iluvJDM

hey guys so today I decided to take off the rubber side molding that it seems my previous owner put on, well ive always assume they werent factory but some rubber trim my PO had slapped on, so im peeling away and of course theres rust! but then something i dont expect...holes! I did a search for 81-83 pics and none had side moldings! So why does mine have holes? i was planning on just sanding and doing some touch up paint but the holes just threw me off. They holes are severly rusted and are bent way out of shape...should i have just left the side moldings on?

Sweets

I think they look better with no side moldings. Fill the holes woth bondo or something, and sand it. Im no expert on body repair but thats what I would do.

iluvJDM

yeah thats what im thinking, i can see the rust bulging from under the sidemoldings...for now im gonna sand and try to get everything smooth because the rust around the holes has warped them and made them bulge. Im gonna spray some duplicolor black paint until i can get some bondo and cover the holes. man wish me luck guys...this is gonna take a long time

WildmaN

Yeah I took all my side trim off, and bondoed the holes, then primered my whole car for now. It turned out good, and will do, until I get the bodywork done. And get him repainted down the road. I also bondoed the rear hatch where the stupid louvers were. Because I have always hated those gawdy things. My opinion though, good luck to you man, it is a great learning experience.

iluvJDM

yeah thanks, well after i got the molding and glue off, i sanded to the best of my power and then let er rip with the spray and frankly im disappointed my car looks like *** ...the bare metal around the rust holes was all rough as i sprayed it and didn't come out nowhere near smooth. My car now has little craters where the holes are and looks like ugly but id rather my car look bad than be eaten alive by rust lol. Anyway this is a quick fix/stall...im gonna get some bondo and fill in the rust craters and sand/spray again...and if anything maybe in the future where i have money ill just take it to a shop and have it done and painted

iluvJDM

BTW would that stop the rust? Spraying the exposed metal/rust with black duplicolor paint then Bondoing over it and then spraying a final coat over the Bondo? Thanks again guys

WildmaN

Hey man, could you post a few pics, of the rust and such? To see what we can do more to help? Just a thought bro', it might make it easier figuring it out for you.

hoov100

why not go buy a set of doors at the junkyard and swap em out? its what im doing after high school.

iluvJDM

well guys i decided to just put the sidemolding back for now, i dont have the time or resources to bondo and sand and then get a paintjob since i will need to after the bondo. At least now the rust wont spread and i will put the sidemolding on with silicone instead of doublesided tape to make sure no more water get stuck there and cause anymore rust.

skittle

put some por15 on the rust. its a rust inhibitor and moister repelent. if you just bondo the holes the rust will still be there and create more trouble down the line.