Are these holes supposed to be here?

[kf7mjf]

So trying to figure out if these holes are supposed to be in the of the bed of my 67 F100, or if somebody added them? There are similar ones around each stake socket, so I'm thinking maybe?

[PhantomoftheBumpside]

Nope. Those are where someone attached a camper shell using bolts through the bed rails instead of clamps.

[kf7mjf]

Ah fun. I suppose it will be more trouble than it's worth to have them filled in too? Thanks for the info.

[PhantomoftheBumpside]

Easy as pie. IF you can weld. Just clean 'em up and coat them with some good primer just like the rest of the rust spots you're probably going to be attacking. You can weld them up or get someone to weld them up for you later.

There IS someone on here, somewhat closer to you than I am, that has a nice welder, perhaps you can work out something with him...

[kf7mjf]

No can weld. Right now, my money, time and other stuff says treat this truck as a preservation project rather than a restoration project. To that end, I'm going to be grinding out the cancer and filling it in with bondo, and starting one of those roll on rustoleum paint jobs I've read so much about, after removing and cleaning the trim. The goal is to keep the truck from getting any worse until I can either do proper restoration, or decide to sell it to a collector.

[PhantomoftheBumpside]

Bondo is a pain. Grinding it out later to weld is time, and time is money... even more annoying when it's used to fill holes and the backside isn't coated, allowing it to suck in and trap moisture for even more hidden rust later.

Let's see if we can find a way to get those holes welded for you if you don't want to leave them open and coated till later.

[kf7mjf]

Should I just grind and coat the holes and cancer then until I can get them welded up?

[PhantomoftheBumpside]

Yes. You'll save your own time and money if you end up keeping it, and any potential buyer with sense would appreciate the more honest condition, knowing that it will cost less to fix without all those otherwise unknown holes hidden, waiting to add unknown hours to the prep time.

[kf7mjf]

Ahh cool, good to know, thanks.