The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Roof , Rust & Rats

Well, I have got to the point I am starting on the largest body repair I need to do on my truck.The roof.
The Hinge pillars were not too bad, the rocker & step panels went fairly well, and the cab corners went OK. Now I have do deal with THIS mess. I drilled out the spot welds on the outer roof at the seam in the eyebrow above the windshield. Then I had to cut out the INNER HEADER because it was rusted through too. I got it peeled back to see how bad it was inside and found another DARN RATS NEST . It is a mess.(I know,gloves don't help setting on the tool box) It was packed full all the way across the front and its packed into the windshield posts. I got it cleaned out ON TOP but it goes down into the upper posts too. I hate to have to do this, but I think I need to cut the inner roof off al the way to the back of the door opening. I would think it too is full of rats nests.
Some days I wish I had never started on the truck. Today is one of those days.
With this much rats nest/crap in there, I am a little concerned about health issues. Anyone have an idea what I could do to dis-infect the cab???

Hi Alan,sorry to hear your having "One of those days!" I'm sure most of the other "Bolters" have had days like it!
Looks like you've got some Major surgery goin' on there!
I hope you took some carefull measurements before the first incision. Messing around with windshield aperatures can be tricky.Just make sure everything goes back in the right place!
I you plan to replace the windshield, use the old one as a template when re-aligning the metalwork. There's nothing worse than getting your pride and joy back from the paint shop to find your Window doesn't fit! ,My buddy in Va. did this with an Austin Mini and had to get the windshield 'chopped' to fit!
Re; The rat sh*t,I hope you've been wearing a mask!
I suppose any good quality disinfectant would work,just be thorough!
Keep your chin up mate! You'll get there!
Regards Jock
Remember.... Measure twice,cut once!!!

I have to do the same thing on my truck.....the 56 dump...

Thanks Jock, I feel better today after letting it set for a while. I learned my lessons years ago about cutting,measuring & puling before cutting things. I have to put a new windshield in so I am using the old one as a template.
I wore my 3M organic vapor resperator to keep the poop out of my lungs, but still am not too happy with all that stuff floating around. I checked on the Hantavirus facts and from what I have read the virus only lives a short time once it leaves the rodents system in urine & crap. My truck has been mouse free for near a year and a half so I don't think I have to worry about that.
1958GMCnut, I wish you well on your truck roof.I will have pictures posted as I go on my Photobucket if you need them.

A good well-fitting particulate respirator is probably what you need...not a dust mask. Your organic vapor cartridges won't hurt, but they are overkill for a virus. Just use good sanitary practices when handling the old nests and residue.
Joe

Here in the West (hantavirus issues) for this type of clean-up it is recommended to use bleach diluted with water in a spray bottle to soak all the contaminated material. Even if it has been a while that in combination with the respirator seems like a good idea.

Looking forward to seeing repair done. Are you going to use part of a doner cab for the repair? Looks like you also have rust in the A pillars.

Brad, I don't want to use chlorine down in the windshield posts. It is rusty enough in there, I think chlorine would make it rust even faster. There must be something else I can spray in there. Anyone have any ideas?

Hammerdog57,I did get a roof cut from another cab for the part across the windshield opening. I didn't want to replace the entire roof but I may now that I am finding the space between the inner & outer roof is a mouse condo. The right windshield post is in pretty bad shape too, but I think I can make the patches for that and weld it together. More pictures to come as I have time to work on it.

I think i would cut the rusted areas out in pillars first to inspect inner support. These pillars are made in three different sections welded together. You will find that the pillars are packed with dirt etc. that trapped moisture and caused the rust in the first place. If inner section is in good condition (made of heavier gage steel) then i would patch pillars, roof etc.