Body repair?

[craracer05]

So i'm getting ready to start some rust repair (major rust repair i should say), I'm just wondering what gauge steel should i use to patch the body. I have a lot rocker rot right in front of the back tires under the plastic molding. I'm going to start there since the work will be covered under the plastic and will leave me some room for error.

 

[jakeachy]

18/20

 

[awdtalontsi1992]

20 gauge mild steel will do fine. Just make sure to paint the back side with some "weldable" primer before you put it on. This way the back side is less prone to rerust.

 

[92eagleTSI]

You could also glass it. I like fiberglass because you can make it do whatever you want pretty easily. It just depends on what you're comfortable with. If you're welding just remember to use a lot of tack welds and only do a few at a time so the panel doesn't get to hot and warp otherwise you'll have a lot more straightening and filling than you started with. Laying a bead will warp the crap out of a body panel. I learned from experience. You may have already known that but it's something to remember.

 

[kergilman]

Laying a beed will warp the crap out of a body panel. I learned from experience. You may have allready known that but it's something to remember.

Funny, I was just talking to a co-worker 30 minutes ago on this very subject. He is also doing some metal replacment body work to a Toyota pickup and was stressing the importance of not running a full bead. Spot welds are your friend...

 

[Project2G]

On Thursday I put a patch on an older ford pick up and used 20 gauge mild steel just fine.