I have to do a patch panel huh?

Dartnut said
One thing to consider is that the panel got rock chips on it and it rusted from the outside in.......
The body shop just ''bondoed'' over the pin holes and caused the problem to get worse. The plastic filler actually acts as a sponge and absorbs moisture through the already present rust holes from behind. The time is now to fix it right.
It's really an easy fix to cut out and correct the problem area with new metal.
I really wouldn't be too worried about it, there are lots of videos on you tube about this if you do some research.
Click to expand...

This is possible too. You have to prep and kill the rust or it will come back yo bite you. Mine was rusted from inside out, but much lower. Water got in the trunk and sat in 40yrs of dust/dirt accumulation in the narrow confines between the panels and did its thing. Other problem areas i had were where water got into seam sealer where it had shrank over the years. Our patch was pretty small and we used metal cut from a junk car door. Free is free. :)