Not after you see this pict! It can't be much worse than my 300TD with terminal body cancer (rust).

I removed my front side drivers seat today to examine the damage on my floorpan. I was not happy about what I found. Where the seat track rests is rusted completely through to open air, and the pan is also rusted through in a line parallel to the front of the seat. The rust pattern creats an upsidedown L, not so safe. It seems the local body shop is going to make some good $$ on this one, unless I can get the guy up the street to weld some scrap metal onto there for me.

So my question is, will a home-done job suffice, or should I take it to a body shop? I think there is enough good metal left to weld some new metal on, but I don't know anything about bodywork and don't want to fall out of the car on the highway!

Second question, why is the floorpan so badly rusted? As you can see from the picture, there has been oil living under the carpets for probably a bunch of years. The PO didn't fix the leaking oil gauge. But oil should NOT rust metal, right? I found no water leakage, but what is the most common drain that would be plugged to leak water into this area?

Thanks for your help.

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__________________
Sean Roland

2004 Saab 9-5 AERO 138k (for sale)
2000 VW Jetta GLS TDI 215k (sold)
1999 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 - 132k (sold)
1999 Saab 9-3se -- 84k (sold)
1986 MB 190e 2.3 16v -- 221K (sold)
1985 MB 190e 2.3 16v euro -- 145k (junked)
1992 Saab 9000t 5sp. -- 142k (sold)
1994 Subaru Legacy -- 264K (sold)
1998 Audi A4 1.8TQ -- 102k (sold)
1983 MB 240D stick -- 160k (sold)
1988 Saab 900SPG -- 156K (sold)
1983 MB 300D -- 270K project or parts (sold)
1986 MB 280SE Euro stick -- 150K (sold)