wheel well rust fix

[ZapMan]

My son is buying his first truck, the wheel wells are rusted thru on both sides. Does anybody have any idea how much $$ bodywork would be to fix both sides?

Thanks

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

Probably too much. I had this happen on my 1st truck and had the rust fixed "professionally". It was back in about 3 years. I wouldn't waste the time or MONEY.

[Macgyver55]

Most body shops don't want anything to do with rust.

Have you considered wheel well flares to cover the rust, or is it too extensive?

[ZapMan]

Have considered flares $400-$500, and most don't fit s-10. Its more than rust, its rust through/holes.

[BartmanMN]

Flares from e b a y worked for me on my old truck, but his sound much worse than mine were.

[delcecchi]

If it was me, I would do what I did to my 76 Merc wagon. Go to fleet farm and buy some fiberglass cloth and some resin. Apply to area. If he is picky about appearance, cover with some bondo, sand down and paint. I just left the glass.

That car was a real rust bucket, but the glass kept the spare in, the bottom of the well for the third seat intact, and the exhaust from coming in the holes in the quarter panel.

[polarsusd81]

Look on the list that rhymes with greg. You could probably find a used box that doesn't have rust. I just got rid of a 2000 S-10 that was clean. That truck was a definite testament to ziebart type rust-proofing products. It was treated several times early in its life. 14 years of MN winters and not a spec of rust.

Anyway, take a look at the list and see if you can find one. I am guessing second gen so any box (same length of course) from 94-03 will fit. I have a spare 2.2 motor sitting in the garage along with a spare grille for 98+ and various other parts.

Is the truck 2wd or 4wd? There is an S10 forum out there that has a ton of information on those trucks. I highly recommend it. Just don't look in the LSX topics or you will be drooling over engine swaps. I still want to build one.

[Surface Tension]

No one mentioned camo paint job?

[overdalimit]

Zapman to answer your question $800.00 per side to install over the arch patches and paint. Like other poster said I would expect to see the rust returning around the perimeter of where the patches were put in within 3-5 years as the rust continues to spread. Although we use por 15 on the inside of the existing panel to try and slow the rust down and paint the patches on the back side, seems like once it starts there is no stopping it...just slowing it down.

[ZapMan]

Well we bought fender flares, not a lot out there for s-10. Found some for $325.

But first had to get ride of some of the crumbly rust.

[ZapMan]

Next I bought some repair panels to rebuild the existing wheel wells, nothing left to screw the flares to. I used a auto body glue and a few screws.

[ZapMan]

I also cut out the panel in the third door, was rusted all the way thru. I bought this panel as well as the replacement piece for the inside.

[ZapMan]

I glued and screwed this together. It left a slight gap at the top of the replacement panel. I have some auto body caulking to seal this up before final paint.

[ZapMan]

Did the same thing on the passenger side.

[ZapMan]

Taped off area and primed 4 coats while sanding I between.

[ZapMan]

Letting the paint dry farther back on the truck, we installed the front fender flares. We are leaving them black.

[ZapMan]

There was

a huge hole in the pass side.

[ZapMan]

That's it for now, I'll post more as we get farther. We have the rear fender flares to install as well as caulking the gap in the panels. Also final paint.

[Scott K]

Looking good!

[ZapMan]

Sealed the gap on both sides, first coat of paint.

[ZapMan]

Painting of fixed rust spots complete.

Fender flares all mounted.

[ZapMan]

After all that, we decided to fix the rust hole in the bumper. Once we had it pulled off, we decided that a new bumper was he only way to fix that big of a rust hole.

It's on order now.

[ZapMan]

Got the new bumper all painted up and installed.

[ZapMan]

I consider this project finished!

[RebelSS]

Excellent job!!! That looks great!!!