1985 720 RUST

[la_leo]

Ok so I looked at the 720 4x4 I'm buying for 200 bucks again today. The frame is good, surface rust but good. The bed however is pretty terrible. I don't know if I'd better off trying to fab up steel for it or get a new bed. I'd like to keep it original, and it will be a hunting truck so it doesn't have to be beautiful, just structurally sound. Something is puzzling me thought, on the front passenger side wheel well there is some rot and rust. Are these some sort of removable liner or is it part of the fender? I can't really tell without pulling it apart. I'll definitely get into it when I start working on it. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this issue. If you are looking at the truck its the front end of the wheel well, toward the front bumper.

[Rhino13]

Shit if you weren't in Louisiana I would give you a bed I have sitting for 50 bucks, no rust...but I'm in Oregon.

[datzenmike]

The '85 and on 720s had an inner metal liner for the bed. The old ones would show dents from cargo bumping the inside. The pre '85s also has a horizontal bed seam that would rust.

 

Hunting truck??? Make a wooden flat bed. Easy to fix/repair and you don't have to worry about the paint. Carries more too.

[Rhino13]

The '85 and on 720s had an inner metal liner for the bed. The old ones would show dents from cargo bumping the inside. The pre '85s also has a horizontal bed seam that would rust.

 

Hunting truck??? Make a wooden flat bed. Easy to fix/repair and you don't have to worry about the paint. Carries more too.

Don't forget about the 83/84s that had an inner bed wall. My 84 has the bed lip outside and has inner walls.

Here's mine off when I was cleaning behind and repainting it

 

And then painted and back on

[datzenmike]

Thanks, wasn't sure and didn't check.

[la_leo]

Thanks guys. If I happen to go to Oregon I'll get with you lol. I think if I did go to Oregon I'd have to make fun of the protestors ha. I thought about doing a flat bed, maybe as a last resort if it's too much metal work. I'll upload some pictures.

[la_leo]

Any idea about those inner wheel wells??

[Rhino13]

Any idea about those inner wheel wells??

They have a plastic inner well that clips onto the fender itself. If those are missing what you're probably seeing is rust/rot from the battery tray.

[Rhino13]

Oh and you can run without them if they're bugging you. I took mine off because they were rubbing in a spot that wasn't able to be clipped back on.

[la_leo]

Appreciate it! !!! Just borrowed a car hauler today shold pick up the truck next week.