Whoooa! Jeeze i live out here in the East in Rustville Vermont! If I were you living out in "norust" Dryland, I'd just find a solid truck to begin with and start there. Spend a very few more dollars and get a solid truck or body to begin with! What value would your rusttruck have after all the extra hard work and cost? I just don't buy junkers anymore. ( My first few model A's in High school were learning lessons and I spent hours and months and all my allowance on J.C. Whitney postal parts!) Good luck to yah in any event!
"Old Coe" out here in Vermont