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**lks dcvn** · 09-24-2020, 09:26 AM

Lots to check for if you are looking at the truck 'in person' - as I don't normally have that luxury and have bought trucks from across the country:

Working front to back:

lower front fender cups - these rust out at the lowest part
front frame horns - check to see if the bolt holes/horns tweaked as these rigs have a tendency of being beat up a bit
battery tray area - under this the acid rots the core support
inner front fenders - these rust out around the holes and where it bolts to the core support
firewall - check near the heater/AC box - as these can rust out from moisture/junk in the cowl
windshield frame outside/inside - they DO NOT make replacement windshield frames so this area is critical
kick panels/lower A-pillar/front floor - check for weak metal or signs of patching
inner/outer floor area - including exterior rocker
torsion box (area under door jam) - this is a key structural area of the truck
B-pillar - this is the most prone to rust as you have 7 parts that come together here.
Lower bedside - Just behind the door on both sides is where the rust will show on the body - this is a pain and $$$ to fix correctly
cargo floor - rust near the rear wheel tubs and floor or inner bedside - also near where the floor and tailgate meet (due to poorly sealing hatch)
rear splash shields - found behind the rear tires- these take a beating from water/dirt/rocks/etc.
tailgate - bottom where it meets cargo floor
hatch - check to see if it opens and can lock/hold itself up
hatch - check to see if it can close/latch and not rattle
top - check for large cracks, holes, chipped material - these trucks are not water tight - so keep that in mind if you are storing it outside

Good luck - I've learned a LOT by looking at the build threads in the Blazer section - if you want to see where rust can hide - feel free to review a prior build post of mine here from a few years ago.

You can easily overpay for a rusty truck if you don't know where to look and then get it home to make 'quick fixes' and find surprises (that usually are the tip of the iceberg).

09-24-2020, 09:26 AM	#5
lks dcvn Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 4,338	Re: Going to look at a Jimmy Lots to check for if you are looking at the truck 'in person' - as I don't normally have that luxury and have bought trucks from across the country: Working front to back: lower front fender cups - these rust out at the lowest part front frame horns - check to see if the bolt holes/horns tweaked as these rigs have a tendency of being beat up a bit battery tray area - under this the acid rots the core support inner front fenders - these rust out around the holes and where it bolts to the core support firewall - check near the heater/AC box - as these can rust out from moisture/junk in the cowl windshield frame outside/inside - they DO NOT make replacement windshield frames so this area is critical kick panels/lower A-pillar/front floor - check for weak metal or signs of patching inner/outer floor area - including exterior rocker torsion box (area under door jam) - this is a key structural area of the truck B-pillar - this is the most prone to rust as you have 7 parts that come together here. Lower bedside - Just behind the door on both sides is where the rust will show on the body - this is a pain and $$$ to fix correctly cargo floor - rust near the rear wheel tubs and floor or inner bedside - also near where the floor and tailgate meet (due to poorly sealing hatch) rear splash shields - found behind the rear tires- these take a beating from water/dirt/rocks/etc. tailgate - bottom where it meets cargo floor hatch - check to see if it opens and can lock/hold itself up hatch - check to see if it can close/latch and not rattle top - check for large cracks, holes, chipped material - these trucks are not water tight - so keep that in mind if you are storing it outside Good luck - I've learned a LOT by looking at the build threads in the Blazer section - if you want to see where rust can hide - feel free to review a prior build post of mine here from a few years ago. You can easily overpay for a rusty truck if you don't know where to look and then get it home to make 'quick fixes' and find surprises (that usually are the tip of the iceberg).