Gotcha, but that simply just isn't right. Some trucks are so far gone that even for free they will end up costing thousands more to get right than if you had just ponied up for a clean one in the first place.
For example - lets say you spend $8k on a clean 80 in nice shape. Then spend another...
You're still missing the point. You can never get a good deal on a bad car. This one is too beat with too much rust to come back from. Either sell it and get out from under it like I said and start entirely with another or like @1973Guppie said, put the absolute minimum $$ into and just have fun...
Since you're looking for opinions, sell that heap. Just because its cheap doesn't mean its a "deal." Those words are not interchangeable. I would not put the kind of money you are talking about into a truck like this, just not worth it. If the rocker is that rusted out, I'm sure the...