Thread: Panel beater question

So back from our month long trip down the West coast with a roof rack on top, and getting ready to take it off I can see a vague line of rust starting to emerge down the inside of one roof gutter. I look underneath and there's two little spots that are also showing the dreaded orange colour. Then I also spy a bit of a rust line showing up on the driver A pillar, pushing a long thin bead of sealant off. The sealant looks to be OEM stuff, as I have chased it until its starting to lift original paint down to clean steel.

Its a 1997 Nissan patrol, engine just run in at 540,000km.

I have also spotted a similar age body that I have had a decent check out of, and appears to have little, if no rust in it. Can get it for a modest amount of $$.

Question: Whats the ins and outs of doing a donor roof swap? Stupidly expensive or only modestly so?? I know its doesn't take much for the $$ to mount up, as everyone seems to be charging $100/hr minimum.

Or do I just chase the existing rust out myself for small coin, keep it on the road for another 5 years and wait for the rust monster to become unwarrantable??

Any practical thoughts would be useful.

And no, I will not be looking at buying anything new to replace it. Have never paid more than 15K for any vehicle I have ever owned.

Cheers in advance,

XR500