Well, I finally got tired of having the back seats out and carpet pulled up so I could contain a water leak I've had in the hatch area. The holes are all the way through to the outside. The guy said it is likely due to sea salt/humidity build up from this originally being a Florida car. The picture is a close up, the holes are actually only about 1 1/2 to 2" across. When it rains, water just pours through the holes and puddle in my back seat floor pans. The crazy thing about this car is that these are the only bad rust spots I've found...the floor pans look brand new!

Anyway, the guy quoted me $1,500 to do it "the right way" with a 10-year warranty, or $750 to grind it, fill it, and prime/paint it. I am going to go the cheaper route because I'm not dropping that kind of money for these little holes right now. I have some POR-15 RESTOgrip body filler and Straightline Filler I want him to use. Anyone used this stuff?? What do you think of the estimates?

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=270378

 

so what was "the right way"? weld in new piece of metal?

 

Cut it out then weld in new metal is the right way and prime the back of the new panel. Might even be a hole u can shoot some primer up in after you weld.

 

$1500!!! Yikes. I'd buy a Mig (as little as $300), some airtools, and go to work. For less than $500 and half a day's work, you could have that repair made the right way, and be able to keep the tools!

 

^^^ this is why I was curious what was the right way . $1500 sounds like a lot.

I guess if the piece he'd have to replace is not straight and he would have to shape it to fit in there. But that shouldn't be that bad, it just takes time. Of course for a body shop time costs more than parts.

 

It would be easy enough to cut the needed part out of a wreck at the junkyard...cut it oversize there (gotta love 18v cordless sawzalls!) , trim to size at home...no big deal.

 

I wish I had the time and place to try and do it myself, but with my work schedule and lack of a garage, I can't. I thought $1,500 was a lot, but like you said he said he would have to remove the hatch, remove the interior trim, cut out the bad piece of metal, which is most likely that 1" wide strip between the end of the roof and the beginning of the hatch. Then put in new metal some how, and prime/paint. I have to get this done because this is my daily driver until I get my GTO, and I'm tired of the back seats being out and carpet being pulled up cause of the flood every time it rains. But, because of the price I might settle for a grind, fill, and seal job for half the price.

 

hey man if your ever in the NJ area just cut out the peice from a junker and stop by my place ill weld it up for you for nothing- it just takes some patience. 1500$ is alot of money- you can do it yourself prime it up and get the whole care painted for that.

 

Thanks AJT,

I just decided to have the spots grinded, POR-15, filled, primed, and painted. Still its going to be around $700. The shop has a real good reputation and I've seen work they've done on other 3rd Gens that has been top notch. I get to pick it up tomorrow, they finished it in 3 days, so I'll let you all know exactly how well the work is. I really just wanted those holes patched and the rust stopped (for now) so I could finally put my interior back together.

When I first got the car off Ebay, I was so suprised when I pulled up the carpet and saw nice factory coated floor pans. I thought for sure the amount of sitting the car did, combined with that water leak was going to spell disaster. To my suprise though, that spot was the only rust hole. The underbody looks good, who knows what it looks like under the ground effects, I'll take them off sometime.