how to fix a hole? (pics)

[no_gamecocks]

The year model of the truck wasn't mentioned, but if you look at the photos you can see overspray on the rubber trim around the windshield indicating this area has been 'fixed' before. Minnesota salt aside I'm guessing this truck is more than 10 years old, in which case I say to hell with it -- use Bondo or whatever. No one on this thread thinks fiberglass or plastic filler is superior to welding in a patch panel and doing it right (nor do I). But if the guy hasn't the skill, equipment, and/or money to do that repair I don't see anything wrong with what he did. He's essentially extending the life of an otherwise disposable vehicle with a 'temporary' fix. I *do* agree, however, that a lot of folks post ostensible "questions" when they in fact are simply seeking affirmation for what they know are ill decisions they've already made.

 

[NSW Sparky]

its a 96 I tried to fix the spot before with just "rust converter" as you can tell it made things worse. But the repair worked on the other side it is still holding.
this is what the rest of it looks like

 

[Kittrell]

If we all did everything "the right way" we'd all have Currie axles with OX lockers and strokers, hydro assist steering and Nitto tires. Oh... you don't have that much money?? Neither does he.

Very poor comparison. There are many "right" ways to build an XJ. No one setup is superior in application to another. There are also many "wrong" ways to build them. A rational person won't care how cheap something is if they keep having to replace it. You will eventually pass the point of it being cheap and how many times you've had to do it versus spending the money to do it right the first time.

 

[PornstaR]

Very poor comparison. There are many "right" ways to build an XJ. No one setup is superior in application to another. There are also many "wrong" ways to build them. A rational person won't care how cheap something is if they keep having to replace it. You will eventually pass the point of it being cheap and how many times you've had to do it versus spending the money to do it right the first time.

Yea and Im sure if we said "Oh hey go ahead and throw some fiberglass on her" In a month we would have had a huge post, and PMs going out stating. "I listened to you retards and woke up in the morning to 12inches of water in my truck..... thanks numbnuts." In NO aspects at all in autobody is a 6" by 6" hole (in the roof of all places) ever patched with anything but metal. Now if we are talking about Russians fixing totalled out BMWs then thats a diffrent story. Now especially on a uni-body vehicle you would not want to do this in that area because of loads being applied through the A pillar across the roof. Also if you look closely at his pictures the rust is actually still moving and WILL NOT STOP untill it is cut away and patched with metal. But hey who am I?? Ive never done body work or frame up restorations.............

 

[53guy]

Yea and Im sure if we said "Oh hey go ahead and throw some fiberglass on her" In a month we would have had a huge post, and PMs going out stating. "I listened to you retards and woke up in the morning to 12inches of water in my truck..... thanks numbnuts." In NO aspects at all in autobody is a 6" by 6" hole (in the roof of all places) ever patched with anything but metal. Now if we are talking about Russians fixing totalled out BMWs then thats a diffrent story. Now especially on a uni-body vehicle you would not want to do this in that area because of loads being applied through the A pillar across the roof. Also if you look closely at his pictures the rust is actually still moving and WILL NOT STOP untill it is cut away and patched with metal. But hey who am I?? Ive never done body work or frame up restorations.............

Its cool man, just let him be happy with what he's done and what he has. He'll be redoing it here shortly. Look at the pitting in the metal surrounding the hole. Pitting is definately a sign of underlying rust in other places that don't show it yet....ie about 5" surrounding the hole almost for sure has rust starting even though it doesn't show it. POR-15 wont completely stop the rusting process once started. It's like cutting out a section of cancer without treating it. There's still more fun to come with that roof.

 

[truckeejeeper]

Well, how is that patch holding up??

 

[PornstaR]

Sweet lets relive this one again. And he will post its all great even if it cracked and fell out.

 

[Bored400]

pray it sticks. honestly, I can appreciate your intent...but I just gotta say that if ( or more likely when ) that patch goes poo poo you will have a bigger problem than you had at first. Def a weird spot for rust...never seen it like that myself. Rusting inside out? If that's the case, man that hole is the least of your worries!

 

[Motorvated]

Atleast it looks better.....wait, nevermind

 

[NSW Sparky]

still holding up fine but it is sill early. it was that bad because I tried fixing it before with rust "converter" that is the only rust on the entire vehicle. evey XJ in our club (about 7)has rust starting there no matter the year.

 

[Jess]

chop the top!

 

[dj's 2000 xj]

chop the top!

Jess, how is your jeepy - buggy - thingy project turning out? I talked with you a while back about some shocks for it.

 

[Wallyman]

Man, everyone has ther learning curve. Some people learn from doing, some from listining, some from watching, etc... He gave it a shot, ive done a few things just to find out that that wasnt the best idea ever. then did it right later on and was able to teach others not to do so. He DID ask how to best do it then went his own route though. Thats no lie. But for some people (me included) trial and error is about the only way to do things.

 

[kastein]

thread necromancy... wow

I have a rust spot in that exact spot on my 96 also, I've been meaning to sawzall a matching piece out of a junker for quite some time. Need to really learn how to weld body panels before I have the intestinal fortitude to start cutting the cancer out of my DD though.

 

[codyyy]

If you don't really care too much, they do have small adhesive-backed metal patches that bondo makes. You can go get a bondo "starter kit" from the auto parts store and it might include that piece too. Peel and stick, mix your bondo, putty over it and sand it down and it should be good.
Otherwise, crumple up some newspaper real good, stick it in there and "paper mache" it with bondo. Extremely cheap fix, it comes out pretty decently if you don't care that much about that spot.