Welding plz help ...........?

Question

hi there ive got some quite big holes that go right through on the footwell/floorpan on my car

the guy has just called me up and said he can only steel plate the holes from the inside of the car.. he said he cant get a "bite" with the welding underneath the car. hmmm so now the inside is covered up with plates but the underneath of the car still has the hole but obviously its covered inside..

well what should i do now as the underneath is exposed to water/grit ect..

sorry if this didnt really make sense its quite hard to describe lol

anyone have any advice would be great

thanks in advance

Answer 1

Paint,Paint and more paint.

Answer 2

Wow, big job to solve long turm but welding required good metal to weld to. As most cases involve the pan getting thinner until the holes start showing...it is best to replace the intire pan from the under door side to the hump at the center. If a short turm fix is needed try bondo or epoxy. Duct tape applied to the bottom first and then filling the void with an epoxy(2 Part) will work for you. This will work until the pan gets thinner and fails again. I have even seen VW pans with the intire pan filled with resin to a thickness of 1/4 in. Good luck.

Answer 3

Use a disc cutter and trim all the old metal back to the welds, if it doesn't look sound it will not pass a test.

BTW find a new guy to do your car repairs.

Answer 4

In the UK all structural areas must be repaired by welding and they are usually done on the outside to make inspection of the repair easier. Try and find the cause of the rot as you may have a leak causing water to accumulate under the carpets and rot from the inside out. As a former MOT inspector and a qualified welder I would have repaired on the outside by going back to sound metal and then seam welding a replacement panel of at least the same thickness. A coat of under seal should be applied on top of a suitable primer/paint.To prevent rust you could try waxol or similar treatments and check regularly that the drainage holes are clear and carpets are not damp from leaks.