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Komissar Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2008 Posts: 894 Location: Bucharest, Romania
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:28 am Post subject: Reinforce a thin rusty floor area? |
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Hello,
The floor area behind the passenger's seat on my 1972 type 3 has seen some better days. Because of an old water leak (which hopefully is fixed by now) the central portion of that area got very thin by rusting so much that I am afraid that if a full size grown up will step on it when climbing in or out of the car his foot will go right through the floor.
Luckily (i think) that area has no holes in it, yet - it's just paper thin with rust.
Does anybody know any solutions or methods to somehow reinforce that area without installing new metal?
( i will weld in new metal at some point, but by the looks of it it will not be for another year or so)
Thanks in advance. _________________ 1965 Sunroof Beetle
1972 Type 3 Squareback
1978 Skoda 105S |
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theKbStockpiler Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2012 Posts: 2316 Location: Rust Belt
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Reinforce a thin rusty floor area? |
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You need to 'jerry rig' that car.
Get a piece of 18-19 gage sheet metal(1.25mm - 1.07mm) ,cut it so it will fit over the effected area and rivit/or sheet metal screw it down. _________________ 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. |
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Komissar Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2008 Posts: 894 Location: Bucharest, Romania
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: Reinforce a thin rusty floor area? |
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Thanks for the advice. I wouldn't do anything that resembles attaching metal on metal, though. In worse case scenario I think I would tweak your idea by reinforcing a fabric or rubber floormat with a sheet of metal glued on it's back and using it as a temporary measure.
But I would like to find out if there is any way to use some sort of "chemical" solution to the problem - using a rust prevent/converter and than some sort of reinforcing coating if there is such a thing. _________________ 1965 Sunroof Beetle
1972 Type 3 Squareback
1978 Skoda 105S |
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theKbStockpiler Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2012 Posts: 2316 Location: Rust Belt
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: Reinforce a thin rusty floor area? |
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If the panel has lost significant strength it should be replaced.
If for some reason you feel the steel is sacred, you could waste a lot of time striping the rust off with phosphoric acid (use carefully) and cover it up with cloth fiberglass or cloth reinforced body filler, (brand name 'TigerHair'. Cloth would be stronger. _________________ 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. |
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57BLITZ Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2012 Posts: 2385 Location: DEEK - U.S.A.
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lqqkatjon Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2013 Posts: 36 Location: St. Cloud, MN
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: Reinforce a thin rusty floor area? |
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I can't say that it is proven, because I have not yet done it to my car yet.
I intend to use Por 15 on my floorboards. I had sandblased them at home, and they are thinner is some areas. I have replaced where the battery is on my thing, and I decided that I am going go with the por-15, with the addition of the couple thinner areas, I am going to add some of the por-15 mesh.
https://www.amazon.com/POR-15-Power-Mesh-Square/dp...or-15+mesh
I know there are other chemicals, but I got a deal on the por-15 stuff. My understanding is it will also add some decent rigidity to the metal. |
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andk5591 Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005 Posts: 16754 Location: State College, PA
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: Reinforce a thin rusty floor area? |
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I have seen posts on here where folks have used POR-15 with a layer of material between coats and claimed it worked. BUT any reason not to use fiberglass resin and fiberglass mat to reinforce the metal? _________________ D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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beetlenut Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2009 Posts: 2980 Location: RI
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Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 7:09 pm Post subject: Re: Reinforce a thin rusty floor area? |
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theKbStockpiler wrote: |
You need to 'jerry rig' that car.
Get a piece of 18-19 gage sheet metal(1.25mm - 1.07mm) ,cut it so it will fit over the effected area and rivit/or sheet metal screw it down. |
Or use panel adhesive to bond a sheet of 18 gauge steel to the weak floor. _________________ scrapyards are for quitters
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Wetstuff wrote: |
... I spend more time shaking it than directing it?! I get a pretty decent blast for 8sec. then have to shake it again. |
- Words to live by right there!
My 74 Super rebuild thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6507104#6507104 |
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