Rust Repair

[bigred48]

Has anybody ever patched the area behind the rear doors on a 46-48. Just curious how it was done, That area on my car was just a piece of a screen door covered in body filler. So now that i have it all apart and a piece of the rocker back in! its time to fix this piece too.

I have an idea but i would like some input before I start.

Thanks for looking.

[grey beard]

Red,

This is likely the most difficult way to do what you contemplate, but in my estimation is also the best. If you can find a parts vehicle from which you could cut out the section you need - and I realize the hardest part is finding this - you will have a perfect patch panel to then mig into place. This is what I did on my B1B passengers' side floor. Do all the cutting with a Sawzall or a whiz wheel, so you have nice unwarped edges. Make your patch piece carefully so it fits as well as you can make it fit, then tack it into place and finally weld the perimeter incrementally to avoid warpage.

This sort of repair is far superior to anything you can duplciate with patch panels of any generic variety, and when finished, can be dressed down with a grinder and underciated so as to completely look original - and be just as strong as original.

Now if you can just find a willing donor . . .. . .

[55 Fargo]

Here is my lower 1/4 rust repairs, fabbed the tin, welded it in, bondoed, shaped and primed.............Fred

[Young Ed]

I'll soon have access to my 4dr parts car again but its rather unlikely to be solid in that area. Even my imported from a nice warm climate p15 has some rust in that area.

[bigred48]

It seems like just about everything will rust out in that spot. o well, my idea was to find a piece of fender from a salvage yard that has a similar curve and cut it to fit. hopefully that will work, if not I will try to find a parts car, or I guess it will be time to learn how to shape sheet metal.

Thanks for the help.

[Young Ed]

Andy I've got the bottom chunk of a door that has a curve like that. That help any??

[BobT-47P15]

Hi Red......looks as if your car was maybe blue or grey before it was red.

That is a kind of tricky area you're working on now.....needs some strength.

Are there any sheet metal places in your town who might be able to build

some piece like that.

[bigred48]

looks as if your car was maybe blue or grey before it was red.

.

The car was a blue color, before I'm not sure of the exact title of the color, the previous owner sprayed the whole car in red krylon from k-mart. It is flaking off in lots of places and he missed spots like under the hood and other places too.

Ed, thanks i think that the section of door would cover the area nicely, how long is the piece? both sides of the car have the same problem.

[Young Ed]

I'd have to check to be sure but maybe 18in long. I'll try to check it out in the garage after work. Your car looks really good for spray paint! I'm shocked to hear thats what it was. Are you planning a repaint and if so what color?

[bigred48]

Yes i'm planning to repaint but right now i'm stuck between the original blue or the red. I cant decide o well i still have a lot of time before i need to know.

to paint it red i would only have to do the exterior

But to go blue i would have to to all the window frames and the dash too so it is a considerable amount of work to switch.

[Young Ed]

You could repaint it the convertible only red that is pretty close to what you have now. That would be a decent compromise. I'm strongly considering the convertible only yellow for my coupe. I'm painting my dash and window frames tan so they will match the yellow or the maroon.

[JerseyHarold]

Try Bill's Speed Shop in either Cleveland or Cincinnati (don't have their contact info but should be easy to find). They sell a lot of patch panels and might have them for your car. One manufacturer was 'Schott' and they definitely made rear dog-leg repair panels for at least the 49-52 models because I have them. I wouldn't be surprised if they also made them for earlier applications.

Harold

[hkestes41]

Big Red,

You might try Green Mountain. I know they make the patch panel for the rockers behind the door so it should have roughly the same contour. I have no idea about the quality of their work but it might be a posibility.

Green Mountain Parts

Rt 22A

Orwell, VT 05760

United States

802-948-2086

fax: 802-948-2088