Rusted out pinch welds

[TorqueEffect]

While digging at the rust, after pulling off allot of the pinch weld that had rotted off the passenger side by the rear wheel arch, and noticed that the slanted metal panel with the holes in it that runs down the length of the inside of the rocker panel is rotted through as well.

How structural is this to the car?
Is it very important? If not I will clean it up the best I can, and then patch up the body around it

Also here is some pics, though one of the pictures is the rear passenger floor pan from the bottom.

http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/TorqueEffect/media/Rust/20130924_150607_zps496d5ffa.jpg.html

[FestYboy]

that sir, IS structural. you need to fix it right the first time, no patching and saying life is good here. it's what's holding your rear axle to the car.

[1chrisapple]

That bad. Id start with a diff body to me nuts and bolts are easier than fixing that mess

[TorqueEffect]

Couple more pics.

http://s1262.photobucket.com/user/TorqueEffect/library/Mounting%20point

So the car is screwed? Just lovely......

Alright, guess I will have to save keep an eye out for a rust free body.

[TorqueEffect]

You know what? Screw it!

I am going to save this car, because I have more emotional value in it than most people have in their Festys, since this is my first ever car, and as idiotic as it sounds I want to keep it, not strip it down and throw it away for scrap.

Muleskinner walked away from worse rot that was actually ON the axle mount, this is NEAR it.

[Spike]

Haha.. that's how I feel with my '90. It is the biggest lemon Festiva that ever was. I've had SO MANY PROBLEMS in the 35k I've put on it.. the floorboard is 30% gone (in just 2 years, ain't kidding), the body is tweaked and cannot get it aligned, it eats suspension parts (no matter who puts them on), has gone through 2 mufflers (I dunno how even.. was a nice, brand-new muffler when I got it..).

Uhh.. rad support snapped and dropped engine a few inches. Front strut SNAPPED IN HALF (luckily while I was driving 2MPH). Eats bearings every 10k miles (bad spindles, lazy, haven't replaced). Auto transmission is starting to fail (sometimes doesn't want to go into any gear).. fairly sure it has a blown head gasket (oil in rad, can't tell if coolant in oil because it BURNS OIL LIKE CRAZY, 1k miles = black oil). Can't drive on gravel (giant amount of gray smoke if driven in second gear for any length of time).

...yet I can't get myself to strip it and scrap it.

Am I crazy?

[Spike]

So what I'm saying is.. fix it! You have a lot of work in it, it'd be sad to let it go now.

Also, anyone want to buy my beloved first car/first Festiva for $2000? LOL

[Bert]

I don't know how many times I've advised folks to oil-spray their cars. When you buy something that is 20 years old and has travelled in the rust belt guaranteed the metal in strategic places has gotten soft already long before you bought it. Oil the bejesus out of every nook and cranny and seam (and fuel/brake lines etc) the moment you get one of these cars! And do it every year, or for that matter every time you're underneath that car.

[1chrisapple]

well I cant stand being covered in oil everytime u crawl under the car but I don't have as bad of rust issues as up there

[1chrisapple]

anything is repairable if u want to

[scitzz]

You know what? Screw it!

I am going to save this car, because I have more emotional value in it than most people have in their Festys, since this is my first ever car, and as idiotic as it sounds I want to keep it, not strip it down and throw it away for scrap.
t.

Most, but I bet I match ya! Good for you! Keep the old girl running! Do what I plan on doing, build her up tougher!