GNRick

Removed spare tire and found a hole about 3" X 2" around the rubber plug. Cut out all rusted area. Applied POR-15 to the area, then primered and painted it. Glued in a piece of sheet metal from Home Depot. I used emblem adhesive. Put a brick on the patch and held it down with wood shims. Sprayed the bottom side with bed liner as that was all I had. I'll probably just leave the rubber plug off unless someone gives me a good reason to drill a hole in the sheet metal and put one in. Will find out tomorrow if the glue held. If not I'll rivet it on.

GNRick

Sanded the rust and painted it with POR 15. Sprayed it with some red paint but it didn't seem to cover too well so just called it a day.

FricFrac

The plug is just there to let you drain the water out which as you can imagine from the rusted out hole never happened

GNRick

I hope I don't have water leaking in there. There is minimal rust in the hatch area.

zxguy1986

Good job. Usually riveting is necessary under the seat wells because of potential further rust and the strength needed - but you're probably OK under the wheel well as long as you coated it good. You saved a pain by avoiding the drilling and riveting. Maybe add another coat or two on the underside of your patch. If your hatch area has leaks, water will collect in the bottom of that well - so you still should have a drain.

borini63

There is a good write up about how to fix the spare tire well.....

Spare Tire Well Replacement (and pics!) - Nissan : Datsun ZCar forum :Nissan Z Forum: 240Z to 370Z

GNRick

Yes I read that write up. That is what motivated me to do my little patch work. The patch didn't conform to the hole as well as I would have liked, so I siliconed around the patch from the inside and outside for extra insurance against water splashing in from the outside. I'll keep an eye on it for water collecting in there if I ever get caught in the rain (or when I wash it).