Floor panel/firewall rust hole!

I found why I got such a good deal on my 90 firebird! The carpet on the passenger side was soaked so I went investigating. It is not a t-top car and it was not the heater core leaking so those two easy fixes were out. After pulling this carpet this is what I found







Needless to say I am not happy right now. I have to figure out how to fix this quickly and cheaply until I can do it right this coming summer. Any thoughts?

[MP81]

Ewww...looks like a replacement panel...

[mcampau]

That definately is the eventual plan. I was thinking of just bending up some sheet metal and using seam sealer or silicone and sheet metal screws to make it last through the winter.

[BP_Z28]

ouch..similar to JJ's I think

[mcampau]

ouch..similar to jj's i think

jj?

[BP_Z28]

Another mifbody member Jamie/JAdair..we just call him JJ

[WMCCjames]

Very common spot for rot on a michigan winter driven third gen car. Sucks man. Seal it up for the time being with some thin guage sheet metal like you said......it's about all you can do. Then sell the car in the summer and buy another one that's not rotted out.

[scoutsniper]

shit thats nothing. my drivers floor had a hole 20in-16in right were your feet go. i used some thick ass sheet metal and pop rivets with some siding coak. strong as **** and no wet carpet.

i just opened my trunk yesterday and i had a inch of water in the bottom??? why would that be my seal seems good and this is the first time since i owned it. i punched 2 small holes for draining if it does it agian. but any idea why?

thanks.

[Derek]

shit thats nothing. my drivers floor had a hole 20in-16in right were your feet go. i used some thick ass sheet metal and pop rivets with some siding coak. strong as **** and no wet carpet.

i just opened my trunk yesterday and i had a inch of water in the bottom??? why would that be my seal seems good and this is the first time since i owned it. i punched 2 small holes for draining if it does it agian. but any idea why?

thanks.

probably the hatch seal has a crack in it, my old 1999 firebird had that problem, not sure why on your year. My new car wont be in the rain so i dunno if that one does it or not haha. Back on topic though that spot sucks, thats exactly why I got my car from Georgia and will only be driven on nice days until the day I die and someone else gets it. MI weather/salt sucks for fbodies

[steddy]

Unfortunately, I LOVE these cars, but, the metal is paper thin. Usually, when you see a spot in the paint, it's too late. Happened to my quarter panel early this year. Just fell right off. The biggest thing, when you see the problem....ACT FAST!

[mcampau]

What's so annoying is the fact that there is only 1 rust spot on the exterior of the car. That is the bottom of the drivers door skin. I am going to rivet in a piece of sheet metal and seal it up tight til the summer. I will gut the interior and replace all the rusted metal then.

[WMCCjames]

Unfortunately, I LOVE these cars, but, the metal is paper thin. Usually, when you see a spot in the paint, it's too late. Happened to my quarter panel early this year. Just fell right off. The biggest thing, when you see the problem....ACT FAST!

Actually, the guage sheet metal in a third gen is thicker than any car you will find rolling of the production line these days.

A funny comment from a PDR guy that came to my house for a few touch ups a couple years ago......I love these cars...the metal is so thick. This is coming from a guy who does PDR on dealer lots all day long.

[DanO]

yup.. sheet metal is thicker.. but the corrosion protection on todays 'thin' body panels are superior.

Not much you can do here but patch and hope, or tear out a larger section and weld in a replacement panel.

[mcampau]

I have a buddy coming over today who is a welder. Im hoping he has some good ideas for me. If it was anywhere else it would be an easy fix. How that firewall section has that U shaped dip in it makes it a little trickier.

[steddy]

That's what I had done with mine, both quarters removed and replaced, then had the tricky spots sealed/modded. It's true, third gens did have thicker metal on them. I wish they would've done the stuff they did to the thirds on the second gens. If there's good metal surrounding the area of the floor/firewall, your friend may be able to just weld in and customize a new area there.