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Fri Dec 27, 2002 1:15 pm

I have a dilemma folks. I have A 72 STD that has rust issues. So far they are all in the normal spots. The only cause for concern are the wheel wells. I don't know how much rust has made it to the heater channels, but I have noticed a small hole right where the door frame meets the heater channel. It is only pencil sized right now. The problem is, should I spend a ton and have all of the rust professionally removed, or should I start looking for a rust free body? Money is somewhat of an issue, but I also love the car. Any past experiences on how much this is going to cost and whether or not it is worth it?
Thanks

Fri Dec 27, 2002 1:50 pm

I think you're going to end up spending the money either way. A rust - free body isn't going to be that cheap to get. If you pull the carpet up and look along the sills where they join to the floor you should be able to see if there is a lot of rust-through. If there isn't, maybe the best thing is to fix the wheel wells the best you can, keep the car clean and dry, and keep an eye out on the channels. That's exactly what I've done with my Super. I know there's rust in the channels, but I don't know how much and for now there's plenty of heat and no rust-through. I had the wheel wells repaired. I'm not ready to spend two grand or more separating the body from the pan to fix the channels and everything else that I will find when I do that. And I love my beetle.

Fri Dec 27, 2002 6:30 pm

I'd get some rust stop/prohibitor and some rust preventive spray paint and do your best to stop what's there and then protect it with the spray paint. But, remember that this only slows things down and doesn't stop the rust reaction. The only way to do that is to cut out the rust from the clean metal. And then do your best to keep the vehicle dry. I have done this on my 72 super in numerous inconspicuous spots and it's really helped a alot. Even places on the under body have been "arrested" for the time being. I keep a can of rust stop spray I buy at Walmart handy and if I see a small spot I hit it with the spray, it turns it to black primer and I may or may not it with some black spray paint. The rust stop does a pretty good job.