1953 door cancer??

[Byrne66]

On my earlier post I showed the pix of the all original 53 I just purchased. The only problem I have found is both doors on the lower inside have rusted pretty bad.

Can this be fixed or should I just replace the doors completely?? You can see it in the second picture.

Any advice?

[57ToyBox]

DON"T GIVE UP ON HER MAN !!! It's only door cancer It's curable.!!!
Thankfully it's not floor cancer or cancer of the frame rails. Many vehicles have died an untimely death from floor cancer and frame rail cancer...

[Byrne66]

Yeah, I'm hoping to fix it and keep the whole truck original just hoping to find someone else that has dealt with this before....

The good thing is only that bottom edge is bad the rest of the door is solid and only on the inside not the outer skin of the door...

[code4]

take that trim piece out, wire brush it & see if it is even rusted through. It it is get out the welder & patch it up. Thats not bad at all IMO.

[BigSix302]

They make a patch panel for those door bottms that you can weld in or I have heard of some guys using an automotive glue for some body panels that they swear by. I would try to save them if the outside of the door is in good shape.

[OrrieG]

Looks like a relatively easy fix, pull off that WS trim and start poking with a screw driver to see how bad it is. If the outer skin is ok then that is an easy shape to make and weld back in. There have been guys here that had to do the bottom 6" inside and out and they turned out fine.

[Byrne66]

Originally Posted by BigSix302

They make a patch panel for those door bottms that you can weld in or I have heard of some guys using an automotive glue for some body panels that they swear by. I would try to save them if the outside of the door is in good shape.

Thanks for the info.. i did some research last night and you are dead on they make this bottom corner that can be welded on! thx

[mylow53]

i put that patch panel on mine not that hard to swap. but make sure your doors are fitted first my drivers door is still a bit off at the beltline and at the bottom.... easy fix! if your close bring the door and the patch by and ill help you!
GT

[Byrne66]

Originally Posted by mylow53

i put that patch panel on mine not that hard to swap. but make sure your doors are fitted first my drivers door is still a bit off at the beltline and at the bottom.... easy fix! if your close bring the door and the patch by and ill help you!
GT

Thanks for the offer Greg, unfortunately i'm up in the bay area. I have a buddy that's welds for a living he's going to come over and check it out for me.

[mrchevy1950]

I have the same problem and I am in the bay area(San Jose) who did your work for you and where did you find the patches?

[Thadious]

Just did both of my doors, inside and out on each... not a big swap, just do one panel at a time. Picked up my repops from Classic Parts of America, pretty cheap, good quality and fit perfectly... easy to do... just go slow and keep it cool, especially on the outside, they like to curl inwards with heat.

Good luck,
Ted.

[Byrne66]

thanks Thadious I just picked up the insides from Classic as well. The rest of mine are in good shape just that lower inside needs to be replaced. By the way did you wire weld or braze?

[Thadious]

I MIG'd mine in... was a slow process, but less heat imo... still ended up with a little bit of puckering inwards doing it... nothing that a quick skimcoat won't fix. You may find it hard to replace just the inside since the outside skin is folded over it.

Cheers,
Ted.