P38A P38 boot floor welding

LR-hobbs said:

Hi everyone I was tidying my boot out and found the site below

Does anyone know What thickness of metal the floor is made from?
And is the floor made of steel?

These images are not the bottom of the floor but the sides so they aren't draining bungs.


I am brand new to welding so be kind.


Cheers

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Datatek said:

The first one looks like a deliberately drilled hole? If you use an arc welder, disconnect the battery negative or you may destroy the electronics. Personally, I would treat with Phosphoric acid to kill the rust and then repair with fibre glass & resin.

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LR-hobbs said:

There seems to be a piece of metal behind that hole that's now loose and when I went under the car it looks like it sits between the exhaust t piece and the boot floor.
Possible heat shield? Idk.

If I was to go down the welder route , do you know what thickness metal it would be ?

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Datatek said:

Sorry I do not know the thickness of the metal. I use the sides off old washing machines for body repairs. How about a bolt and big washer?

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LR-hobbs said:

Il just get some 2mm steel sheets

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Mark Piercy said:

If your new to welding, don't let your 38' be your first job!! ... Doing it with an arc welder is a different thing. Better with a small decent mig welder, more control for me..
Either way make sure the battery is disconnected so no risk of any current passing through the cars electronics.

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Mark Piercy said:

If you try to weld metal that is too thick compared to the parent metal you run the risk of blowing through the parent metal to the get amps needed to blend the two different thicknesses... It can be done if you've got experience but if you haven't
I would say around 1mm/1.2mm.
Your only blocking a hole not rebuilding a structure and you can with practice repair the hole with sequential spot welding,
spot-cool, spot-cool and have either a watering can or airline to hand in case a thing catches fire
As for the rust patch, if it's not heavily dergraded just cure and protect.

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