Driver long repair - open to suggestions, Where are the body-work experts? Options

[draganc]

Annoyed by the thread "What have you done to your 914 today" I started working on my car again.

Just below the left jack post, it appears that one of the PO must have "hooked" the car on the long - resulting in a rip and rust, about 4-5 inches long:



The surrounding area appears to be very solid, beside the lower part of the jack support, which I removed and will replace with a new piece:










Once I cut the floor pan to gain access to the long, I found that the inner c-shaped metal was thin and rusted. I cut all the way into solid metal to gain access for inspection and cleaning.





My approach is to "wash" out the area with Ospho, "flush" the long, up and down, with Eastwood's Internal Frame Coating, apply some weldable primer and patch up the rusted/removed area with some new metal.





I have already installed inside the engine bay Heim-Rod-Braces from Tangerine racing (before cutting) and intend to install as well a long-stiffening kit from Maddog - once this repair is done and the car back on it's wheel.

The car is very sold for it's age, when jacked-up by the rear donuts, the door gaps are the same as on the ground - with or without the top on. The rust-like color on the floor is Arizona sand/dust that just wipes off. It will be a street car only.

Here is the big questions: Should I try to patch up the inner c-shaped sheet metal (about 1.5 x 4") and if yes what are your suggestions? Or am I over thinking this patch with the Heim-rods installed and the long kit to be.


Thanks for your inputs,
Dragan



PS: What is the purpose of the c-shaped sheet-metal anyways, heat shield or structural?