Patch panels for bed rust?

While I was lifting my DC today I noticed that there are a couple decent sized holes in my bed. I was going to rip out the liner to have it Linex’d but now I need to fix the rust first lol.

Does anyone make replacement metal or patch panels for the bed? Seems like it’s at the corners mostly. Might need to fix a brace under one of the corners.

 

Bump. Anyone have a suggestion short of pulling the bed off? It’s just a couple smaller holes kinda in the corners.

 

Seems like the best fix I've seen is to cut out the rusted portion, clean up the rib underneath and weld in a patch from the top side. Grind your welds, prime and have your liner sprayed. That's the short version. There's a thread here somewhere about fixing it that's more detailed.

 

Yeah I figured that. Was just trying to see where I could buy those patch panels.

I have a welder and all of that. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve made mods to the body of a vehicle lol. I currently have a 93 Mazda RX7 with an LS1 from a Vette in it.

 

I'm not sure if there are actual patch panels or not. From what I remember reading, I think guys were just cutting a piece of sheet metal to fit and welding it in.

 

Yeah unfortunately for our Toyotas there aren't a lot (or any, really) of aftermarket patch panels like you would see in an LMC catalog for a 71 Chevy c10 or what have you.

 

This was during surgery. RX7 is still “under surgery, although the motor is all mounted, rear end all mounted, etc. LS1 used to be in the Nissan 240sx on the left, went into the FD on the right. Foreground was my Rubicob Wrangler that I built.

Ford 8.8 rear end. Had to custom make the bracket to hold the front of that in. Fun times lol.

 

Nice job bet that will be a wild ride.

 

The 240sx was a freaking blast haha. One of the more raw cars I’ve owned. Had 275 Mickey Thompson ET Streets (drag radial) and I could still kick the rear end out. Soooo much fun haha.

 

What did the LS1 come out of?

 

99 C5 Vette. Gen 3. Has LS6 intake manifold, cold air intake, Texas Speed Torquer v.3 cam and valve spring kit. Had 1 3/4” headers on the 240, will go with 1 7/8” on the RX7 because I may do a D1SC blower, we’ll see.

 

Nice! I have a LS1 in a WS6 Trans Am and an HO LY6 in my ski boat.

 

Haha I bet that boat is fun!

 

Hey, I’m curious if you ever found any patch panels? I just had a body shop guy look at my 2008 DC and that was his first question! Mine is rusted bad enough that it is moving up the side and there would be no way to repair without hours of fabrication. I’m afraid I’m going to have to find a used bed!!

Mike

 

Sadly, I have not. Haven’t looked too much to be honest. My rust is all on the horizontal portion of the bed, but I’d like to kill it before it gets bad.

 

Thanks! I just posted a plea for help!