Any auto body guys here? Question

Fatstrat

I have possibly found a pickup I want to buy. A year/make/model w/engine/trans that I want (1993 F-150 EXT cab w/300-6cyl/auto trans). And at an attractive price.
Only problem is rust. It's rusted thru at the rear both sides of cab. Strips of rust about 1' long and 1 1/2" wide Otherwise body is straight w/good paint.
What would a estimate be of price to repair the rust? Thanks.

grumpygy

Get a car-Fax on it see if it was in a Place Like Katrina. Those little bits of rust may be pointing out a much larger problem.

rusty shackelford

]this is a very common area for the ford f-series to rust out,
they make replacement panels for it.
rusty s

LesWVa

Need to check the cab mounts closely.

They were famous for rusting out and you may not even know it until the cab falls to the frame.

Can you say, "poke around them good with a screw driver"..

slipgate

I'll say $1500 to fix the rust.

Sig220_Ruger77

quote:Get a car-Fax on it see if it was in a Place Like Katrina. Those little bits of rust may be pointing out a much larger problem.

Possibly, but most likely just a few too many rough winters.

Jon

SuwanneePirate

I have owned a body shop for 32 years and before I moved south 2o years ago I repaired a lot of rusted trucks in West Virginia. I used to buy rust repair panels from a company called TABCO ,they might still be around . When you have the repair panels installed make sure that all of the rusted metal is removed and the new metal is mig welded back in . don't braze it as the sheet metal now is high tensile steel ,when it gets too hot it breaks down the molecular structure and will crack out near the weld. It shouldn't be too expensive depending on whether the bed will have to be pulled back for access or not . the cost should be 300 to 400 for a quality job.maybe a little more if its got a pearl or metallic paint . If it an extended cab they were prone to rust out from water coming in around the window and having no place to get out . Good luck with your truck .

Fatstrat

Thanks.

SuwanneePirate

Take it to a few reputable shops and get an honest quote and sign a work order to protect you incase the bodyman is a drunk and guzzles up the repair funds before doing said repair. Ask to see or talk to some of their customers to see the quality of their work .A good body man won't be insulted he will be proud for you to see that his rust repairs stay solid and don't bleed out rust a year or two later. If you already have the panels it is a lot quicker and easier for everyone involved . Most shop are doing insurance work but will gladly fit in a non impact repair as it won't take up time on the frame machines and can be done properly in a couple of days including a good paint match.
If you see an area rusted its a good bet that the area surrounding it is also started although in may seem solid . The rust will run into the surrounding area in veins . If you would cross section it it would look like swiss cheese up close to the rusted area so its always best to trim it up a little around the replacement area.
Those are nice trucks . I found one yesterday thats a 1996 that has a shortbed with the factory mags and a 302 running rough for 1000 ,if it had the six it wouldn't be for sale. Body is in great condition ,Im tempted .Go talk to a few shops and get some prices ,the independant shop can give you a better price than the dealerships usually.D]

CHEVELLE427

One thing about rust, its like cancer,[:(]

Once got hard to get rid of it.[xx(]

If body shop just fixes the rusted area and does not treat the rest with something to slow it down it will be back.
Look at other trucks that year and see if they have the same bad places, if not there is a reason this one does.[:0]

this comes from working on 40 year old rusty cars all the time.
done right its good for another 5-10 years, wrong 1-1.5[;)]

longspur rider

I've been doing this for 35 years. Once you have rust you always have rust. You can fix what shows now, but 6 mo. - or a year from now it will show up somewhere else. When do you want to stop throwing money at it? Buy cheap, put up with the ugly, drive it till it dies. The only time to fix rust is in a restoration job that is kept inside all the time & driven on a sunny day.