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Square Back Rust repair
Franke - January 9th, 2012 at 08:09 PM

Hi all... after any ideas as to how i would go about repairing the following...

Don't really want to pay someone thousands of dollars to do it.

I have pulled off the shell and its only really the front bits that are the issue... rim of the floorpan has a large hole:

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/F-r-A-n-K-i-E/72%20VW/DSCF1417.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/F-r-A-n-K-i-E/72%20VW/DSCF1428.jpg

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g75/F-r-A-n-K-i-E/72%20VW/DSCF1440.jpg

other than that its pretty good. only minor tiny holes on the body, easy fix and a couple of bits in the boot but again should be easy.

Cheers,

Francis

helbus - January 9th, 2012 at 08:55 PM

Hi Francis,

If you can get a welding machine, garage and facilities to fabricate and weld the sections in, then you have a good start. Best bet is to join a club or hook up with someone who has done the same sort of job. Maybe do a TAFE panel beating course.

Otherwise, you have thousands of dollars of work needing to be done if you have to pay a shop to do it. It is an easy fix, however it takes a lot of time, and that cost money. Probably 40 hours work at $80 an hour.

Franke - January 9th, 2012 at 09:07 PM

I have a decent sized mig welder... and some sheet metal of varying thickness... i was thinking about buying a better cutter of some sort to do the rounded edges.... but is this something that would need to be made as a hole...or can it be made in pieces then welded together and welded in?

LUFTMEISTER - January 9th, 2012 at 09:48 PM

Yep looks about a thousand dollars worth there. Spend the money you would pay someone else and buy some good tools to fix it yourself. If you have the time that is, or find some one that will work for Chinese labour rates= good luck. My2c

zocstar - January 10th, 2012 at 05:43 AM

Is that the only repairs needed?? Cause from the look at those, sorry to say that there is more.

dragsters for life - January 10th, 2012 at 08:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by helbus
Hi Francis,

If you can get a welding machine, garage and facilities to fabricate and weld the sections in, then you have a good start. Best bet is to join a club or hook up with someone who has done the same sort of job. Maybe do a TAFE panel beating course.

Otherwise, you have thousands of dollars of work needing to be done if you have to pay a shop to do it. It is an easy fix, however it takes a lot of time, and that cost money. Probably 40 hours work at $80 an hour.


80 an hour?????? where the hell are you? around here its 60 to 65

that 15 to 20 extra an hour would add up damn fast

Fastie - January 10th, 2012 at 09:02 AM

$80 is pretty standard these days city side. I got a job done by a city VW shop - great work, but $120 per hour.
That rust looks pretty terminal.. I would be looking in other known places too.. perhaps spending $800 on another shell is a option.

Franke - January 10th, 2012 at 11:06 AM

i have had a look elsewhere and these are the only spots of concern....

already have 2 bodies hahaha. both hid these spots quite well until i took a chisel to it.

Going to have another look at my original one... hoping the floor pan will be in better condition around the edges. The body is screwed but i would just swap the floor pans around if it is in good condition.

torana - January 15th, 2012 at 08:50 PM

hiya Franke
I have just cut the same sections out of one of my fastbacks.
just take your time, dont rush it.
I am using a $400 mig from Supercheap, $30 grinder and basic hand tools to make patches.
will post some pics soon.
if i can do it, so can u...lol

Franke - January 15th, 2012 at 08:58 PM

thanks mate :D going well... slow and steady haha... my 2nd floor pan is in a lot better condition... the outer edge is perfect but the battery area and other parts of the actual floor is stuffed... so ive just cut out those sections on both cars and swapped em :D