10 replies to this topic

[Goatboy]

My rust-bucket (Betty) needs lots of holes repairing. From tiny pinpricks, to massive gashes!

Is it worth hiring/buying a welding kit, or is body-filler ok? Or does it depend on the size of the hole?

Tank Q

[Big_Adam]

Body filler is COSMETIC. So a welder for big ass holes if recommended.

[Goatboy]

So I can use body-filler if the area is structurally sound?

[Goatboy]

For example, drivers footwell...



Yeah, I know, I've got a Flintstones car

[mike.]

Aren't those holes just the drainage holes? Just get some blanking gromits for those.

[Guess-Works.com]

took me a moment to figure out what the texture was, and then it hit me.... tarmac !

Yup drain holes, use blanking gromets to close them up.

[Goatboy]

Ahhhhhh, drain holes you say?

There aren't any in the passenger footwell. And that's the one that fills up with a pint of water every time it rains

[Silicon Skum]

Technically, they are not actually drainage holes - they are there to allow the pannels to line up on the jig when constructing the car (and I belive also to line up the panel when being pressed into shape). BUT they do sort-of work as drainage holes, if the plug is fitted slightly loose and no sealer applied (need to check for rust around the hole / plug quite regular though).

My car had them fitted both sides, never made any difference when mine filled up with water either. Rover had covered the plug tops with that black pitch sound deadening stuff, so were completley sealed off. Also, the plugs looked like they had been sealed up with seam sealer at the factory - so possibly Rover knew something we don't (increased rust area?).


As for the bodywork, pin-hole size areas will be fine ground back to clean steel and filled over, anything bigger than a 5p coin should really be filled with metal - but if it's not a structural / mounting area (like wings, door skins, bonnet etc) then you could get away with filler for the smaller holes (anything over 2 or 3 inches square would be better off with metal, as filler is likely to flex and crack in larger holes).

SS

[mike.]

If its a bigger hole but not structural then you could use fibreglass filler to bridge the hole up, then body filler over the top to smooth it off. The fibreglass filler is much stronger. But as said above metal is best used for any really big holes.

[mini_kev]

The common places of rust in most minis generally tends to be near sturctural parts/ joins so metal welding in is usually essential.

[Goatboy]

All duely noted, thank you