I finally got real tired of the rattling in the back and decided to mount the spare tire. After taking it all out because I dropped the bolt I found something rather devistating. A huge area of rust. I knew there were some areas of surface rust (of course on a 17-yr old NE car) however this has rusted through the bottom crossbrace (mount for the jack and tire) and through the "corner" of where the wheel well meets the rest of the floor pan. I pushed on it and my finger went through so it's got to be rather bad. My largest question is how do I 'bend' a piece of sheet metal to weld in there to fit the curvature. Just make it oversized then persuade it with a hammer? For now I'm going to coat it with some spray-on undercoating inside and out to try and slow the progression. Hopefully I can get the car off daily driver duty this summer and hopefully have a good home for it during the winter.

P.S. On another note. This rust started to make me worry about the future of this car and the fact that the floor pans probably can't last another 10 years and I really would like to keep it. How hard is replacing the floor pans. I'm not concerned with the cutting or welding just worried about if the alignment of the 'uni-body' will stay true on the car if I replace them. Thanks.

 

sure Ted...you laughed at my pictures...

 

I would stay away from the undercoating. If you truely wish to stop the rusing process get yourself some P.O.R.15. It actually stops the rusting process, check it out here http://www.por15.com
I have used it and it is well worth your time!

 

At nearly $100/gal. I think I'll stick to undercoating on something that already has to be replaced anyway but I think I'll buy a gallon of that stuff and bust out the old spray gun for the floor pan treatment.

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1984 WS6 Trans Am Hartop
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 WS6 Trans Am T-tops
4-bolt main 350, headers, Holley 650, T-5, dual elec. fans and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration
13.98 @ 101

 

Glue the patch on. It is sealed all the way around when your done. Unless you can weld REALLY good. The glue is made by 3M,Duramix,Fusor,and Kent, and can be had at your local body supply store. I recommend 3M.

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Kenney
82 Trans Am WS7 notchback
83 Trans Am WS6 T-tops
72 Vista Cruiser 455
90 Olds Trofeo
80 K-10 w/snow plow
Painter @ Chevy dealer
GM junkie

 

Naw, patches are the easy way out. I plan to do a full strip down on the car next fall/winter and I'll cut out and MIG weld a piece in.

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1984 WS6 Trans Am Hartop
Former L69 Car under restoration
1984 WS6 Trans Am T-tops
4-bolt main 350, headers, Holley 650, T-5, dual elec. fans and 3.23's.
Daily driver and restoration
13.98 @ 101