The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Fire damaged sheet metal

A friend has (or had ) a 1938 F ord 1/2 ton truck. The barn it was stored in caught fire and the truck suffered severe damage (understated). Apparently an explosion was involved. I don't know how badly damaged the truck is, but from the description, the truck is a complete loss. Unfortunately, this truck had been in the family since new and had always been a treasured, working member of the family. A conciderable amount of sentimental value is involved. If the sheet metal was not warped or otherwise damaged, is it worth saving? Or, due to the heat, will the metal have been weakened and subject to stress cracking and corrosion? Any advice that can be given will be greatly appreciated!

I'd be suprised if the sheet metal hadn't warpped if it really was 'fully involved' - specially w/ explosion - might still be salvageable tho, just a matter of how much they wanna spend - also after the paint burns off [specially as water's prolly been applied] there will be horrid 'surface rust' on all surfaces that might be pretty hard to deal w/ if not treated immediately - short answer? I'd find another 38 truck and paint it the same color!!

Bill

Mr. Z-A friend's father used to have a '40 F**d DeLuxe coupe hotrod...it went through this exact situation while in the possession of the PO and builder. The car was in a garage which burned to the ground-the ironies are twofold; first the car was traditional black-with-flames, second, it's owner at that time was a fireman! Now that's just gotta SUCK! The moral of the story? That car was rebuilt good as new-you'd never tell by looking at it now what had happenned. Anything's possible, if your friends truly desire to save that old truck, just tell 'em to break out the checkbook. The comments about warpage/surface rust posted above are the absolute truth. Take a look at a gutted fire victim on your next trip to the boneyard-'nuff said.

Regards,
Wannabe

I've seen several burned out vehicles at the boneyards with the heavy steel steering wheel core sagging. That has to be unimaginably hot!

I never have figured out why those end up in our U-Wrench-It yard - they seem to be too far gone to have the smallest useful item.

Without seeing them burning I would be scared to try rebuilding anything that went through a fire. But; remember it has to do with heat how much was there! I've seen blistered rust piecees come back new. Metal can withstand alot but after a certain point just cry and let ir go. I've seen Metal I=beams actually sag into a U> But the worst was a foggy morning 2 Jet fuel tankers collided in the fog. Still have nightmare's about that one!
Popcorn The Truth is Out There (Be Careful)

I have been trying to salvage parts for my car that i had thought i stored in a "SAFE place". I had many of the trim parts and my interior stored in my kids room and in my workshop downstairs, on Feb 14 a tennent in the basement burnt my house down burning all the seats of the car. The heat was so hot downstairs it melted some of the steel parts of the table saw, but the stainless steel beside it just needed to be cleaned. You never know , maybe having the steel of the truck dipped will remove all thin rust and soot from the fire, I was lucky in my place though, the fireman got it out before the welding tanks went or the 100 or so model rocket engines went, but it still did $150,000 in damage to the house.

Look at the bright side; you don't have to sand any paint off to start the body work.

If the heart leads, the hands and the mind will follow. You can build and repair just about anything in any condition if you have the motivation. I find that usually, the best rewards are in the jobs that are the most challenging.

I think Mechaniac's saying would apply here.
"Always use the word "Impossible" with the greatest caution"

Thanks for all of the suggestions, folks. I've passed along all of the ideas and info to the fella with the truck. Maybe some of it can help him make an informed decision. Knowing that when it was rebuilt, all of the identifying scratches and dings made by a generation of family users would be gone might make it seem as if it's personality had been altered. Though, if it were mine and it had been in the family for so long, the rebuild would already be started. But, I'm just hardheaded.
Thanks again!