The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Prep for Floorboard Insulation

Before I install the floorboard insulation in my 1953 GMC how should I cover any holes I’m not using in the firewall/floorboard ? I hope it doesn’t entail welding metal to cover any holes.

We use 3M Panel Bond. It is stronger than a weld and no warping. It does have to be on bare metal. Rough up the patch and about an inch around the hole with 36 grit, use enough Panel Bond so it squeezes out around the edges as this will prevent any water from getting in the seam and causing rust, stick together and let set over night. If where visible smear a swipe of bondo over the patch and sand smooth.

1949 AD firewall with bonded patches done 16 years ago:

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/T5xnpnCk/dan-s-49-011.jpg[/img]

1930 Model A with bonded steel top done 5 years ago:

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/p9qDpmgx/IMG-4335.jpg[/img]

When the trucks came off of the assembly line, many hole where not used. There was an adhesive backed sound deadening/insulation mat which was applied to the inside of the cab which covered all of the unused holes. Incidentally, this mat was applied after the exterior was painted, As a result, everywhere there was an unused hole, they showed up as black which was the color of the adhesive.
Carl