Author Topic: Oh No! (Read 1301 times)

basement · « **on:** July 15, 2005 - 01:59:39 PM »

There is an area between the windshield and engine bay where you can access all the windshield wiper arms after removing the plastic grates. When it rains or whenever water runs down the windshield the water drips through the vents and puddles up in this area. Well over the years rust has developed and eaten through the firewall to where you can see daylight. What are my options for repair? The holes vary in diameter between 1/8-1/4in. I have no welding equipment or the skills to go along with so any repair will most likely have to be done by a shop. I hope to remove the engine and detail the engine compartment and this would be the prime time. I�ve seen replacement floor and trunk panels but do they sell replacement firewall sections or panels?

AAR71 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2005 - 02:45:10 PM »

Basement first off they don't make replacement panels or patch panels for firewalls or cowl boxes; I'm in the same boat and the only thing I have been able to do is call all the salvage yards in the states to see if they have the complete firewall with cowl box and A-Pillars and see if they would ship to where i'm at but so far I have had very limited success.
I would start calling salvage yards to see if they have anything decent and if they could cut it out where you want it cut then take the car to a reputable bodyshop with the sheetmetal; that way all they have to charge you for is the actual cutting and welding that has to be done. ( check out MIKETYLER's CUDA in this forum he just went through this major surgical procedure and it came out super professional; it's under the bodyshop forum under firewall and cowl replacement I believe) good luck! :thumbs:

VPOINTCUDA · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2005 - 04:23:23 PM »

If you can , have the area grit blasted, or sand it down and remove all the rust you can get out. You can place a piece of aluminum under the small holes and use lead to fill them. Or if your not apposed to the use of such things , try duraglass, or some other water proof filler. It all depends on how big the holes are.
Lead won't stick to aluminum and you are just using it to hold the lead in place till it cools.
You don't have much in the way of options without some type of welding equipment.

rubberbumpercuda · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2005 - 09:45:57 PM »

hi guys i have a parts car i am almost done with that might have the patches you are looking for if you are interested i can ship anything you want just hope i can help get another cuda on the road(not on a trailer).

AAR71 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2005 - 10:16:58 PM »

Hey Rubberbumpercuda! I might be interested in the front A-Pillars if they are rust hole free and the Drivers side C-Pillar the trunk gutters both sides; if you can E-Mail me some pictures that I can check out you might have a buyer for the parts. Also if you have a solid rear seat floor pan I would be interested in that too; just E-Mail me at: cuda71@libertypr.net Hope you can help me out. :thumbs:

miketyler · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2005 - 08:23:13 AM »

Hey Basement - I feel your pain. I just went thru all of that on my car. I did consider patching it but the more I looked, the more I found. I also had rust damage on the side kick panels and lower firewall. I located a donor car and had the complete firewall and cowl replaced. Its interesting reading, check out these threads:

Identify firewall and cowl rust: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/smf/index.php?topic=9230.0

Firewall and cowl replacement: http://www.cuda-challenger.com/smf/index.php?topic=10920.0

Author Topic: Oh No! (Read 1301 times)

basement

Oh No!

AAR71

Re: Oh No!

VPOINTCUDA

Re: Oh No!

rubberbumpercuda

Re: Oh No!

AAR71

Re: Oh No!

miketyler

Re: Oh No!