The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop AD truck,what can I expect? (Body)

I'm looking into doing an AD build for a truck used for my construction business that will be equal parts for work and for show.I expect to basically use an AD cab and body and mount it to a more modern frame and drive train.

I expect to strip the cab down bare and get to work on it.I will have it media blasted and then figure out what I have.

Well,what can I expect?What will I most likely have to replace and patch in?What patch panels are available? Is there any reason to be optimistic about the condition of things?

I haven't bought anything yet.I haven't yet begun actively looking.I just want to get an idea of the things that I will definitely be replacing,body wise,no matter how much searching I do.

From the cab on back,I will fabricate the bed.I'm not really interested in frame or running gear.Just want to know what I will be getting in to.I'm in the Northeast,so the chances of finding something decent locally,body-wise,is probably less than most other places.

Thank you for any advice I can get.

Popular places for AD cab rust: front floor, kick panels, outer lower cowel, rocker panels, rear bottom cab corners.

Look through the sheet metal section in the Jim Carter catalog, if they sell it then it's a place that might be rusted on an AD cab.

If you are thinking about a big bolt, there are lots of farm trucks still out there with minimal rust. As far as parts go, I believe you can buy new patch panels for all of the usual problem areas.

Good luck

John

USA is a big place with many different climates and rust issues. Where you are will have a pretty big impact on what you find. If you have the access to or money for shipping I would look in the arid southwest for good metal to start with.

Yes,can't argue with that.But,I can't see buying anything sight unseen,and I don't see myself traveling across the country to find a decent body.

I haven't started any hardcore searching yet,but it seems there are a lot of the AD trucks around here,that people have bought as projects.I found a lot of ads of folks selling AD trucks,in various stages and condition,without even trying.

I'm thinking it might be likely to find someone in the middle of a project who may be selling a pile of stuff due to loss of interest or something.Provided they haven't made a bigger mess of things along the way.

Picking up someone elses lost project on the cheap,is that in bad taste or bad karma?

I know,it isn't as sexy as falling in love in a farm field,but in these parts it may be more likely.

By the time you finish the 10th patch panel and notice the rust rot around the windshield that was covered by ten pounds of Bondo and that your local purchase is not so juanderful, you may wish you had gone to the the west coast to pick up your Bolt.

I've never been to that part of the USA.Would an AD truck that spent it's life there be expected to be in excellent condition,body-wise?

It's all about odds/%. The dryer climates (west of the Pecos)tend to protect steel from that nasty cancer called rust. In areas east of the Mississippi, you can certainly find relatively rust free projects; it is just harder to do. Also if you confine your search to the eastern seaboard your odds are not as good.
Rather than riding through the country (not a bad idea) looking for your next
truck,I would check with all the internet sites for trucks for sale, request pictures of likely rust areas and pick the best $ value.
Good luck!

just me or are the inner door bottome prone to rot as well?

There is a hole/holes in the bottom of the door and as long as they drain as designed the rust should be minimal. There is no area immune to rust. Like was said before, check all the vendors for patch panels. They will sell panels for all the major areas.

Where are you located?

Dallas