2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Duramax – Body & Paint Restoration

Early 2000s GM Truck – Full Rust Repair & Body Restoration This early-2000s GM truck (Silverado/Sierra) arrived at HD Industries in Bear River suffering from classic Maritime corrosion: completely rotted inner and outer rockers, blown-out cab corners, failing rear wheel arches, and clear coat peeling across the roof and hood. The frame showed surface rust but was solid underneath. The owner wanted a pure body-and-paint revival – no mechanical work – to bring it back to factory-fresh while making it far more durable than new.

Scope of Work: Corrosion Repair The rust was extensive and typical for these GM trucks. We performed a complete surgical removal:

• Inner and outer rockers cut out and replaced

• Cab corners fully removed and rebuilt

• Rear wheel arches sectioned and renewed

All new metal was hand-fabricated where needed, welded in with clean seams, seam-sealed, and corrosion-proofed inside and out – built to survive Nova Scotia salt far better than factory.

Frame Restoration To do the job right, we removed the box for full access:

• Frame de-scaled back to bare, solid metal

• Treated with rust converter where required

• Refinished in high-durability chassis paint for long-term protection

Paint & Refinishing After thorough teardown and prep:

• Entire body coated in 2K epoxy primer for maximum adhesion and rust blocking

• Factory white base coat applied

• Finished with high-solids clear coat for depth, UV protection, and lasting shine

The truck left looking exactly as it did from the dealership – but with corrosion resistance GM never engineered in.

Upgrades & Finishing Touches

• Installed updated tow mirrors

• New headlight assemblies for brighter, modern lighting

• Stainless steel rocker and wheel arch accent trim package for protection and style

Interior The cab interior was already in excellent, factory-clean condition – no repairs or upgrades needed.

Cause of Damage Pure rust from years of Maritime winters and road salt – no collision history, just typical early-2000s GM corrosion in the usual trouble spots.

Final Result A clean, straightforward metal-and-paint revival that transformed a tired, rust-eaten work truck into something that looks brand new and is structurally stronger than original. The renewed frame, fully replaced lower body metal, and professional paint job make this GM ready for many more years of reliable service.

Scroll through the before-and-after gallery below to see the full transformation: rotted rockers and cab corners exposed, new metal welded in, frame restoration, priming, paint, and final factory-fresh shots.

At HD Industries in Bear River, we specialize in GM truck rust repair, cab corner and rocker replacement, frame restoration, and full body repaints – saving classics and daily drivers from the scrap heap. Serving Bear River, Digby, Annapolis Royal, Yarmouth, Bridgetown, Middleton, and the entire South Shore.

Got a rusted GM truck, Chevy, GMC, or similar that needs rockers, cab corners, or a complete body revival? Message or call – we make them last.