I am thinking of doing something to attack the trunk corner rust in my Fiero. Now, mind you, it's not all that bad compared to most cars in this area. The car has never been driven in the winter, and the main frame, floorpans, etc, are solid and rust free. Except the trunk corners, where rot invariably forms.

What have you folks done to fix this problem. I just want to get ahead of it now before it turns into a major issue. Here are a couple pics to show you what I have...

Passenger side is the worst, with a decent size spot, plus two smaller ones.



Drivers side has a much smaller spot



There is also a little spot peaking out from behind the sealant on the forward (engine bay) bulkhead.

Haha! You call that rust?!?



If you're goal is to seal the hole, then I'd suggest cleaning the current rust, protecting it with POR-15 (or some other rust preventative), and welding a piece of thin sheet over it, then coating that as well.
-Paul

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Journal of a concept: http://southeastfieros.com >>> Build Thread >>> Parts thread (for project funding)

Yeah, I have seen a lot worse rust, and by no means am I implying I have it bad! I have personally seen far worse than what you have there too. I just want to keep it from reaching that stage.

Yeah, I've seen a lot worse. Been victim to winter salt's wrath with several cars I've purchased in the past. That's why I no longer consider cars from north of the Ohio River for purchase. The last one I had a relatively good fix on was an 88 Coupe, I first made a fiberglass mold of both corners, then cut out the bad metal, filled in the removed area with the fiberglassed corners and then glassed the patch in from the wheel liner side. Worked wonderfully. At least until the car slid sideways into a telephone post. After that, I wasn't really concerned with fixing the rusted parts.

Ron

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-17-2009).]

Here is what my 87 looked like:

Cut the rust out, painted all remaining rust / bare metal with POR-15 then Fiber glassed over the hole on both sides.

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86 GT
87 coupe restoration project.

I had a few areas that just started to rust through. I cleaned them up with a wire wheel and a drill then fibreglassed the areas. Finally I coated the inside and outside of the trunk with POR-15. I did this way back in 2003 when I did the 3.4L swap. It was easier to get at the outside areas of the trunk without the drivetrain in the way.

I cut my rusted metal out, and painted the area surrounding with POR 15. Cut out sheet metal patches, painted them with POR 15, riveted the patches in, (one on each side).

Seam sealed around the edges, and POR 15 again.

I had slightly worse trunk rust the the op. There was surface rust around the hole for about 2 inches., and what i did was to grind it down with a wire wheel and the applied a rust converter/ inhibitor. I then used cold galvanizing compound from rustoleum its 93% zinc i then used some epoxy steel putty to fill in and seal out the cleaned rust spots from both sides to fill the holes and seal them up as the liquid putty once hardened will not allow for further oxidation. I did the grind rust convert and then zinc galvanization spray followed by an epoxy enamel on the whole underside of the trunk and car, i still need to pull the rockers off to check there.

[This message has been edited by Macs86GT (edited 02-17-2009).]

You need to cut. You cut out the rusted metal and then a patch. The best way is to tig in new metal, however, if you can get it down to clean metal and then use patching compound or rivet in new metal patch that will work also.

That area is right around your frame rails and it would not hurt to drill in access holes to spray rust inhibitor stuff in the cavity.

Arn

I usually just put carpet over trunk rust.

Maybe some por15, but it doesnt really help you much.