My 65 Valiant has inner cowl rust damage around the vent box connections.
Anyone have any experience or suggestions for repairing this area? I have the windshield and dashboard out for access, but it's still looking pretty intimidating to patch up these holes given the upsidedownness and the compound curves in this area.
I have a welder, but am a stinking novice on using it. Also, basically no fab tools. I'm not crazy about fiberglass, but it may come to that...

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"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston

I used fiberglass on my '64 Valiant. I couldn't come up with a better method, and it wasn't too difficult...messy, but not difficult. Thankfully, it was effective and it's been nearly ten years since I repaired it.

The best repairs I have seen and heard about involve cutting the top of the cowl out, repairing the rust from above, and rewelding the upper cowl back in. That is the more expensive and time consuming route, but it is done right and you can treat the area with rust inhibitor and build up a bigger lip around the fresh air hole.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Oof. That definitely sounds ideal, but pretty major for me, especially considering I just had the car painted...
I didn't realize how bad it was up there until afterwards.

Maybe I'll have to try the 'glass. It's not going to be pretty, but at least it'll be hidden. Also, I'll need a nice day so I can work outside - a drawback to a basement garage!

Thanks for the input, and any other tips gratefully accepted!

_________________
O==\=/==O

"A mechanic is Somebody."
- Jim Preston