Why you should fix the rust on your hatch

[ikarus]

I have a clean 80 with almost no rust whatsoever - except on the rear hatch.

There are 6 spots total. 5 of them are surface rust on the pinch weld, and I should in theory be able to clean those up, use some Eastwood Rust Remover, prime, paint and use cavity wax.

The sixth spot unfortunately has rusted through. My gut tells me I probably just need to cut it out and weld in a patch.

Couldn't get my phone to focus but this is the view from inside -

I would love to just clean up the rust and use fiberglass or bondo or something as it's such a small hole - maybe 2-3mm - but I don't know how to clean the rust out of the underside of the pinch weld.

Thoughts?

 

[artech]

Ospho. I have been using it by the gallon on my truck refresh project to combat(treat and seal) the rust. Paint over the Ospho and it stays sealed. That and some JB Weld and you're good for another decade at least before it needs more attention.

 

[ikarus]

Ospho. I have been using it by the gallon on my truck refresh project to combat(treat and seal) the rust. Paint over the Ospho and it stays sealed. That and some JB Weld and you're good for another decade at least before it needs more attention.

I’ll look into that, thanks.

 

[artech]

Eastwood Rust Encapsulator is also very good and long lasting. They also make a frame paint that comes in cans with built in extension nozzles for getting into tight places like inside the frame and body panels. That might work well to get inside the hatch voids- just drill a hole, spray the paint, and put a plastic plug in the hole. I'm using quite a bit of that as well inside my frame and fenders.