Roof rust. Cost?

This sort of rust runs all across the top of my windshield. It has recently started to leak a little, thus the silicone.

I don't have the knowledge or a garage to try to repair this myself. How much $ am I looking at for a body shop to fix it? I don't care about the paint, I will just spray bomb it after.

I'm kind of in an isolated area, not too many shops to choose from. That's why I'm asking before I take it to get an estimate.

 

Is it rusted through roof and leaking or is it getting in around windshield?

 

To fix properly, I'm gonna guess a body shop will want more than the truck is worth.

 

Water drips in at the windshield seal.

 

Yeah, I'd probably pay a few hundred, but any more than that becomes questionable.

 

I've never done any body work, so if this sounds dumb, forgive me.

I wonder if I could take it to a windshield shop, pay them to pull it, then take it home and do some grinding (I do have a carport). Then have someone do some welding on the spots that need it, grind it again, and have the windshield reinstalled.

 

Maybe. Assuming you find enough material to weld/patch to once the glass is out of the way and the windshield bed cleaned up. Removing the glass isn't that hard, as it's encapsulated. They'll likely want to use new gaskets, a good idea on 20 yo vehicle, so ask about that cost.

And all the new metal work, particularly under the glass, will need a good sealing/priming before the glass goes back. Por15 or some other rust encapsulator. I think even www.monstaliner.com sells one. In fact, you might consider refinishing the whole roof with monstaliner when everything is done up.

 

Thanks for the advice, I hadn't considered some of that.