I recently discovered a few rusty holes in the driver's side floor in my Dart. The problem I have right now is a severe lack of funds, but, unfortunately, I'm the kind of guy that can't find something like that and leave it alone. So, does anyone know of a way that I can patch up the holes on the cheap now?

thanks,
josh

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64 Dart 170 /6

Okay, for a pure, unvarnished bodge job, sand it really clean, put a piece of duct tape underneath the hole to keep the JB weld from leaking through, and put a big glop of JB weld over it. That stuff rocks for this kind of work. http://www.jbweld.net/coldweld.html

Good luck, and let us know how well this works. I am guessing well!

Greg

As long as you're gonna fix it properly later: sheet metal and pop rivets. Seal around the hole and the edges of the metal with RTV.

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My truck is a Frankenstein creation
Built from the dead carcasses of others
And brought BACK TO LIFE!

OKAY DUDE, THIS IS THE FIX IVE USED IN MANY OF MY RIDES.

STEEL SHELVING!!!! THE GOOD STUFF, NOT THE $6.00 4 TIER
K-MART ONE. WHAT YOUR LOOKING FOR IS THE OLD ONE THAT SAT IN SOMEONES GARAGE FOR TWENTY YEARS AND HAS BEEN PUT ON THE CURB FOR THE GARBAGE MAN. USE THE FLAT SHELF SECTION TO COVER THE HOLE, AND IF YOUR LUCKY YOU SCORED THE UNIT WITH THE UPRIGHTS THAT HAS A BILLION HOLES ABOUT 1/2 APART TO ADJUST SHELF HIEGHT AS YOU WANT IT .

HERES THE PROCESS. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. ALL RUST MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE FLOOR. CHECK FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WHEN PLANNING THE CUTTING SO YOU DONT HIT A TRANS LINE OR THE LIKE. STICK A PIECE OF PAPER OR SUCH OVER THE HOLE AND FROM UNDERNEATH, SPRAY IT WITH PAINT, PRIMER OR THE LIKE.
YOUR PIECE OF PAPER IS YOUR TEMPLATE. LAY THIS ON YOUR SHEET METAL AND ADD AT LEAST 1 INCH ALL THE WAY AROUND. CUT WITH
JIGSAW, HACKSAW OR REALLY SHARP STEAK KNIFE (JUST KIDDING)
YOU MAY HAVE TO POUND IT OUT A LITTLE TO FORM INTO YOUR FLOOR, THEN, USING A BUTH TUB CAULKING (SISLICONE PREFERRED) RUN A HEALTHY BEAD AROUND THE EDGE AND PRESS INTO THE FLOOR. THE NEXT STEP IS POP RIVETS. DO THIS ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER AND DONT FORGET TO CLEAN OFF EXCESS. THE LAST STEP IS TO RESHOOT UNDERCOATING. IF YOU DONT HAVE ANY, USE SOME MOTOR OIL TEMPORARILY.

I REALIZE THIS SEEMS IN DEPTH, BUT IT DOESNT TAKE ANY LONGER THAN A "TEMPORARY PATCH", AND YOU ONLY DO IT ONCE SO THAT YOU CAN DO OTHER THINGS. LIKE COMING OVER HERE AND WORKING ON MINE. (ANOTHER JOKE)

IVE BEEN DOING BODY WORK FOR 25 YEARS, A TEMP REPAIR CAN BE FORGOTTEN AND WILL BREAK WHEN YOU REALLY DONT WANT IT TO.

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IS 40:31 gets me through lifes challenges.

Heavy filler... like bondo but ultra strong and has hairs of fiberglass in it. Can be used to patch cement even. Look for kitty hair or tiger hair (I know they come in Evercoat brand, but there likely is others too).

Josh racing secret. Find a old waterheater some one has dispossed of and cut the outer shell off of it. Good pair of tin snips will do that then you can roll it out and form it to your pan and if you can weld do it if not pop rivit it in. Down here in Ga. waterheaters are all over the side of back roads. Thanks Ron Parker

I think you mean redneck secret not racing secret!

Josh - Go to an automotive store and buy a fiberglass repair kit. Comes with resin, hardner, cloth and small putty blade. Cut out a section of cloth big enough to cover the hole. If the hole is really large do like gmader suggested and put duct tape or something on the backside to give support until it hardens. Clean the existing rust around the hole and then mix it up like the instructions say. This is a cheap fix that will last a long time and be strong.(and light) Be sure and squeeze the excess resin out of the cloth when you lay it down. If you come up with a high spot once it has dried then just use a DA sander and smooth it out.

Bob

How about a hinged plexiglas "road inspection access port"?

Josh i guess guest was right that was a redneck racing secret. Besides i prefer to race with metal under me than duck tape and corvette carpet.

Any type of Sheet metal will suffice, just be sure the thickness is correct and hack to fit. The poster with the "use steel shelves" is a genius, I have a whole garage full of these and it never occurred to me to use them as a source, also like the plexiglass inspection port idea,makes changing out the exhaust system and front u-joints a cinch if the opening is made large enough and one thing for sure is it won't rust!

Hey, Possum you planning to put a 6 into one of those homeless water heaters anytime soon! LT. GT63

Nope we are putting alluninum floor pans in along with a 8 point roll cage and some other secrets. We are going to pull off another 100 pounds by the time the racing series starts. My car is better than a water heater with a slant in it. That was just some ideas for sheet metal that one could use.

Josh - How big are the holes you are trying to cover? Size of a quarter, size of a dinner plate???


Bob

Wow...you guys are incredible. I am, as always, very impressed.
Let's see...I didn't get a great look at the full extent on the problem, but what I did see were a few small holes (less than 3/4" diameter) and one relatively large hole that was about 2" in diameter. I've already started saving my pennies for new floor pans, but it's probably going to be a while before I can afford them (I'm thinking summer if I'm lucky). I need something that will be a pretty quick, inexpensive fix, that will last a few months. It appears as if you've afforded me a few good options here already, and I can't thank you all enough.
-josh

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64 Dart 170 /6

Dont forget, your way is free and gets those pesky water heaters off the front porch.

*rolling on the floor laughing*

Ron, may that always be said.