabs out there in the southeast...... As others have said check it all out. I would be willing to say there is rust in other places.

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

I would say send that cab to the recycling facility, if you can find one that recycles rust.

And, to keep the sentimental attachment, make sure the frame, or the engine, or the glove box door or something is original, and let the rest go! Trying to fix that cab is a a project I call "WOMBAT" (Waste Of Money, Time And Brains)

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

I'm not sure what it'd cost to fix but given the number of still solid trucks to be found here in east TN, I'd bet you could buy a whole other truck for the cost of replacing that roof. Theres a solid looking roller on craigslist thats been sitting for months the guy wants like 900 for. Having sentimental value I understand but unless you've got a significant amount of money you're willing to dump into it I'd look at other options.

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

That's what mine had... and I ended up having to replace a big chunk of the floor boards and the kick panel. Guaranteed the lower A-pillar is rotted out to.

Not to add more misery, but there a e way better cabs out there than the one you have.

Gary

Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

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Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

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Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

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Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

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Re: Really rusty cab... needing help
 

Folks - this is not a or Sale thread ...