Battery Compartment Rust

[JConnerly]

Just bought an 81 and found a spot the size of a silver dollar rusted through the bulkhead behind the battery. There is corrosion on the tray and running down to the front of the fuel tank. I have cleaned up most of the corrosives but not sure how to proceed in fixing the damage. So far this is the only rust I have found on the car.

[124JOE]

scrub it up with a wire brush
and paint it asap
do the same on the back side
fill it over with bondo,sand flat and seal/paint

or cut weld prime paint

[seabeelt]

Dont know if you can get at it from the back side. Unlkess I am mistaken the upper portion /back wall is part of a cross car tunnel/stiffener. Bondo will work, however, if you have any welding skills I would recommend that first. My second choise would be fiberglass mesh and then the bondo over that ( depending on the hole size of course) r/

[spidernut]

I agree with "seabeelt". Metal is preferable, but you could grind out the rust and fiberglass over it followed by some sanding, bondo and paint.