Help! Rust at rear quarter panels

donsthelens · Post by **donsthelens** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:04 pm

I have just bought my first Vw bug project.
It is a 1974, I plan on doing some restoration to it.
Does anyone know what the best way to fix a rust problem at the top of the rear wheel wells bellow the rear side windows. One side I was able to sick my screwdriver through the rust to the wheel well.
any advice would helpful
thank you

Class 11 streeter · Post by **Class 11 streeter** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:50 pm

Do you have pics you could post?

donsthelens · Post by **donsthelens** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 10:13 pm

I have the picture But i an having trouble posting it I can send it through e-mail though[/img][/url]

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:22 am

Don.. I can post pix for you.. PM me if interested.

Triple check around this car.. if it's rusting to this extent there are some other areas that may need attention...

My first VW was of this caliber.. learned a ton about welding on it.

Class 11 streeter · Post by **Class 11 streeter** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:02 pm

Ok, here are some pics of the area in question:

This shot I cut down a bit, and the lighting is showing off the rust bubbles better.

Rule of thumb: for all corrosion you see, there is more you don't!

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:33 pm

OPINION - I"d do some looking around on the car.

This is the look of a car that has had the drain holes plugged and stored under a tree...

Nothing wrong with it.. there may be more than is visible.

Crusty rust like this is tough to get a start

Your repair panels should be cheap and easy to find.. it's finding someone to pull them is the challenge.

donsthelens · Post by **donsthelens** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:42 pm

do you mean a wreaking yard and a plasma cutter?

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 12:54 am

Someone is parting down the bug you're looking for.. have them sawzall out the parts.

Oldbugss · Post by **Oldbugss** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:20 am

Oooh, this rust prone area! Tim, isn't this the body style that has the foam packing inside just below the vent? Or was it above?

I have run across this before and repaired. It ended up being water retention.

The water got in and sat in the foam for so long with nowhere to drain to. Nests can also have the same effect over time. The one I dealt with had the foam and a nest. Seems the mice moved out because of the drainage problem!

You can pop out the rear seat and the interior panel back there and see what is going on. A small mirror can help and check all them drain holes for plugging.

Can you weld or have access to a shop that will do body work like this? I am fresh out of donors for this type.

Dennis C~

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:38 pm

Dennis..

Yes these cars are from the Puebla Mexico plant.. for some nutty reason the loved to use recycled steel and foam.

I'd really do some investigating at the bottoms of the pillars and channel bottoms.

Tuffluck · Post by **Tuffluck** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 3:39 pm

I can only guess at what is hiding behind the fender and inside, underneath the carpet. The plus side is that it's fixable, generally no matter how bad. The down side is how far you are willing to go

Atleast you have a roof, lol. All the panels are avaible thru places like WW. Once you get it apart you will be able to asess just whats gonna need to be done. my vert is pretty eaten up, but I don't plan on getting rid it. If it takes me another coupla years ( I hope not) to finish, then so be it. I waited a long time to own one. I wish you the very best of luck and hope that its not as bad as it could be, keep us informed[/img]