Help - Rotting inside and out in front of doors - Cowl Drains etc. 70 coupe

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MalibuDreamer

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Joined Jul 7, 2001

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106 Posts

Discussion starter · #1 · Jun 19, 2004

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Anyone have body rot in this area that can offer me advice on how to fix it?

I dont know what to call this region but its the only place im scared of repairing since theres so many different spot welded sheet metals and the front body mount location.

Its the Rocker area at the lower rear of the Front 1/4 on both sides. Where your feet would sit on the inside in front of the door is rotting out near the edge seam (few pinholes, but it bugs me). Looks like the cowl drains got clogged many times throughout its daily driver life and held water which rotted it out. The left side quarter dosent even have a enough metal to attach to (welded in some angle iron for now).

Worst case scenerio i think i have to take the body off the frame and reconstruct the whole area out of 18 guage mild steel . I would also reinforce the body mounts while im under there.

Is there any easier way to do this?

I cant think of a worse area to work on, its so cramped and hard to get to evn with the dash out.

Thanks
-Ryan

 

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Monalizaf

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Joined Apr 13, 2004

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#2 · Jun 19, 2004

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Ryan,
This is a tuff spot. I am doing the repair here right now. It is very tedious work, but I am still doing it myself. You have to be patient that is for sure. There are a few posts under body shop from the past with this repair explained in detail. That is where I got the info and confidence to do it. I have the inner part done under the inside vent. I have to do the floor and outer firewall. Anyway, I am rambling on. Here is a link that shows a very good repair. 1972 ss 454 I hope he doesn't mind that I used his site as a reference, but it came in handy for my repair. When on the site pan down to lower cowl pictures.

Hope this helps,
Marty

 

M

MalibuDreamer

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Discussion starter · #3 · Jun 19, 2004

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Thanks, the picture s help alot

Wow, My car looks brand new compared to that one (no offense) but i'll probably need as much patchwork on the passenger side lower cowl.

I,ll probably take the body off and start some custom metalwork at the end of the summer

Since this is turning into a summer only car i think im going to seal the vents completely (heater core is already taken out) and figure out some type of drainage system that can be easily cleaned.

I just redid the drivers side floor, i'll probably have to re-do it later

I hate rust, I'd redo the whole car in TIG'd aluminum panels if i only had the money.

 

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gigem

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Joined Dec 31, 2002

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#4 · Jun 19, 2004

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Originally posted by Monalizaf:
Here is a link that shows a very good repair. 1972 ss 454 I hope he doesn't mind that I used his site as a reference, but it came in handy for my repair. When on the site pan down to lower cowl pictures.

Click to expand...

Nope, I don't mind at all. That's why I posted them...

 

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Guest

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#5 · Jun 19, 2004

I like your 70' Goodluck