Quote Originally Posted by royster View Post
RUST NEVER SLEEPS

As requested, a few photos of the rust damage. This may not look too bad to some, but the photos don't show the extent of the rust. Also, I was unable to get shots in front of the leaf springs.

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The above photo is the passenger side, and the tail pipe can be seen. A piece of framing for my bumper is seen through the rust hole.

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Above, the load adjuster for the brakes is detached from its frame mount, due to rust. The bed cross member is shot.

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Above, the rust through the bottom of the frame is in several areas, some at crucial points. One is right next to the gas tank, and both sides in front of the leaf spring mounts are rusted through.

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Above, the piece of frame you see wedged in there is for my bumper mount. The bungee cord is holding the spare tire chain and mount, to keep it from flopping around.

I went into this with the intention of wire-wheeling things in preparation for welding patches, but in some places, there's nothing to weld TO. The repair would have to necessarily be made with the bed off, and fuel tank removed. In my present condition, this is beyond my doing.

Many areas of the body are rusted, too. though the extra fenders and doors could be used, as they're relatively rust-free.

As regards that bumper I made: I backed into a brick abutment once, so it was well worth the effort to install it - otherwise, the rear end would have suffered some serious damage.
It was very bad, and certainly nothing I could have tackled, even in good health.

And, yes: 6 years of a wonderful journey. Sad to think we lose one of these trucks every week. Definitely a rare breed.