firewall cowl seam

[fordman]

if this seam start to rust and flake into a big bulge how would you deal with it? fix it cut it off and forget it. trash the whole cab what would you do.

[Ranchero50]

Depends on how bad the rest of the cab is. I usually try to figure out how the moisture got in there to begin with to determine how much other unseen stuff may need attention as well. As far as the repair, take a sawzall to a junk yard and cut out the section larger than your problem area, then trim it down to fit your cleaned up hole. Weld it in, seal it up and it's done.

Jamie

[craftsman]

I am having this problem right now, some of mine is rusted through and some of it is surface rust but flaking pretty bad.
I am going to try to cut it out an weld in new peices, but it does look complicated.
I have thought of changing the cab but the cab doesn't look bad enough to change. Here is some pics of the truck but not of the rusted areas, i will try to post some of the rust later.

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... hp?t=26250
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... hp?t=26202

Here are some pics of the cowell seam. sorry if a little blurry.

[Banjo]

how much can you get to, is motor running or dead truck? If dead and you want to keep from getting worse, I'd be inclined to heavy blanket or maybe cardboard over winshield and anything I was worried about (or heavy blue tape, doubled up and stuff) and sand blast it, but on a running motor, it'd get everywhere (the grit) and would possibly find it's way to bearings in motor. That sand gets everywhere.
You can also get real small spot blasters you stick the hose in a 5 gallon bucket of sand and run off your regular compressor, but above all w/sand you should try to do outside and have on decent respirator to cut down on silicosis of the lungs. You could then treat your bare metal w/epoxy primer and high build or self-etching primer. Or you could get it as clean as you can w/mechanical means and chase that with chemical prep methods and seal. Or cut it out. Or, knock the roughest parts off w/wire brushes or whatever and POR-15. Or, clean as best you can and POR-15 and then smear over with some type of brick masonry colored mastic in a caulking tube to help w/stopping air from getting back to that area for future. to me, it would depend on how well I could get to the area to repair and whether paint/parts are worth protecting. I'm a big fan of sandblasting if done right, but if you don't seal immediately after it flashes fast and also the grit will find it's way EVERYWHERE and you'll find sand dropping out for years. banjo.

[fordman]

its a parts truck cab and it doesnt have that much wrong with it. i was just trying to determine if i should keep it for a rebuilder cab or just rash the cab because of this needed repair. i have no idea how these sams rust. i have seen this befoe but i have never knew why they rust like that in that certain place.

[1971ford]

where exactly is this seam? hard to tell from the pictures.
i would like to check mine.
thanks

[69bumptruck]

its a parts truck cab and it doesnt have that much wrong with it. i was just trying to determine if i should keep it for a rebuilder cab or just rash the cab because of this needed repair. i have no idea how these sams rust. i have seen this befoe but i have never knew why they rust like that in that certain place.

They typically rust off to the side of the motor. Water is splashed up from just daily driving. The motor usually blocks the middle, the inner fenders block the extreme outer part. Splash enough water on one spot over a number of years, and it's bound the develop rust. If it's just a parts cab, you could try to sell it off. If it has good floors and cab supports, it'd be worth trying to fix IMO.

[fordman]

i have a few thoughts about what to do with this cab but i havent made up my mind yet. the floors have been repaired and are good enough for a daily driver and the cab mounts well they will need to be done something with in order to remount the cab. they were fixed once. but the guy didnt leave an access hole to get to the bolt. i thought about making it into a super cab with the other cab i have. it has bad floors rockers and front mounts. but i wouldnt have a frame to mount it on that has a title right now. and i have no place to store it until i get the other truck over here with the good title and vin. unless someone here want this cab. please let me know. i need to do something with it soon. i cant keep it where it is for very long. my dad just cant stand to see stuff sitting around his place very long.

[craftsman]

where exactly is this seam? hard to tell from the pictures.
i would like to check mine.
thanks

The top picture is above the mastercylinder, the 2nd pic is on passenger side, and last is on driverside just before it turns down.

[1971ford]

oh ok. i see it now, thanks