How to patch a hole with a low budget?

[crx1989]

I need to patch two major holes on both rear renders of my 86.Youknow
the spot where the spare tire goes. Yes the spot where it usually goes
bad. Before anyone says take it to a body shop and let them take care
of it. I have to tell you that the wife didn't want me buy the car in the first place, so I can't really dump a bunch of money into the car without
a bunch of grief. We have 3 other cars, but everyone here knows that life in not complete without a Z in the driveway. This is my 5th Z. I really miss the days driving around with the tt's off. Anyway, one hole is
about the size of a fist and on the other side is about double that. Can anyone give me any ideas for a cheap repair (HACK) job. I'm not trying to make the car a show piece, just don't want two gaping hole back there either. Will fiberglass do the job. I am trying to find an old wrecked
Z to cut those sections out and maybe have a body shop weld them in place. Does anyone know how much this will cost me. If i get that repaired I was thinking about buying a rear skirt to hide the hack job.

[longlivetheZ]

My God...those are some pretty big holes. I was gunna say to just bondo it...easy...cheap...don't even have to paint it cuz it's out of sight. So much for that. I think the only option you have is the "cut and weld" idea...I couldn't imagine it costing THAT much, but it won't be as cheap as the bondo idea.

[Zgringo]

Go tell a bodyman your problem and ask for a suggestion on how to make the repair the cheapest.

[crx1989]

I will most likely find someone to cut that portion off another 86 and get it welded on mine. Iv'e been dying to
own another good Z for a few years now, so I will probably just bite the bullet and pay.

[k3smostwanted]

dont forget to grind the old rust off. if you dont get it all it will just rust out the new piece too. you dont even need the piece from another z i wouldnt think but i didnt quite get where the holes are at.

[Antiburn]

Since I had the same problem but my holes were the entire underfender area there. Buy a piece of sheet metal or find one. Get a small can of bondo. Cut out your metal to fit the hole (ofcourse I would go about 2inches past the endge of the hole. Put bondo aroudn the hole and put the metal ontop of it. Then cover the entire piece of metal in bondo. ANd put extra on the edges of the metal. Then go under the car and put as much bondo as you can get into the hole. Keep something undr it so it doesnt all just drip down. After that get some under coating (comes in a spray can) and spray the entire area under the car with it. I would also spray the inside just so you dont see a big bondo patch. Thats what I did but on a scale about 20x bigger.

If you really wana go psyco you can rivit the metal down then bondo over it.

Also if your a neat freak you can sand it down inside and paint it so it looks origional.

[1viadrft]

You need a spot-welding patch-job there, buddy...

[Broke_as_****]

Duct tape ---> Spray Paint


Go to go.



If you really want to go cheap you can find rolls of what is essentially metal tape. Really. Its just 1/64-1/32" thick sheet metal with adhesive on it. Sand the affected area a bit to bring up the bare metal and then just tape over it. Did this on a few cars, even spray painted over some of the sections that showed and hell, you could barely see it from 20 feet or more.

[k3smostwanted]

lol...duct tape is a miracle.

[bklins]

grind all the rust off patch it up with tin and pop rivets (or just tac weld it in then get yourself some tiger hair (fiberglass) and go over it on both sides that is how we patched the floor in my escort for my daughter and it is holding strong

[Broke_as_****]

Originally Posted by bklins

grind all the rust off patch it up with tin and pop rivets (or just tac weld it in then get yourself some tiger hair (fiberglass) and go over it on both sides that is how we patched the floor in my escort for my daughter and it is holding strong

So...good advice but it's usually not recommended to pull up a thread that is three and a half years old.

[k3smostwanted]

thread is old...closed.