CK5
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As far as I'm aware the heater core is original? the wet boots and stuff explains a bit but I'm more just curious how this happens.

Fe + O = Fe2O3 ;)

Just be lucky that's all it is, around here it would be rusted through. It doesn't even take moisture, over time the paint can get wore off under the carpet from stepping on it so many times and bare metal rusts, it's as simply as that. Unless you park it in an environment all the time with zero oxygen, it can happen, its just a matter of time, which our trucks have had a lot of.
 
Both sides of the kick panel on mine where that seam sealer is was rotted on mine. Was a pain in the ass to fit tools in there when I cut out and replaced metal.
 
My 79 ( which has a 84 rust free cab from Texas, install in 1999) was like that a few years ago when I pull the carpet for the first time for bucket seats. I had the same bewilderment on why it rusted. But I didn't dwell on it, just fixed it and moved on.
 
Yeah I'm not to worried about it, it's nothing like the Swiss cheese some of you deal with. Just a opertunity for me to learn something new that I haven't had the chance to mess with.
 
My 79 ( which has a 84 rust free cab from Texas, install in 1999) was like that a few years ago when I pull the carpet for the first time for bucket seats. I had the same bewilderment on why it rusted. But I didn't dwell on it, just fixed it and moved on.
I don't know, sounds like you're still dwelling on it.
 
Looks like I got some small holes. Should I just do small patches or a big one?

View attachment 314961
This area is uneven, if you plan on getting replacement panels make a nice one piece cut and be done.
If you just want to patch it with sheetmetal then make 2 small patches.
Remember though the edge of the hole is really thin and welding to it will be very hard.
You want to cut to where it is thick enough
 
Looks like I got some small holes. Should I just do small patches or a big one?

View attachment 314961
The pitting is bad enough that since you need to fix, you might as well do the whole pitted floor section.
If you didn't have holes I would say just treat it and move on
 
The pitting is bad enough that since you need to fix, you might as well do the whole pitted floor section.
If you didn't have holes I would say just treat it and move on
I agree with that completely.

Based on the pitting and since you are already stuck doing body work, buy a floor pan insert, cuz out to the good metal and sink the whole thing in. Finish it paint and put it back under the carpet. Easy peasy
 
How bad is the pitting to have? I don't really want to half ass it but I also don't want to cut a ton out and half ass put it back together with what limited knowledge I have of body work. I don't want to overlap the panels or anything and seam seal it.
 
Well every pit is a place where the thin sheet metal is reduced by half. No matter what you have to cut out and weld in. Just expand the area and be done. Itll be easier to get a piece that is preshaped and stamped vs cutting small pieces to fit where you need.
 
Well every pit is a place where the thin sheet metal is reduced by half. No matter what you have to cut out and weld in. Just expand the area and be done. Itll be easier to get a piece that is preshaped and stamped vs cutting small pieces to fit where you need.
Exactly.
Your pitting is big and deep and you probably have less than half the thickness of the metal in most of them.
Sometimes pitting is just tiny drops and it is more like texture.
Not this sample you show us here
 
I see what you guys mean. So to get me by for the next few months cause I got plans I'm going to half ass repair it. I need a new patch panel and a rocker to be completely happy. Then I'll cut it all out and repair it correctly.

It's Arizona so a half ass repair can last year's.
 
That would be a step up from what I was going to use.


The area's I have sanded I bought cheap primer and paint that semi matches. The holes I was just going to sillycone metal over it...
Since you will eventually fix it better just rivet a piece over the holes and maybe spray some undercoat.
It's easier to clean than the silicone.
You don't want to weld where silicone has been
 
It doesn't look like the areas you're into are too far into the curves, you may be able to get away w/ 2 small patches as a quick fix until you replace the entire pitted sections.
 

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