No one looks forward to the chore that is rot repair; however, it's often necessary and should not be ignored. On the plus side, it's a task that can often be handled without resorting to farming it out to a professional, especially if it doesn't require bodywork and paint. Interior and trunk floor repairs are examples of rust repair that almost any of us can tackle, since there's not a lot of fine finish work for the most part; all we have to concentrate on is a successful and strong repair, not how pretty it is.
Determining whether a particular interior or trunk floor rot situation is repairable at home requires a bit of inspection. In other words, you want to pay close attention to the extent of the damage and look closely at not only the floor areas, but to adjacent reinforcements and supports as well. Since floor rot is usually the result of leaks in the interior or trunk areas that allow water to pool or collect rather than from water splashing up from underneath the vehicle, it often ends up getting trapped between the actual floorpans and some of the gussets and support structures too. So, take the time to really check out the situation so you don't end up opening a can of worms. That said, we all know our limitations, but on the other hand, you don't want to shortchange your capabilities either; all of us are usually more capable than we think.
Rust repair is also a task that really doesn't require a bunch of specialized tools to perform. Sure, a MIG welder is the ideal way to replace metal, but it's not the only option. In a pinch, repairs can be accomplished using rivets, and, in these technologically advanced days, even structural adhesives that are-believe it or not-nearly as strong as welds are a more-than-acceptable alternative.
Here, I'm going to give an overview of a typical floor-rust repair on a mid-'50s Chevrolet. Keep in mind that the process is pretty much the same for this vehicle as it would be for most others and hopefully will encourage those in a similar situation to give it a try-like I've said many a time: If I can do it, anyone can.
