So my car is really rusting out in the rear wheel well. I know its a common problem. I found replacement panels from TAS Auto. I put a pic of one below.

I was wondering how difficult this would be for a DIY fix. I would have to get it welded at a shop, because I don't have the equipment.

I was reading about 3M's Automix to basically glue patch panels instead of welding. I was wondering what you guys thought about using that stuff vs welding?

Here is what I was thinking. I would have to trace out the patch on my car and cut out the sheet metal about 0.5 to 1 inch below my original line. I would make a flange so it would be indented on the original sheet metal up to the line I drew. The new patch would then lay in the flange and line up with the original sheet metal.

Does anyone have suggestions, or has anyone attempted fixing this on their own?

Thanks

 

I have seen quite a few do it yourself patches on the rear quarters. None of which came out looking very good. To get the panels to line up right and then the paint to look right is very difficult.

I would definately get it welded, it wouldnt even cost that much money.

Do you have any body experience? Its not the easiest thing to master, I have very little, but have a friend I use for all of it. Too bad you arent closer he could do it for you for cheap.

Paint will probably be your biggest issue, because a rattle can just cant do that good of a job.

 

I have done some minor body work removing surface rust, filling, sanding, then painting it. It was on the bottom of the front fender and turned out pretty nice. I basically below that plastic trim, so no fading of the paint was involved.

There is a place that mixes paint in an aerosol can with my paint code. When I painted the fender, you can't tell much difference in color.

The previous owner must have had someone put fiberglass over the rust. It just masked the problem. I ground out all of the rust on the driver's side with my dremel. I sealed, primed, then painted all of the bare metal just to stop the rust.

The passenger side is showing rust all the way around the wheel well. That is why I thought that the patch panels would be better to use.

Eventually the car is going to need a paint job.