Bug Luggage Tray Pinholes

[NewTechnicIan]

Hey all,
Just got my bug sandblasted and epoxy primed (WOOOO!)

It looks great for the most part, aside from a new issues that came up. I thought I had done some good welding and sealing up of some pinholes on my luggage tray, but sandblasting brought out a good few more pinholes than I thought.

Check out the damage:

There's pinholes and bigger than pinholes. I don't see repairing all that any other way than welding in a new floor section, but I can't find any sections of just the floor and shipping the whole section is Stupid Expensive.

I'm gonna post a Wanted Ad to the classifieds and see if I can find a panel, but:
Can I sand the epoxy, cover the holes in filler, and prime, paint, undercoat over all of this and trust it to hold up for a restoration

That's the one big problem area after sandblasting, otherwise I'm psyched to start filler and bodywork and get this thing ready for some high-build primer!

Thanks for your help all!
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My 73 Standard build - It's painted! It drives under its own power! Time to get it wired and upholstered!

My 1679 Engine build.

[Air-Cooled Head]

That area will be covered/carpeted, no?
For this repair, I'd use fiberglass.
See comment by Dirtkeeper in this thread.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=628420
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Everything known to man has been written.
Readers are Leaders!

[Mike Fisher]

MasterSeries silver & black would fill those holes nicely.
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69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[NewTechnicIan]

Hi guys,
Great to know. I've gotten some bites on the classifieds but unless someone has a part cut out and cleaned up so that I can see there's nothing to worry about, I think I'll go your way and use some space-age materials to fill the gaps rather than replace the whole tray.
Thanks for your help!
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My 73 Standard build - It's painted! It drives under its own power! Time to get it wired and upholstered!

My 1679 Engine build.

[theKbStockpiler]

If you wanted to put a lot of time in it, you could;

-Patch worst areas
-Solder and or lead the deep pits.

Soldering pin holes is a good method, cheap and easy.
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My beetle is not competing with your beetle. I have the yellow beetle in my town. There is a red one, a green one ......
Use all safety devices including a mask.

[green1303]

If you want a good price on the correct part, then $220 and a drive to Rhode Island would get you the 20 gauge Klokkerholm luggage panel. You would need to call first and make sure that they have it in stock, because M&T drop-ships some things from other locations.

http://www.mtmfg.com/vw/2138/Volkswagen-Beetle-Sheet-Metal-Universal-Panel-Rear-Cross-Members
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1973 green Super Beetle

[beetlenut]

Hey Ian,

Looks good! I've heard of people putting masking tape on the bottom of those holes and then use multiple layers of either Master Series Silver primer, or POR-15 patch. The MS has levelers that fill in low spots. The POR-15 patch comes in a tube and is thicker like toothpaste. The both harden solid and can then be painted over.

Bill
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scrapyards are for quitters
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[oldmanmark]

Doesn't look that bad from your pics. Its a matter of how much effort n time to satisfy yourself. I'd cut out the big holes and weld in new metal. Like Mike said master series work good on pin holes. U got good advice. If its covered up,easier to solve.

[buguy]

If structurally it feels strong. I would get some fiberglass reinforced filler and put that on there. Duraglass or something like that. Its strong and waterproof. Be warned though. It can be a bear to sand when dry. Especially on a surface like that. I would get some mechanic gloves and some 36 grit ready to go. Once the Duraglass starts to kick, get after it and get it shaped or close before it gets to be like concrete!

[johneliot]

I had holes similar to those. I use some fiberglass pieces soak in Master Series and put over the holes. When it dried, I painted another coat. It will dried rock solid and water tight. This is the only picture I have. You can see a few covered up holes.

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John

There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress.
Mark Twain

69 bug - "The Grey Ghost"