1.8 is out..., I'm in this up to my eyeballs Options

[TRP]

This escalated quickly! 1.8 is out, getting ready ready for the 2056 to go in.



I will start to clean up the engine bay and the underside of the car to prep for the new motor.]

[TRP]

@Superhawk996 - I think @Chad911sc 's fiberglass comment was about filling in the cut out on the lower bumper valance to make it smooth/without the OEM single exhaust pea shooter. I have looked around and nobody offers a metal smooth rear bumper filler. Several fiberglass options exist. I will keep looking for a nice used metal one and just fabricate up a metal patch panel, grind it, smooth it, and paint it up. Keep the original 'nice' one I have now as a back up if I ever want to go with a single tip exhaust. Mixing FG and Metal in an area that gets hot and cools regularly doesn't seem like it would end well longer term. Wouldn't that joint between metal and FG crack eventually?

About the rust holes under each corner of the engine compartment, I'm not sure what I'm going to do there. It's 300.00 for the patch panels and I only need about 5" on each side. If I tackle that job, that's what I would do... but dang... that's a lot of work for something that's just cosmetic at this point. I neutralized all the acid that may have been in that area and hit it with a bunch of osphor. I may just hit it with some epoxy primer to lock out the future rust and revisit it at a later date. I haven't decided yet if I want to go all in on those areas right now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Superhawk996]

@Superhawk996 - I think @Chad911sc 's fiberglass comment was about filling in the cut out on the lower bumper valance to make it smooth/without the OEM single exhaust pea shooter.

I may just hit it with some epoxy primer to lock out the future rust and revisit it at a later date. I haven't decided yet if I want to go all in on those areas right now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) Doh. Sorry I thought the fiberglass proposal was for the hell hole. I jumped to that conclusion because that gets done more than you would think.

And hopefully you both recognize that although I am serious, it’s a bit tongue in cheek. I think @Chad911sc has some other projects that don’t appear to be done with a DAPO mentality. No offense meant. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

As to your proposal for the hell hole: I think that is a good proposal for a holding pattern.

This is my personal opinion and is worth what was paid: If I were buying, I’d rather see the rust holes treated with Ospho and primed / painted and in a holding pattern than a poorly done patch job (not saying that is what you would produce). Even more so if the patch is fiberglass - cause there is never anything good hiding under fiberglass.

As it sits, it isn’t terrible and you can more or less see and fairly evaluate that rust. With a poorly done metal patch or god forbid fiberglass, I’m going to assume that it is way worse if the patch & rust repair isn’t done to a high standard (ie replace the entire shelf). That’s me and I’m a weirdo so there’s that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[TRP]

Oh, no worries! I understand and appreciate anyone who calls out/points out anything that may seem wonky. No offense taken.

I completely agree with your position on the engine shelf bits, I'd rather see the truth of what's there vs some cobbled hack job that causes more concern about 'what else was done wrong'.

One thing I hadn't considered is if replacing the whole piece would be easier than trying to section a 6" section in there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I doubt that makes it 'easy' for a hack like me. That should be a warning about my experience with this sort of 'repair'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) If it's a bunch of spot welds and seam sealer, that seems like a better solve. I'll epoxy prime the two spots and leave them for now while I consider my options here.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Superhawk996]

One thing I hadn't considered is if replacing the whole piece would be easier than trying to section a 6" section in there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I doubt that makes it 'easy' for a hack like me. That should be a warning about my experience with this sort of 'repair'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) If it's a bunch of spot welds and seam sealer, that seems like a better solve. I'll epoxy prime the two spots and leave them for now while I consider my options here.

I’ve seen them patched. To me, it seems they usually turn out better replacing the whole shelf.
Been there done that.




The problem with patching is that you can’t weld to rust and by the time you get to cleaned out solid metal, you’ll end up with a much bigger repair than you think was needed.

The channel for the engine seal also compounds things depending on how far back to get to clean metal.

It’s pretty straight forward to replace though. All spot welds as you stated.

The other problem trying to patch is that hell hole area is all pretty bad access even with the engine out.

But you’re doing great - keep moving forward! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)