The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs patch panels?

Okay so I have this parts truck for constructing a fleetside-style truck bed for other truck. However during the disassembling phase these last couple of days I'm becoming discouraged in the amount of rust through.

Take a look . I know with enough time and money anything is possible.

I am curious as to whether patch panels are available, is this more than acceptable and should be scrapped, or should I just bite the bullet and let the body shop deal with it? I don't have the tools, equipment, or (any) experience for bodywork of this nature.

using that to make a bed would be throwing good money after bad - or is it bad money after good? really not patches available to take care of that mess, waste of time - find a 60's long fleet bed to work with, they don't have the lower rot problems that all panels have due to the pinch welded double wall construction, use the cross sills from the panel if they're not too rotten

Bill

The rest of it is pretty clean, just those rusted out spots and surface rust. The corners are planned to be modified to have modern truck tail lights.
The rear corners worry me. The rest can receive grafted, contoured sheet metal. Still a lot of work, but it has the correct bodylines and is the correct size and length for my receiving patient (my other 51 1 Ton.)

Check out Jim Carter's new website. Ray Stanley makes his patch panels ( created using my burb as a template) for Carter's. The lower body panel is available.

Although Generic in nature, the patch panels ray makes are for the 1/2 ton. You will have to modify them to work on the one ton.

I knew truck cab corners could be manipulated as well. Those are available.

But the real question is: Is it worth it?

I've had one opinion offered (thanks squeeze) which goes in the same direction I'm leaning, but I want another nail in the coffin before I let this panel go. Of course that would also mean all the parts I can salvage will be posted in the Parts for Sale forum. The rest goes to the metal recycler.