proper way to fill small holes?

smarjoram · smarjoram's Garage

I got a quote this morning to respray my car - £2000 ($3200). They'd use Dupont paint witha clear coat and it doesn't include parts - I'd supply a new wing and all the window rubbers. It's a local bodyshop which has a fair few exotics passing through it. I looked at a De Tomaso they'd just done and it looked like a good job.

It'll give me a chance to sort various niggly things...

some rust bubbles around the filler
tiny rust hole in the door jamb and at the bottom of the rear quarter window
stone chips on the front and mirrors
slight mismatching paint on the engine lid
dings in the doors
corrosion on the bumpers near the bellows

(it sounds worse than it looks)

I'm thinking of removing the front spoiler lip and possibly the front fogs. What's the proper way to deal with the holes that are left (the rust ones too). Is filler ok or should it be welded?

Thanks for any help.

mb911 · mb911's Garage

Welded unless you want to bubble up in a year or so
Ben
77 911 3.0
75 914-6 2.7

targa911S · 10-10-2003, 05:36 AM

yep, welded or brazed in patches or fills for small holes. do it right, or do it over again later.

Zeke · 07:08 AM

Try to get to the source of the problem as well or the area surrounding the holes will will develop issues as well. Methods in dealing with this are cleaning the area behind thoroughly, sandblasting or wire brushing to remove rust, treating with phosphoric acid to neutalize rust and coating with POR 15 or some anti rust compound. I would think the UK would be a good source for such things. Also, there are some anti moisture/rust compounds to spray into inaccesable cavities. I think they may parafin based. Do this after painting. Contact Mark Evans of "A car is Reborn," a TV series produced in your country. He used all the methods on the XKE subject car.

Tspringer · 10-10-2003, 06:52 AM

welding them is the only way. Not only that, its the easiest way too. Making a patch panel, welding it into place and then using a small amount of filler to finish it is not that hard and really shouldnt take more time than trying to screw it up with fiberglass or something.

that of coarse assumes you have a welder....

MFAFF · 10-10-2003, 09:24 AM

Get them properly repaired; weld in what you need and leaded....

Yes its expensive and takes time but its the way to go.

I'm getting some body work done as well and it includes a very small hole under the rear quarterlight.
A small rust bubble, which indicates a hole is about 4 hours (estimate) of repair time including leading out.

Lead is 'better' becuase it lasts longer, filler 'can' dry and crack in the long term. But leading is not easy.

You takes your pick, you pays the money.

Also get under there and clean it up right and recoat as well as you can. That's what keeps them young.