Fixing rust on beater

[Soyabean]

I have a question. I have a chunk missing on my beater at the rear quarter panel. Would I be able to use body filler to fill in that piece and then stand it smooth, apply primer, and then paint?

Is there something else that I should use? Such as fiberglass instead of the body filler?

Also, there are spots that are rusted. When I sand the rust off that part, would I need to apply any body filler to those parts? Or just simply primer and paint?

I really dont care for the beater but would like to fix it up on my spare time and learn some things as I wont not dare to learn or practice this kind if thing on my mazda

[Noisy Crow]

How bit is the hole? The easiest way to fix it is to use sheet metal and pop rivets. You can get both galvanized and aluminum sheet at Home Depot etc. Depending on how picky you are you can put the sheet metal on top or from behind. Then 'glas or bondo over top. Or just go over it with bedliner... maybe do the lower foot of the car or whatever all the way around so that it doesn't look too ghetto.

[M&D Executive Auto]

For the holes you can use that mono expanding spray foam in the holes and then just use a razor blade to cut it off and use a skim coat of bondo then prime and paint, quick easy fix and it works

[SilentJay]

^^^ Wowsers, that's kinda ghetto, but sounds like a really quick fix :chuckle

I wonder how hard it'd be to get someone to angle-cut the area off then spot weld a sheet of galvanized aluminum there?

[mazdaskit]

duct tape :chuckle

[PearlM3]

Bondo + Newspaper = professional job!!!

[p-o-g-i]

How bit is the hole? The easiest way to fix it is to use sheet metal and pop rivets. You can get both galvanized and aluminum sheet at Home Depot etc. Depending on how picky you are you can put the sheet metal on top or from behind. Then 'glas or bondo over top. Or just go over it with bedliner... maybe do the lower foot of the car or whatever all the way around so that it doesn't look too ghetto.

+1
This is what I do as well.....
Sheet metal-> bondo -> Sand-> primer-> paint

[Lummix]

Get some body colored duct tape...

My Bronco was two tone, brown and black...the black was on the bottom 1/4 of the vehicle and around the wheel wells...all black duct tape to cover the rust.

[Rob23]

use fiber glass the body filler will just crumble and fall out eventually.

[DruidB]

If you want the rust to bubble through again in 2 months then use bondo....

If you never want to see it again then grind/blast the rust off, paint the fresh metal damaged area's with POR15 and let dry. Fill all large holes with medium/long strand fiberglass depending on the area, sand and re apply as needed, Use a light skim of body filler over the fiberglass and sand, fill any remaining small imperfections with spot putty and sand, Prime, scuff pad, prime, paint, done....

[Dave_The_BMXER]

^ The best method posted in this thread.

POR takes time though so dedicate a weekend to the project. Also don't get it on your hads.

[Soyabean]

Thanks for all the input guys. Since Im unexperienced with welding, i'd rather not use the sheet metal method. I think imma try the fiberglass. What is Por15 anyways? I was going to sand down the rust, fiberglass, body filler or bondo, sand down, primer, paint, clear coat. Can someone let me know if that is good enough>

[Noisy Crow]

What is Por15 anyways?
Rust killer.
http://www.por15.com/

[DruidB]

Thanks for all the input guys. Since Im unexperienced with welding, i'd rather not use the sheet metal method. I think imma try the fiberglass. What is Por15 anyways? I was going to sand down the rust, fiberglass, body filler or bondo, sand down, primer, paint, clear coat. Can someone let me know if that is good enough>

If you do not use the POR15 then it will start to bubble again in 2-3 months.