Watch for Rust in Cab Roof/Windshield Area

[JTCHess]

I'm having some preventative rust repair work done to my 93 D350 (72,000 miles). Truck overall is in mint rust free condition however, when the body shop removed the windshield to redo the cab roof and hood, they found that the rubber winshield gasket was hiding some rust holes just under the front rain gutter. I attribute this to the Lund sun visor that the original owner had installed on the truck contibuting to possible leakage. Area has been treated with POR 15 on the inside and with a rust "converter" treatment on the exposed exterior area.

I removed the sin visor and am having the holes welded over. With two daughters in college I didn't have the money to have the entire truck painted. Maybe in another couple of years



John

 

[JLEONARD]

I've been watching the rust on my roof for a couple of years now. I'm cultivating a pretty nice crop I might add.



Truck never had a visor... it happens naturally. :-laf

Jay

 

[BHiggins]

I've had two fist gens, one had a visor the other doesn't. Both had the rust you describe so I agree with Jay, it's not because of the visor.

 

[SGibson]

I have noticed it more on trucks w/roof lights.

 

[tugboatphil]

John,



I'm thinking of taking my roof visor off this spring. Did you have to remove the headliner?

 

[91W350]

I want to have mine sprayed with bedliner. From the windshield rubber up and down the back of the cab to the seam. I even priced having the inside done to replace the headliner. Has anybody done that yet that we know of? Glen

 

[BHiggins]

I don't think there's any rhyme or reason to the "roof rust", I think it just happens. My '90 had a visor, but no roof lights. My '92 has roof lights, but no visor. Both had the "roof rust".

 

[Greenleaf]

My 92 is rusting badly in this same are. I replaced the rockers, but to replace the cab roof would be outta my hands. When I had ( a portion) of the truck pained the body shop said they can cut the roof off and weld on a new one. I think it would be cheaper to buy a used 97 3500.

 

[Niki]

I've had 4 first gens, one had peeling paint on the front of the roof/drip rail, 2 have had significant rust on the drip rail/roof, and one was completely rotten, you could stick your foot in the hole in the roof above the drip rail/windshield. 2 of my trucks I bought from the same landscaping company and they said they had a whole bunch of drip rails replaced under warranty(less than 5 yrs old) because they rusted out. I bet if you ground the rail completely off and welded the roof up it would be better than having a drip rail holding water...

 

[91W350]

I bet if you ground the rail completely off and welded the roof up it would be better than having a drip rail holding water...

More streamlined, better fuel economy... ... :-laf Glen