Im not sure if this is the right spot for this but it seems like it fit. I have a 92 hatch that has got some small rusts holes through the rear panels about the wheel wells. I have talked with a few people but cant get a definate answer if i can just take the panels off and replace them or do i have to cut a piece out and weld a new piece in. Is it possible to just take the whole panel off?

Also on the roof where the rubber stripping goes across, there is some rust underneath the rubber stripping, i was thinking of taking a wire brush and trying to clean it up to get all the rust off and then sanding it and putting on some primer and paint so it wont rust through the roof, its not that big of a spot, maybe 1.5 inches but its right next to wear the windshield meets the roof so i think its going to be pricey if i have someone cut that spot out and weld a new piece in, what do you guys think?

If the rear panels have to be replaced by cutting and welding, whats a fair price for someone to do that? Also whats a fair price to have someone cut a piece out of the roof and weld a piece in, im pretty sure the windshield has to come out to do it along with the headliner.

Thanks guys.

 

Ok for the rear pannels you would proably be happer to just cut the whole pannel out and replace it because ther is proably more rust under the pannel that u cant see as for the roof if the rust has not gone through then i would just wire brush it and put a rust perventer like rust mort and then prime it you can pick the rust mort from a automotive paint supply store

 

That is a really common problem with the older 5th gen hondas. Particularly the hatches. You will have to cut out the rusted area and weld in a new section. Any body shop should be able to do this. Bear in mind, where there's smoke there's fire and there is probably more rust (could be a lot more) than what you see on the surface.

If you want to save some money and have access to a junk yard I would recomend cutting the sheet metal that you need from a dead civic, matching it to what you cut out of your civic and when you are satisfied that you have a tight fitting patch take it to a body shop and have them weld it in. Remember, it's like any fabrication job, measure twice, cut once.