Crazy rust

[_JDizzle_]

I ripped up my carpet up found a giant hole in the floor bigger than a licence plate by about 3 inches its super wet its rusty the gas pedal goes through the floor and i can smell gas the fuel line in that area is rusted. What do i do? Get rid of the car? Or fix it? Whats best?

[rturbo 930]

Where are you located, ie, how hard is it going to be to find a better car? Does the car have any more rust, or is it isolated to that one area? Can you tell what caused it to rust? Exactly how much rust is there? Pull up the carpet and find out where the rust stops. From your pics, it doesn't look that's all there is. Can you weld, or will you have to pay someone to fix it?

[15Michaeljoseph]

i'd say you can get that cut and welded


--Mike

[mitchlikesbikes]

Where are you located, ie, how hard is it going to be to find a better car? Does the car have any more rust, or is it isolated to that one area? Can you tell what caused it to rust? Exactly how much rust is there? Pull up the carpet and find out where the rust stops. From your pics, it doesn't look that's all there is. Can you weld, or will you have to pay someone to fix it?

this. we need wayyyyyy more info to tell you what your options are. for all you know there couldn't be any floor left under that carpet.

[ravenlord89]

How handy with a welder and angle grinder are you? How much space do you have? How long can the car be laid up to repair it?

Judging from the amount of rust I would say you need to pull the entire carpet up, and do a complete inspection of the entire car, looking at all of the nooks that water could get into. Odds are unless this car means something to you, or they are impossible to find clean in your area, you would be better off taking any and all good parts off and scrapping the chassis.

[_JDizzle_]

Im going to pull te carpet tomorrow and im in ohio not many good e30s around and it can be laid up as long as needed its not my only ride.but like i said im going to pull the carpet tomorrow and see how far it goes.

[_JDizzle_]

How handy with a welder and angle grinder are you? How much space do you have? How long can the car be laid up to repair it?

Judging from the amount of rust I would say you need to pull the entire carpet up, and do a complete inspection of the entire car, looking at all of the nooks that water could get into. Odds are unless this car means something to you, or they are impossible to find clean in your area, you would be better off taking any and all good parts off and scrapping the chassis.

This was my first ever car so its got some personal value if i have to ill get rid of it but if all im lookong at is some time and effort then im keeping it.

[_JDizzle_]

i'd say you can get that cut and welded


--Mike

You think? Awesome

[rturbo 930]

You think? Awesome

You probably can. Floors aren't too complicated, honestly, unless you want to be really anal about replicating the original shape. But it might extend up into the firewall and frame, and depending on the overall condition of the car, it might not be worth it. And you need to have some idea of what you're doing. If you're willing to learn to fix it yourself, a welding class might not be a bad idea.

[_JDizzle_]

You probably can. Floors aren't too complicated, honestly, unless you want to be really anal about replicating the original shape. But it might extend up into the firewall and frame, and depending on the overall condition of the car, it might not be worth it. And you need to have some idea of what you're doing. If you're willing to learn to fix it yourself, a welding class might not be a bad idea.

Yeah i planned on getting my friend to either teach me to weld or weld ot for me i really hope it doesnt go up to the fire wallni have a swap in mind and need as much money as possible im going to pull the carpet soon and check things out thanks for the input

[_JDizzle_]

You probably can. Floors aren't too complicated, honestly, unless you want to be really anal about replicating the original shape. But it might extend up into the firewall and frame, and depending on the overall condition of the car, it might not be worth it. And you need to have some idea of what you're doing. If you're willing to learn to fix it yourself, a welding class might not be a bad idea.

Think i could do this job with a mig welder or not?

[_JDizzle_]

Okay update pulled the driver side carpet the rust has only started up the fire wall so its just the floor pan

[_JDizzle_]

30 minutes with a wire brush

[rturbo 930]

Yeah, thought so. How badly is it pitted where it hasn't rusted through? Looks like it's not too bad towards the rear, and only gets really bad towards where your feet rest. Can you tell what caused it to rust, ie, bad windshield gasket, leaky heater core, etc? Reason being, if you don't address the cause, the rust is just gonna come back again later. And before you do anything, take out your wheel well liner, and see what it looks like where the wheel housing meets the firewall - seems like it's common for that to be an issue on E30s with bad rust, but it might not be showing on the inside yet. Check the first post here: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=225093 I'm just wondering if there's a hole higher up on your firewall that's letting water in.

Depending how much you have to replace you could probably replace it with some sheet metal (not ideal, but it would be work), or if you need to replace the entire area, it might be better to get someone to cut the floor out of a wrecked car with good floors. And then of course you need to weld it in - a MIG will work.

[_JDizzle_]

Yeah, thought so. How badly is it pitted where it hasn't rusted through? Looks like it's not too bad towards the rear, and only gets really bad towards where your feet rest. Can you tell what caused it to rust, ie, bad windshield gasket, leaky heater core, etc? Reason being, if you don't address the cause, the rust is just gonna come back again later. And before you do anything, take out your wheel well liner, and see what it looks like where the wheel housing meets the firewall - seems like it's common for that to be an issue on E30s with bad rust, but it might not be showing on the inside yet. Check the first post here: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=225093 I'm just wondering if there's a hole higher up on your firewall that's letting water in.

Depending how much you have to replace you could probably replace it with some sheet metal (not ideal, but it would be work), or if you need to replace the entire area, it might be better to get someone to cut the floor out of a wrecked car with good floors. And then of course you need to weld it in - a MIG will work.

The fender is off. At the back of the wheel well there is a small hole where it meets the firewall right behind the clutch pedal. Its not too bad where the seat is but on the side closest to the door is gettkng bad but its still solid i knocked anything that wasent solid out and scrubed with a 1 dollar wire brush so i could address it. The previous owner attempted to rally it so maybe something went through the floor? Otherwise i have no clue what caused it theres no signs of anything leaking accept maybe the windsheild gasket. Its not in the best shape. Thats probably what it is because the passenger side is spotless. But also right behind the seat there is a plug and its rusted out too im not sure what caused that maybe water from the front got pushed back? Anyone know where i can get a new plug for that? Old one is beyond saving.