Bubble Rust / Windshield Leak

[jaymar]

Have some bubble rust where roof meets windshield, and on A pillar. Get a drip-drip leak inside under the first when it rains hard. Want to be prepared for the worst. If the windshield comes out and it's not a gasket-seal problem but a missing-metal problem--how do I fix that in a way that will last the life of the truck? Some kind of welding/grinding/sanding job?

 

[musthave]

Have some bubble rust where roof meets windshield, and on A pillar. Get a drip-drip leak inside under the first when it rains hard. Want to be prepared for the worst. If the windshield comes out and it's not a gasket-seal problem but a missing-metal problem--how do I fix that in a way that will last the life of the truck? Some kind of welding/grinding/sanding job?

IMHO, take it out. If missing metal due to rust, get a good section from a parts yard, weld it in correctly. Then install windshield properly.

If you don’t weld really great I would bring it to a welding “craftsman” who does. Welding and welding great CAN be two different things.

Properly fixed it shouldn’t be a problem again for a long time. YMMV

 

[jaymar]

IMHO, take it out. If missing metal due to rust, get a good section from a parts yard, weld it in correctly. Then install windshield properly.

If you don’t weld really great I would bring it to a welding “craftsman” who does. Welding and welding great CAN be two different things.

Properly fixed it shouldn’t be a problem again for a long time. YMMV

You know, I hadn't even thought of that. Kind of sounds like a forever fix to me. (Why would it be a problem again?)

I don't weld at all. I hope finding a "craftsman" welder is easier than finding a great body shop. (Even in L.A., that's almost impossible--and when you do, they're backed up.)

Also--I've never tried it so I don't know--are you saying boneyards will let you saw up the body? I wonder how they determine a charge for that...

 

[musthave]

You know, I hadn't even thought of that. Kind of sounds like a forever fix to me. (Why would it be a problem again?)

I don't weld at all. I hope finding a "craftsman" welder is easier than finding a great body shop. (Even in L.A., that's almost impossible--and when you do, they're backed up.)

Also--I've never tried it so I don't know--are you saying boneyards will let you saw up the body? I wonder how they determine a charge for that...

When you find a great welder, compensate them above and beyond. Then get their number and never lose contact.

There plenty of parts guys here that part out anything you need. I prefer Chris in Dublin, GA, @slow95z

 

[COYS]

You know, I hadn't even thought of that. Kind of sounds like a forever fix to me. (Why would it be a problem again?)

I don't weld at all. I hope finding a "craftsman" welder is easier than finding a great body shop. (Even in L.A., that's almost impossible--and when you do, they're backed up.)

Also--I've never tried it so I don't know--are you saying boneyards will let you saw up the body? I wonder how they determine a charge for that...

C&C Collision in Alhambra is a great shop run by two dudes who've been in the biz a long time. Ask for Rett. He worked on getting rid of rear spoiler rust on mine and did a fantastic job.

And people in the know question any claim of an 80 being rust free if it's ever had its original factory installed windshield replaced. You just never really know until you know.

Good luck with the remedial work!