I'll second that Woody, I learned the hard way a few years back when I restored a VW Bug.
I used lap joints in the rear 1/4 panels and had rust bubbling through within a year.
Butt joints are a little trickier to get right,but hey.. If I can do it anyone can!
Reds, you've got a better start than most,you can weld!
I did my cab corners using the butt weld method,skipped around with the welds and had little or no distortion.

1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in Scotland
In the Stovebolt Gallery
More pix on Flickr.
I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings
"Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.