[Bob Carriere]

......at least all 3 boxes that I have are fully welded.

.....and they all rust in the same place......... I found it easier to cut out the entire section ahead and behind the fender well and redo with brand new 16 gauge steel.....also had to replace the head board and redo the tailgate from scratch...... the small stuff we bend ourselves on a finger brake the larger piece get done at the local fabricator than weld it together.......

Both corner section of the floor were also replaced but due to the unique "dot and dash" pattern,which is no longer made, we cannibalized the patch from the worstbox floor we had.

One word of caution.......most of these boxes have been over loaded and stretched during their life time so if you put a straight edge front to back and then sideways you will no doubt find that the centre is higher than the sides, usually more pronounced lenght wise. On the larger patches tack weld first 8 or ten spaced tack then fully weld.... this will minimize warping of the thicker patches.

I had to replace one cross member underneath the one near the fender wheel that was angled...... used 14 guage and but welded the repairs.

Now is a good time to repair the underside and give it a few good spray canssss worth of rubberized rocker panel compound......make sure it is the kind that can be painted with the OD green.

You will have to remove, carefully the small round canvas fastener for reinstaling on the new plates......while at it we made new hooks as well. Old hinges can be salvaged and reused.

I am still working on mine.....currently mounted on a rotisserie....if you need pictures let me know........and good luck.

For the record my box was worst than yours.......

Bob C