Well, the title says pretty much all, i'm talking about fixing large rusted areas where the sheetmetal fell off not just small spots of rust. My hatch has got the Honda cancer and it's gone really bad now. A friend of mine happens to work alot with fiberglass, he makes bodykits mainly and he said that it could be done easily and maybe cheaper than ordering a new quarter panel, plus the rust might come back. I'm planning to restore the and i would like to know if the fiberglass will last for a long time. Sorr for the pics quality, the camera lens is scratched.

 

welding in a new panel and then using fiberglass filler is the way to go if you plan to keep the car.

 

Okaaay...thank you for answering but you got me a little confused. Why should i use fiberglass as a filler if a new panel will be welded? To cover the welding so the rust won't return? And yeah, i'm planning to keep the car but without spending a fortune to repair it. Seems like i have no choice though.

 

Correct. Also I see that you are in Romania so I'm sure shipping will be vastly different if it's even possible but google "fixmyrust" or "rustrepair" to find some panels online. I got my wheel arch for $25 +shipping. I think you can find lower rockers and complete quarters for not much more.

 

You said you wanted to do away with welding a new panel by using fiberglass. So which is it? Repair with just fiberglass or repair with new panel, but cutting and removing all rust, than weld on new panel.

 

I use marine epoxy (uv resistance) with fiberglass and don't have any problem. The job is not "pro" but you have to be very close to notice the patch. If the hole of the repair area is big, you need to attach a metal sheet for the shape and the form. For myself I use aluminum sheet because it is easy to work with. You don't need a welding machine. I use fast bond epoxy (5 min) to "tag" the sheet. Then I cover the whole sheet, and also one inch around the repair area, with the fiberglass and epoxy. I don't need the primer for the painting because epoxy can act as primer.


I think the most important thing for your body repair is remove all rust as much you can and you need to cover at least one inch of fiberglass on the "healthy" area.

 

Just ******* do it properly.

 

you should use fiberglass filler to hide the seams. bondo sucks.

 

Bondo will crack after a while if it wasnt put on 110% perfectly.

ive seen people cover holes with fiber glass but since you've got an angle and line to follow it may be difficult to cover it properly with fiberglass, and make it look right.

Personally, i say cut the metal as close to the rust as possible, sand blast the area and spray weldable primer all over everything. When you're ready, weld in the patch panel and then finish it off.

Personally, i say scrap the car and get a new civic shell for tree fiddy

 

no, its not that bad. BUT, coming to a tech forum to try to get validation on a hack idea wasn't a good idea. laying a sheet of fiberglass is never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever the proper way/right way/ok way/decent way to fix anything. its a hackjob, pure and simple.

 

The problem about welding a metal sheet is you have to paint the internal side of the sheet, and the welded area as well, to prevent corrosion. I don't think op is willing to disassemble his car in order the paint other side of the panel.


Quality Matrix with uv resistance won't crack. Marine epoxy is an excellent resin. Fiberglass are way stronger than steel and many structural components are made of fiberglass.

 

i prefer using metal2metal over welded, bare body panels.

 

YEP...i thought about it and i'll do it properly. On a close inspection i saw that the rust is eating the area near the trailing arm bolts (where they bolt to the frame) so i've decided to go to a garage and solve the problem. They fixed incredibly trashed cars so i guess with mine it won't be a problem, except the cash ). I already have a new set of trailing arms from a del sol and i'll buy front lower control arms and those upper wishbones (really don't know their name in English - like the camber-kit ones...). It's settled, the project EG begins. I'm really envious on all of you because you live in the States and EG parts are dirt cheap compaired with the prices in Europe. )) My car is a rare sight here...

 

There's no point in playing guessing games, you're just gonna have to get in there and see how far the rust has gone, the car paint is keeping you from seeing the real issue from behind.

 

I've posted this pic just to give you an idea about what's happening. THIS IS NOT MY CAR, it's a friend's car and seeing that extensive damage made me check mine underneath. From my point of view my car can still be saved, that one in the picture not so much.

 

I suggest you post pics of your car and not someone elses. It doesn't help you here in any way.

 

Probably because no one assist him with his h2b issues...dunno and don't care.

 

get a new civic shell for tree fiddy and spend 20-40 hours swapping everything. or work for however long it takes to pay for rust repairs on a car that doesn't have high inherent value.