Body restoration help!!

[HeavyMetal72]

Hey guys, need some experienced advice.
I have a 72 K5 tub and it is in decent shape overall, but the windshield frame is needing alot of work. I found another tub that has a good windshield frame and a great floor and dash. Trouble is that the bed sides are trash. Somebody cut huge holes in them for some reason. This is my question: Is it easier to change out a windshield frame or the 2 bed sides. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Oh, whatever I end up doing will be my first attempt at any type of real body work, other than simple dent removal.

 

[sponsoredbydad]

Depends what you mean by a lot of work. Pics would help. Windshield frame is probably a wee bit more critical and or tough. Pics man pics. I've got a post around here on a windshield frame repair/replacement.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239047

 

[Greg72]

I'd take bedsides....

If the windshield frame is that destroyed, the floors up front are bound to be equally bad. That water didn't stop at the windshield posts....it went down into the front cab supports.

The bedsides aren't a piece of cake, but cutting off the perimeter spot welds to remove the outside skin isn't that tough. If you get a set of factory bedsides somewhere, they will be the easiest to fit back on with minimal fuss.

Either way, this is the EXACT reason why getting a decent body at the beginning is worth paying extra for. Rust repair is expensive, and a nice set of bedsides is going to cost you $1000 a set (maybe more). You might get a windshield frame for $200 or so, but the amount of work to get it installed correctly and to fix all the related rust damage will be expensive too...

Think carefully about your costs and abilities before buying any more "fixable" tubs.... it might be smarter to find a really solid tub for a couple grand and avoid all the hassle. You're lucky to live in a nice dry climate, there probably are some good old trucks still around.


ps. My build thread shows both the cab support rust repair and the bedside removal processes if you haven't seen those already.

 

[HeavyMetal72]

Thanks guys, I have seen both of your projects and they are great. I will post some pics asap.