Rusted frame? Next step?

Look over EVERYTHING else very well. I bought a truck in similar condition and every time I unbolt something I cuss myself. You have to be careful when and where you work on it because you can't be sure it's going to go back together without needing a trip or two to the parts house.

As someone else mentioned pay close attention to the wiring.

 

I would walk away... So many issues that could be there, and probably are. Unless you are stealing the truck and are good running electrical and welding. I can only imagine what it looks like behind and under everything attached to that frame. But that is just me. That is much more than just normal surface rust, that is stage four cancer.

 

Now that I've thought about it a little bit unless you're willing to replace the frame rails if you need to it's probably better to walk away unless you buy the truck for very little money.

If you're experienced at doing those kinds of repairs or you get the truck for price that you can send it to a shop to do it then that's okay but for that situation I think you need to be prepared for the worst because that frame is pretty Rusty.

Even if you sandblasted and painted it, if the frame is too thin it's going to be weak and eventually will break if not sooner than later.

 

What year is it out of curiosity?
My frame alot worse than that I think. That rearend housing looks pretty bad. I just put rear housing in mine cause it rusted through in 3 spots, 1 under the oil line.
I needle scaled and wire wheeled it this last week and put a coat of KBS Coating on it. I know it will run another 5 years if I care for it. Mine is from sleeper back and if worse comes to worst I will cut it off and weld a newer one on is my plan.

 

Hmmm thank you for all your replies, I'm gonna drive it to a body shop... and see what they say also

 

Good luck with that. I was barely able to find a shop to paint a whole truck. Couldn't find anyone to do the frame.

 

They can be pretty deceiving when they look like that. A lot of times when you knock all that stuff off its not as bad as it looked. I took a chance on mine, it looked the same from the bunk back and almost 5 years later its still going. From the back of the sleeper forward it looks like new. Its a gamble no matter how you look at it.

 

Thats the way mine is, from bunk back, bunk forward almost all factory paint in good shape. that's why when the time comes I will cut the frame somewhere at the bunk and weld a newer cut off on with newer suspension. I have the pete spring air and it rides good but not as good as low leaf.

 

Mine was the same. Rear cab mounts forward were about as mint as you could get for a 40 year old truck. From cab back was rough.

 

Nobody noticed the rubber bushings are dead and gone?