Got it - 1973 Series III RHD

[lstrvr]

Don't go thinking your truck is a piece of garbage because of a couple of holes in it! I work on Boeing 737 NG's for a living, and you'd be surprised to see some of the massive corrosion issues we come across on these multi-million dollar aircraft that are just a few years old! Rivet on a patch with some sealer on it and forget about it! If that repair is good enough for Boeing its good enough for us!

[NickDawson]

Don't go thinking your truck is a piece of garbage because of a couple of holes in it! I work on Boeing 737 NG's for a living, and you'd be surprised to see some of the massive corrosion issues we come across on these multi-million dollar aircraft that are just a few years old! Rivet on a patch with some sealer on it and forget about it! If that repair is good enough for Boeing its good enough for us!

Lstrvr - believe it or not, that helps a lot! Thanks for sharing.

After driving it for 3 days, including to work today, I'm smitten. I got in my daily driver tonight and it felt to strange...

Your post reminds me - when I was driving back from MD the first thought I had is how much it reminded me of learning to fly in a Cessna 152. They are solid, and safe but its pretty normal for the doors to fly open during take off and landing, they are a beast to keep trim and level...but they'll run for years.

[gudjeon]

Holes in the floor may come in handy. You may need them to drain away the water when you hose it out.

[thixon]

Nick,

Looks like you done good! Nice looking truck. You scored with the hoop set and soft top.

The holes in the bed are common, and caused (most often) by galvanic corrosion due to the steel support underneath, as stated by many earlier. Climb under the truck and you'll see what I mean.

I just bought a sheet of aluminum, and some other items to replace my bed floor. I'll take a bunch of photos, and do sort of a how to on it and post. Hopefully I'll get around to it on Saturday.

If you want to do a quick fix, you can rivet something down over the top of it. I've seen people use everything from diamond plate to plywood.

[NickDawson]

I just bought a sheet of aluminum, and some other items to replace my bed floor. I'll take a bunch of photos, and do sort of a how to on it and post. Hopefully I'll get around to it on Saturday.

If you want to do a quick fix, you can rivet something down over the top of it. I've seen people use everything from diamond plate to plywood.

Thixon - thanks! I'm thinking about cutting it out and just putting some diamond plate down in its place. Anything tricky about that?

[49coe]

Thixon - thanks! I'm thinking about cutting it out and just putting some diamond plate down in its place. Anything tricky about that?

Actually this is one of those rare instances that the quick and easy fix is better than cutting out and replacing. The sheet of aluminum that presently makes up the floor has a bunch of channels spot welded on the underside that make it much stronger than just a plain sheet alone. Unless you are going to go to the extent of having some stiffening channels welded to the piece of diamond plate, just riveting or glueing a sheet of diamond plate on top of the existing floor is imho a better fix. If you want to get a little more involved, cut out just the top sheet of floor in the affected areas, clean out and dump a bunch of POR 15 on the steel supports underneath, and use some seam sealer around the hole when you put the diamond plate on top.

[daveb]

jeez that is a lot of work for no real improvement. just throw down a thick rubber mat.

Actually this is one of those rare instances that the quick and easy fix is better than cutting out and replacing. The sheet of aluminum that presently makes up the floor has a bunch of channels spot welded on the underside that make it much stronger than just a plain sheet alone. Unless you are going to go to the extent of having some stiffening channels welded to the piece of diamond plate, just riveting or glueing a sheet of diamond plate on top of the existing floor is imho a better fix. If you want to get a little more involved, cut out just the top sheet of floor in the affected areas, clean out and dump a bunch of POR 15 on the steel supports underneath, and use some seam sealer around the hole when you put the diamond plate on top.

[greenmeanie]

A lot of work but if you want to do it right here's Mercedes Jim's thread.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8169&page=30

[NickDawson]

its sounding like glued/bolted diamond plating on top of existing floor is a viable option?
If thats the case, I'm up for keeping it easy

[SeriesShorty]

Congrats Nick!

Unless you are ready to do a full resto now, I'd just patch the floor and throw down some stall mat from a farm/feed store. Not only does it make it much softer back there when crawling around, it's easier on the dogs if you have critters driving around with you, and it helps with some of the road noise and reduces shifting and sliding of any gear, groceries, etc you haul back there. I got a 4x6 mat for under $50 which was enough for the rear floor and plenty to cut down for the front floorboards.

Enjoy your new truck!!!

[thixon]

Nick,

I probably should have been a little more explanitory when I wrote my first post. My intention in posting the how-to will be to show you what youre in for if you ever decide to restore the bed of the truck. It will involve removing the existing floor, removing cleaning and painting the steel stiffeners (yes everyone, I know galv would be better), and making a new floor from the alum sheet. This requires the use of some items that aren't original, but originality on a rover is not a priority for me personally. When I approach a project like this, I like to share how I did it to help others, and get feedback from those who are better at metal working than myself.

In your case, you need to enjoy driving the truck for a while. Do whatever works for you, and makes you happy. Rivet down some aluminum or diamond plate, lay down a sheet of plywood, or just bondo up the holes and put some horse stall mat over it. If you want, just leave them alone, and put the mat over it. Nothing terrible is going to happen overnight, or anytime in the near future if you choose to ignore it for a while. Just have fun driving the truck.

[galen216]

put some horse stall mat over it.

Tractor Supply sells a nice thick mat for about $40. I used it in the back of my truck and it was a perfect fit width wise, just had to cut it for length.

[daveb]

Thanks. I know how to do it right because i did it when I rebuilt my first 88 back in 96. And I've done others since. Meanwhile the rear bed on my 109 has these holes and also some drilled holes from a tow crane that used to be in there many owners ago. The tub is so beat and dented it isn't worth fixing. The ribbed rubber mat covers everything and I have yet to see a single drop of moisture come around the mat, or have anything fall through the holes. and It has carried engines, transmissions, compelte rear axles, gear, dogs, drunks, laborers, trash, and the contents of several houses and apartments through all kinds of weahter and all kinds of roads and trails. So I guess what I'm saying is that from my actual experience it is not worth the trouble until you go through and replace everything like I did 13 years ago and like Jim and many others have also done.

Anyway, Nick...truck looks good. Drive and enjoy it. Don't do anything drastic. It will tell you what it really needs as you get to know it...and don't fix what ain't broke...you'll be busy enough fixing what is...

A lot of work but if you want to do it right here's Mercedes Jim's thread.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...t=8169&page=30

[adkrover]

Glad to hear you finally got a truck. Looks like a nice solid platform. Not sure myself if the frame is fully galvanized but I have never seen it (duh) and it will no doubt suit the truck just fine.I think you should definitely consider the holes in the floor a bonus and enjoy driving the truck for the rest of the summer. Then.......pull it into the garage and tear the whole thing apart. It's more fun (but more $ upfront) to do it all at once instead of one piece at a time wherever fate may chose. Welcome.

[NickDawson]

hey guys
I have a few qestions about the soft top...

What happens around the doors? I have this flap pulled over the inside stick and tied back, but what about the flap on the ourside, what keeps it flush?