1968 vw beetle woody update

[Mikhail_lewis]

Where to start on my "restoration".... floor pans are fantastic shape, the running board fastener panel strip has rusted out where the bolt holes are. Ive got the running board fastener panel strip portion cut out from the body, and ive let some chemical rust remover treat what i thought was mostly surface rust on the heater channel bottoms. Now to properly restore this, requires lifting the body off the frame and ordering the heater channel bottoms and bolting/welding onto solid parts.

I plan to weld the new running board fastener panel strip about 1/4 inch from the door jam lip area. Then hopefully i can get some good tack welds onto the "no longer rusty heater channel bottom edges." Seeing as i wont be applying a solid weld along the bottom portion, how would i go about sealing it up in between the tack weld areas?

Ive attached some photos of the ONLY RUST AREAS on the beetle. Everything else on this body is original factory metal and surprisingly very good shape. I want to avoid seperating the body from the chassis, as its a woody, and ill have to prep alot more for seperation.

Hopefully my explanation makes sense and i can get some good suggestions on restoring. By the way i have a canadian tire mastercraft mig/flux welder that i got on sale for $220. If anyone can give machine operating tips relative to the work at hand also that'd be great.😅

✌peace and thanks 👌