95 silverado with rust

[hickory]

Hi I just joined yesterday.I have a 1995 k1500 step side with a 6 inch lift and 35x12.50 tires on 10 inch rims.I have had this truck for two years and done alot of work on it now it is time to fix the body.The doors have bubbling rust at the bottom that I want to fix.I called the chevy dealer and they want 750.00 per door shell which is more than i can afford.And most of the after market ones from what I heard dont fit well.And the junkyard ones around here are rusted worse than mine.Does anyone have any suggestions?Sorry for the long read.Thanks!

[leolkfrm]

welcome to the forum
Try a southern junk yard

[bradrhale]

welcome to the forum hickory. where abouts do you live??

[hickory]

I live in Massachusetts.

[bradrhale]

well, so much for that. on both fronts. keep an eye on these insurance auctions where trucks have been totaled out. you might get lucky and find a donor for next to nothing with a decent doors.

[og25]

Hey hickory welcome to the forum! Lmc trucks has door shells for 200 apiece I can't speak for there quality, maybe someone else has experience with them. Or you could try craigslist there is a guy here in Michigan that brings truck part up from Texas and has an ad on craigslist. Maybe there is someone that does the same near you!

[hotrodpc]

Welcome Hick, well Hickory I mean. I guess it wouldn't be polite to abbreviate that name. Although it fits a few of the members on here. Wow, so its a common thing for 95 models to rust too? I had always thought the days of rusted vehicles would be over after the 80's with corrosion protection and clear coat. Apparently not. I don't know that I can say I have seen a 90's model around here rusted. I am in OKC, OK. Do you have any buddies in the Southern US? Might be cheaper to have someone find you some doors and either have them freighted or go on vacation and see your buddy to pick them up.

[hickory]

I want to thank you guys for welcoming me to the forum and your ideas there is alot of good info on this site!

[gmctrucks]

Welcome and Howdy from TEXAS. Try buying some doors from Arizona 100% RUST FREE the s/h will be cheaper than just the door skins that your looking at. Do a search on junk yards in Arizona.

[lukasmcdukas]

new doors are a great idea, but a grinder, wire wheel, a can of rustoleum and a can of bondo will get you in good shape, too. grind the rusty spots right down to bare metal and make sure you get ALL the visible rust. wipe it clean with some acetone, and let it dry for a few minutes. paint the @#$% out of it with the rustoleum and let it dry COMPLETELY. sand lightly with 600 grit paper, just enough to make it a hazy-gray, and paint the @#$% out of it again. repeat 2-3 times until you've built up a good thick coat. sand again, and bondo over any holes/grinder marks using very thin coats, sanding between applications. once you get everything smooth, paint the @#$% out of it again, sand one more time with 1000+ grit, and paint over it with your finish color. let it cure for a few days (preferably in a heated garage) and then wax it with several coats of turtle wax or similar. it'll look fantastic and the cost will be FAR less than the cost of 1 new door (assuming you have the painting equip available). this is the process i used when i painted my ranger (see photo album in my profile) and she looks fantastic. if you do it right, it'll be years before another rust spot shows up.