Re: [T3] Help - underseat rust

[BOB2TYPE3S@aol.com]

In a message dated 10/25/04 2:29:41 AM Central Daylight Time, 
mjones@tandbergtv.com writes:

<< Bad news - I've just been over to see our fastback, which is having a load 
of welding done. There is serious rust where the rear subframe mounts to the 
area under the back seat.
 
 The guy doing the work doesn't think there is any way to address this 
properly without taking the car off the pan. The problem is that its all double 
skinned in that area. Even with the subframe, engine and trans out, access it 
hard. We discussed cutting large sections out to gain access, then welding them 
back after, but this is pretty extreme - may as well take it off the pan. But 
this is lots of time and money. So much so that it may be uneconomical.
 
 Any clever ideas about how to repair this properly ? He is quite rightly 
concerned as it is structural.
 
 Here is the offending area: 
 http://vw1600e.org.uk/images/car/RustLabelled.jpg
 
 And here is a large picture (200K) which shows the details if you want to 
look closely:
 http://vw1600e.org.uk/images/car/RustDetailed.jpg >>


If I remember correctly, that spacer under the bolt (seen clearly in the 
detailed pic) is a 10mm rubber spacer. It sits between the body and the pan. If 
the other side looks as bad, then you might want to remove the body from the 
pan, but otherwise I'd repair it where it is. The rusty metal just under the bolt 
head is part of the body, and a little thicker than the skin is. This bolt 
doesn't hold the subframe to the pan, only the body to the pan (one of many). I 
hope this helps.

Bob 65 Notch S w/ Sunroof
       71 Square, now a 2 seat Roadster, pics can be seen at; 
http://volksrods.com 

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