Rust in the back seat

[Kevin Fairchild]

I removed all the carpet, padding, and interior in the rear of my '72T and this is what I found (see pics). The torsion bar tubes look good, as do the floor pans and rockers. It looks like the sound deadening material held water and rusted that area. I searched the archives and it looks like a few of you have made these repairs. My questions are:
1. What is the best way to replace this panel? (cut only the bad parts out, or replace the whole thing)
2. If I should replace the entire panel, where can I find/purchase one?
3. Will this affect the car structurally?
4. If I prep the area, cut out the rust, and aquire the replacement panel, how much do you think it would cost to have a shop weld in the new panel?

Thanks for your help.

[djmcmath]

Wow. I'm sorry I don't have any answers for you. My condolances on finding that damage, though. Good luck.

Dan

[Willem Fick]

Kevin,

That doesn't look good!

I am no too sure if anyone will be able to provide you with new replacement parts except a Porche dealer maybe, which I'm sure will cost you!

Perhaps your best bet would be to try and source something from a breaker. Failing that, try and see if you can't get someone to fabricate replacement parts for those areas most badly affected (if you can't do it yourself).

If welding/fab work is done well, there is no reason why structural integrity should suffer too much - besides, anything is better than what you have now!

It'll be a fairly big amount of work, but is perfectly doable given enough time and effort.

What model is your car - is it worth repairing though?

Cheers!

Willem Fick

[thrown_hammer]

BTDT. Check this thread and let me know if you have any questions.

We have the Technology...We can rebuild her...

[Willem Fick]

Shawn,

That's one nice piece of work!

Regards!

Wllem Fick

[drummer323]

Boy that is ugly, I can relate my '71T looked just like that, I cut it all out and I'm not putting back seats back in. We are just welding in new panels and I'm gonna mount my stereo gear where the rear seats were. That thread of the whole replacement was interesting. Good luck!

[Kevin Fairchild]

Thanks for the condolances Dan.

Willem, my car is a '72 911T. Not too many out there. Would like to keep her on the road if possible.

thrown_hammer, your post is inspirational! What made you decide to cut the entire rear panel out instead if just the rusty patches? Do you think by doing so it made the job easier? Any hints / tips?

Thanks.

[thrown_hammer]

Kevin, It was much easier to weld the entire panel in using the factory spot weld locations than trimming and butt welding in all those patches. I "hopped" around so not to build too much heat and warp anything. I also used a seam sealer over the welds inside and out just to be sure.
Call Jerry at Euro East and see if he has a panel. He is a good guy with good prices. 269-317-1481.

[Kevin Fairchild]

Thanks Shawn! Will do.

[Kevin Fairchild]

Shawn - one more question. Did you have to do anything to keep the car's chassis square? By removing this panel, can you potentially alter the alignment of the car/frame?

Thanks.

[GraybeardsGhost]

Man...looking at the pictures of thrown_hammer's car almost made me lose breakfast. I guess I got lucky...tore out the carpet in the '68 last weekend and found three rust spots, each about 8x8 inches at the bottom of the seat areas.
I plan on using some 18 guage steel to fabricate patch panels for the repairs. I'm also going to make some kind of access door with a hinge to access the trans. area to make it easier to mess with later on if I need it.

[thrown_hammer]

I figured the torsion bar tube and shock tower kept everything aligned. No problems have arisen from not bracing. I did my first DE after the panel replacement and my instructor couldnt get over how balanced my car was so I guess it didnt hurt anything...

[thrown_hammer]

Just curious.....How goes the search for a replacment panel? Did Euro East have one?

[Kevin Fairchild]

I plan on calling them tomorrow. This weekend will be dedicated to stripping the rust and prepping the area. I have a friend at work that has agreed to help with the welding. Do you think an electric nibbler would work to cut the panel out?

Also, there are no visible signs of rust on the outer rockers, but for my own sanity, I would like to check the inner rocker area. Is there any way to check the inner rockers for rust without cutting a hole in the outer rocker?

Thanks for all of your help!

[Hetmann]

Try restoration design.

[robfike]

I have a '77 that I am building into a GT car. The rear seat area is going to be removed as soon as the car gets back from the cage guys. (This Saturday?) I would be glad to sell the seat pans. These are perfect from a 16,000 mile car with no rust of any kind. Part of the vertical panel just above the seat pans will also be available.

[DavidI]

Kevin, my 912 looked worse than yours. I had a local guy in SoCal weld in some fabbed sheet metal. It was covered by carpet anyway. He had no problem doing it, though it cost me a little bit.

If you were local, I would give his number.....David

[Kevin Fairchild]

Thanks guys.

Hetmann - I checked Restoration Design's website and did not see the part. I will try and give them a call tomorrow as well.

robfike - Thanks for the offer. I am going to have to replace the entire rear seat area - from the floor to the back window (seat pans, back, and rear shelf). My replacement will be just like Shawn's. Will you have this whole section available? If so, how much?

DavidI - Thanks. I am going to try and do the install myself. I figure if I can get an exact fit replacement panel it should save me some time and headaches.

Anybody have any thoughts about the nibbler?

[Crachian]

Robfike, if Kevin can't use the panel you're cutting out of your race car, please let me know. I need one.

I sent you a PM with my email address.

Thanks

[MBAtarga]

Instead of a "nibbler", I'd recommend a Sawzall.