The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Windshield frame rust through

I have a 1958 cab that I bought. It has rust through in the area where the windshield gasket contacted the metal. Are there any commercially available sheetmetal fixes for this or is this a fabrication job? I'm in the very early stages with this and the 1955 I have in my garage. I want to be ready when the time comes to start work. Thanks!

Where is the rust? Top, bottom or sides? Both sides & the roof can be bought but you have to buy the entire panel and it is expensive. You can try to get used parts & make patch panels from them. That would be the easiest way, or fabricate something. A new roof panel is over $300 and the posts are over $200.

The rust is in the top part of the frame and the sides. There are actually holes. It's funny, the floorpan looks great and I would figure that would be the worst area. I'll try to post a picture of it.

A lot of times this area is rusted because rodents build nests between the inner outer roof. The urine causes the metal to rust from the inside out.

Well, I may have solved my own problem. I called the DMV to see about getting a title in Texas and it seems to be a pain in the rear. I may just use the parts off of the 1958 cab to build up my 1955 cab. Any idea where to find the fender to cab mount?

Which one? The lower fender bolt bracket, or the inner fender to cab bracket.

The upper one on the cowl panel. One of mine is missing. My grandfather cut a hole in the cowl panel so he could just drop a bolt through it to hold the upper, rear part of the fender on.

here's the link for the rust through pictures.

http://s743.photobucket.com/albums/xx73/dougtolliver/

I know by combining the two cabs into one good one is the way to go.

Do I cut the floorpan out of the 58 and put it in the 55? Do I replace the roof section of the 58 with the one from the 55? I know if I replace the roof I also have to replace the door pillar. I think I may have to get the 1955 media blasted first before I decide. I would love some suggestions from anyone who may have had a similar problem.

I had the same problem with mine. Look HERE and see what I did with mine.

That's what I may wind up doing. Looks good.

I was wondering also about welders. I've never welded or anything. I see flux core wire and MIG and TIG welders. Any recommendations on welder type? How about the size of the spot weld cutting bit? If I get these two tools I can start working on my sheet metal.

I have a cheap Harbor Freight flux core welder. I highly DO NOT recommend it. I have welded enough that I can make due with this one, but save yourself a lot of time & aggravation by getting a gas shield MIG.

I saw the cheap ones at Harbor Freight. I think they have a Lincoln Electric Weld Pack at Home depot that's a gas shielded MIG. It may be a flux core. Can you use solid wire in one?

Does anyone out there know what a good size would be for a spot weld bit? Would a 5/16 bit be the right one for sheet metal work?

I have some 8mm and they work great.

Ok, I think that's roughly 5/16 so I'll go with that. I can't find the things locally so I guess I'll order online!

I got mine from a body shop so I am not sure where to tell you to get them.

Doug,

If you can afford to go with the shielding gas great. If not, flux core will work with a fair ammount of practice to get your voltage correct. Use old scap, etc. to play with first. I used one on my interior cab corner and did a series of good plug welds after using a punch to make that possible.
Hank

I went ahead, spent the money, and got a gas shielded MIG capable welder. A Lincoln Electric. I wanted to do it right with a minimum of fuss. Now I get to teach myself to weld. I just happen to have scrap laying around too! How did you join the inner cab corners to the outer? They appear to be spot welded at the factory.

Eastwood online has them. They also have the panel clamps so you can keep a constant gap while tacking in your repair panel.