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Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:36 pm

Just picked up a one owner 65 square in pretty nice shape. Low miles...He had some water coming in for a time, as the rear seat area of the pan was so wet I had to peal the tar boards out in pieces. I probably scraped and chiseled out from 10% to 50% in thickness of the metal of the pan in places, just getting rid of the rust. I have a few pinholes because of this, and a thin pan. The front seat area, and the under seat areas are clean, with minor surface rust. What to do to reinforce these areas???Do I cut out sections and weld in patch panels? on an otherwise clean stock car, or is there another way of reinforcing these areas??? The under side of the pan looks great, with minor surface rust only...Thanks Richard

Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:51 pm

If there is an area that your consered with being too thin with pin holes and such.... Theres nothing wrong with using patch panels. If you do it clean enough, no one can tell.
Cut out the bad. Make your patch overlap about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. Good clean spot welds some seam sealer on both sides, Por15 the top and undercoat the bottom. There good as new!

Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:11 pm

You can buy battery trays for T-3. I got mine from CIP1.
Others probably have them.

Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:57 pm

if there are only minor pinholes, then POR15 will seal and add some reinforcment to your weekend areas.... if you go with a patch section make sure to cut out all the weakend and thinned metal

Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:34 am

ETPEak wrote: POR15 will add some reinforcment to your weekend areas....

HUH :?: :!: :?: :?

no

Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:25 am

Critter1 wrote: ETPEak wrote: POR15 will add some reinforcment to your weekend areas....

HUH :?: :!: :?: :?

no

HUH... YES if there is no rot and nothing more than pin holes it will... any big holes you can use fiberglass matting with the POR to fill them....

Have you tried it or done it? I have on my Square with the repps from POR.... it works.

Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:09 am

ETPEak, I think when the word "reinforcement" is used, most of us think structural reinforcement. Perhaps you can see our confusion.

Max

Sun Jul 06, 2008 9:35 am

Max Welton wrote: ETPEak, I think when the word "reinforcement" is used, most of us think structural reinforcement. Perhaps you can see our confusion.

Max

nothing can replace metal except metal but por has a resin effect that does aid in adding strength and of course rust prevention... if it s just flakes of rust held together with rust... then no POR will probably not help, but if it is just thinned and pin holed, then it will be perfect if your goal is not a concours restoration but a clean driver

hope that helps....

Keep the 3's alive

Sun Jul 06, 2008 11:16 am

under the battery areas are clean, it is just the floor sections behind the front seats, where the feet would rest when sitting in the back seat. I had thought there might be a resin based product that might have great adhesion to the metal of the floor. POR might be thinner than required, although I see your point about the fibres in the POR adding some strength. Perhaps a fibreglas resin and fibre may work. This fix I have seen years ago in some westy front floor, but it did not seem to bond to the floor, maybe it was poor preparation. As I said, there are areas in that part of the pan that lost considerable thickness because of the surface rust. Welding in patches would be the best, I was looking for ideas for a very good second best. Anxious to get it on the road. Thanks.

Sun Jul 06, 2008 12:25 pm

you can use por with matting... great addhesion from the por and HEAVY build from the matting...

Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:45 pm

Por 15 has a mat material that is very good when properly applied. Follow their directions. I have used it on two of my floorpans with very good results. Take your time, don't rush it! You'll be glad you did. Good Luck!