legacycentral bbs

Ok, so I happen to have a pretty major rust spot on the rear pas. side quarter panel. Obviously, I would like to get it fixed so the car doesn't look like a total beater.

So here are my questions:
Is it actually repairable?
If so, would the price be in reason?
To make it easier, I was planning on using a dremel to cut away the rusted section, then clean it up. Should I go to a junk yard and try and cut out a rear quarter panel form another legacy and take that to the body shop, have them weld it in, bondo and prime, or should I just let them use metal they have to do the job.

Ok, well someone over on Nasioc recommend that if I find a whole legacy in a junk yard just to remove the whole quarter panel. Anyone know how I would go about getting it off?

Yikes. That part isn't the easiest to replace.

My car is in the shop right now getting rust repair. The guy I deal with cuts out the cancer and welds new metal in the area, bends it all to shape and grinds it right down flush with the existing panels.
You aren't going to find another Legacy without at least that similar problem, so your best bet would be to go that route.

It's not an expensive job, if its just on that side, I'd guess no more than $500 all said and done.

Just bend your own sheet metal. It's a simple shape. Zinc galvanize spray it after.

Be prepared to treat a lot more than what you can see... rust is like an iceberg, 2/3 you can't see, and that's the part that will kill you. Start poking with a screwdriver, to find the real perimiter.

The problem area where that rust is, will be where the inner fender and the outer panel join up. Pull out your trunk liner and stick a light inside the panel to scope it out.
You have to get that seam fixed right, or the rust comes right back.

Just leave it and when somebody makes note of it just tell them that it's a new system of gradual weight reduction.

quarter panels aren't removeable on our cars really, they are welded to frame

even new metal is a temp fix as some will attest, the iceburg thing is truth, it's still lurking......

Spitfire999 wrote:Ok, so I happen to have a pretty major rust spot on the rear pas. side quarter panel.

Rust Spot? Sorry dude - that's a rust hole. That's a problem area on all Subarus. Junk builds up on the crease were the bumper meets the body and it just rusts away in that corner. Like everyone's said, it will come back.

There are some places that do rust repair (esp. in areas with bad weather i.e. lots of salt) and they guarantee their work.

Use zinc galvanizing spray as a primer on both sides and the repair should last as long as the original. I never hear of anyone doing this - all I hear about from auto body guys is that Pour-15 shit that works only marginally. The zinc spray is what they originally coated the metal with (more or less - the metal was galvanized) and why it lasted as long as it did. You can get it at electrical supply houses and it works on steel exposed to the elements without paint for years, though you can paint over it.

So I went and got some quotes, and needless to say, I don't feel like throwing 500+ dollars at it is actually worth it. I can't afford it at the moment.

So I think my solution will be to simply cut a piece form another legacy, cut the rust out of my car, then pop rivet the panel in. I was originally planning on making this car into a really clean street car, but recently I realized I wont have the money, so bring on the Hella's and mud flaps, rally is more fun that street anyway.

Thanks for the recommendation guys.

PS, does anyone know if macco or somewhere could mix me up a rattle can of Rio Red?

Some Napa Auto parts stores mix paint. That's where I got my stuff. It's like 12 bucks a can.