Unfortunately there are multiple pin holes through the pan that almost don't show through to the inside. All the rust happened on the outside between the pan and skid plate. The skid is actually just lightly pitted but it is a good bit thicker than the stamped pan. You are right that a patch may not be wise as there could be some warpage. I'm going to cut in a patch and take it to someone with real skills to have welded. I'll use weld-thru primer and, like I did with the replacement I'm running, and gobsnot the bejeezeus out of it. Post #35,300 below.
New pans for the later engines are available and will work on many earlier blocks but I kind of dig the earlier skid plates that bend up in front. I guess I could just weld something on to a new one but where's the fun in that?
