So, I started working on the 74 baja bug I picked up and I am trying to get it on the road asap. There are a lot of places where the body has rusted though. Does anyone have any suggestions for temporarily covering these open areas without making them worse in the future. We're talking maybe a 6-9 month time frame between the temp fix and tearing it down for proper body work i.e. welding and metal. I'm trying to avoid just slopping bondo into all the holes, but I'm not sure I have much of a choice right now.

What would you fellas suggest?

Posted by Lord Awesome So, I started working on the 74 baja bug I picked up and I am trying to get it on the road asap. There are a lot of places where the body has rusted though. Does anyone have any suggestions for temporarily covering these open areas without making them worse in the future. We're talking maybe a 6-9 month time frame between the temp fix and tearing it down for proper body work i.e. welding and metal. I'm trying to avoid just slopping bondo into all the holes, but I'm not sure I have much of a choice right now. What would you fellas suggest?

rust never sleeps. don't even waste your time 'covering' them. Start it right and either get the panels right off or don't.
I suppose if you want to slow the rust down, try some heavy rustoleum black paint (not primer). We used this stuff on the frame, inner fenders, under-box, rear axle and front control arms of his 75 Chevy pickup.

I'm going to be driving this 74 while I actually do my 73 correctly with metal and prep/prime/paint etc. I just want to keep water from getting further in due to the holes that already exist and slow down the rust until I can finish my other bug and get this one done right as well. My 73 is the priority because it needs less work and is my first car and means much much more to me. This car is a placeholder, but I'd like to not completely trash it in the mean time and come back and give it the attention it needs in the future.

I have been using rustoleum on the floor patches I welded in and I am trying to find a decent way to patch some holes that are not massive, but will let a lot of moisture deeper into the car.

aluminum tape

Duct tape and roofing tar.

POR Metal Ready prep, then some POR15 paint to cover, duct tape or fibre-glass to fill holes. The un-used POR can then be used on your final fix too. My floors were not perforated, but I can attest the stuff is brilliant.

What Neko said- plus, on all of the seams I like to use a thick layer of brush-on seam sealer. (About $8 a can at Napa)

POR15 FTW.

For now it's bondo and duct tape hahaha. in a couple months it's body off and metal. I'm going to turn this into a mid travel baja bug with a cage etc.

boom.

Posted by Lord Awesome For now it's bondo and duct tape hahaha. in a couple months it's body off and metal. I'm going to turn this into a mid travel baja bug with a cage etc.

When you put duct tape on, take a torch and just heat it up a bit, makes it almost water sealed.

Ah well damnit, I already finished all my tape work hahaha.

You used too much hardener.., but listen to Ricky they use tape to fix everything in Sunnyvale.

A friend did the bondo work. I was busy with engine and brake and other mechanical fun stuff.

Posted by sleeperspirit You used too much hardener.., but listen to Ricky they use tape to fix everything in Sunnyvale.

1.


I even use it for draining.

Posted by Lord Awesome A friend did the bondo work. I was busy with engine and brake and other mechanical fun stuff.

Unfriend him.

Her. Also that was bondo that had been sitting for.......maybe 5 years?

Posted by Lord Awesome Her. Also that was bondo that had been sitting for.......maybe 5 years?

It looks like wood filler.

Posted by Ricky_from_TV It looks like wood filler.

Fixed.

Posted by Lord Awesome Her. Also that was bondo that had been sitting for.......maybe 5 years?

It does tend to turn into a cakey mess after a few years, especially if the can has been opened and not sealed properly.