Help, i need some body work advice
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 219
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From: Transfer
Help, i need some body work advice
i have a 91 f.150, it has some rust i would like to take care of, mostly on the bed, in front and behind the wheels on the lover edge has holes, the wheel arches are half way to gone, i was going to get 2 wheel arch panels for it, rivet, it, bondo it, and then grind, is this a good idea, and has anyone had any expirience with "Rust Bullet", i went to their website and it looks like good stuff, i was going to paint the whole underside with it, but do i need to prepare the underside, i know it has to be clean, but do i have to sand, share your bodywork expiriences, dont be afraid to share mistakes, it will help us all out be telling us what not to do
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Where are you.. the climate plays a big part in how long DIY repairs like this will last. Welding in the patch panels is the best solution, if there are any holes in the metal water will get in behind the bondo and lift it eventually. I have a small mig welder and I can get pretty good looking results taking the time to cut out the rust, welding in the patch, grinding it smooth and applying bondo and paint. I reserve the rivet fixes for places that are not visible and/or extremely hard to get the welder into.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 101
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From: Auburn, NH
If you have to rivet--use one of the fiberglass filler products on the seams before you do the bondo--the fiberglass fillers are WAY more water resistant than regular body filler.---I always use fiberglass filler( mar-glass is one ) on any welded seam also-just in case there are any pinholes.
Gary V.
Gary V.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 590
Likes: 1
From: Venetia, PA
This may sound crazy, but use as much of the patch panel as possible. If you have to cut and weld around the actual wheel well, it will look funny when you try to make the flare and lip, no matter how hard you try. Mine turned out ok because I re-did the body work a few times before painting. Its easier to make flat panels straight with bondo then to have to make lips and curves with it. Trust me, try to keep the bondo work to the flat panels.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 371
Likes: 1
From: Wetaskiwin, Alberta
Have a look at my gallery. This was the result of my DIY effort and I think that it came out pretty good. I also shot the paint myself in the garage. I went with the repair panels and then used automotive panel glue as I don't have access to a welder and I don't have any welding experience. The repair job is now entering it's second prairie winter and I haven't seen any wheel well rust come back. I did have some other rust areas come back, as I knew they would, and I plan on attacking those issues this summer.
You can do it!
Cheers!
Mike
You can do it!
Cheers!
Mike
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 590
Likes: 0
From: shelocta, pa
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 25
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Another alternative to welding Is to Glue the panels on. Ive seen it done on many aplication and t turns out great and theres no chance of warping the metal. heres a link to some good products to use............
http://http://www.eastwoodco.com/sho...NEL%20ADHESIVE
http://http://www.eastwoodco.com/sho...NEL%20ADHESIVE
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 590
Likes: 1
From: Venetia, PA
Using panel adhesive is easier and saves your bedsides from warping but you need a bunch of large clamps. In some cases the glue holds stronger than the welds. We do it at work all the time. For me though, I did mine at home in the garage too, and being 17, I dont really have the money or the patience to work with glue. The air saw, welder and grinder worked fine for me. Plus I enjoy welding. Check out my gallery. There is only one pic of my truck in there but you can see how good it turned out.