Would anyone care to offer advise on how to treat the surface rust I found in inside of the trunk of my newly acquired '69 convertible? Actually, I found 2 small (1/8") sized holes near the worst rust area. I scraped and wire brushed off the areas affected. Now I am thinking of treating the rust areas affected with grey POR15 and then find some spatter(?) paint to match the coating used in the good areas. Would this be the correct way to treat this or is there another more advisable way?

Also ... There are 2 lowered oval shaped areas near the trunk rear before the hump. I was told by a parts supplier that these areas should be open holes for water to escape. Is this correct? Should I cut the holes?

I have yet to find out how the water is getting into the trunk but I am guessing from the convertible top window area. The same parts supplier tells me there is supposed to be a plastic shelf to divert water out into the wheel well area and that it may be missing or clogged with debris.
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Fred

Hi Fred, most of us have been there done that in the trunk. cruise thru my photos here and see how I did it. Not concorse for show points but cured the problem for awhile. I used POR putty on the larger holes then POR fibermesh pushed into the putty and then painted over the mesh with POR black, then treated the trunk to POR Gray, then when still tacky, the splatter paint and then 2 coats of clear coat. Dont forget the clear coat, splatter mushes when wet. Welcome to Team Camaro too, come often stay late and ask when you have questions, help others if you can too. Use the 'search' function at first but if stumped, call for help.
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my trunk pics (http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/Trunk/)

Would anyone care to offer advise on how to treat the surface rust I found in inside of the trunk of my newly acquired '69 convertible? Actually, I found 2 small (1/8") sized holes near the worst rust area. I scraped and wire brushed off the areas affected. Now I am thinking of treating the rust areas affected with grey POR15 and then find some spatter(?) paint to match the coating used in the good areas. Would this be the correct way to treat this or is there another more advisable way?

Try to save the floor if at all possible, especially if it is the original floor. POR15 sells a good floor pan repair kit that has some fiberglass patches that can easily cover small holes.

Also ... There are 2 lowered oval shaped areas near the trunk rear before the hump. I was told by a parts supplier that these areas should be open holes for water to escape. Is this correct? Should I cut the holes?

You shouldn't have to cut these. They are cut from the factory. Just remove the flat metal oval plug that is sealed in. If these holes are not already cut then your trunk floor has been replaced before. Most repro floor pans do not have these holes precut. Removing these is not the permanent answer to your water problems.

I have yet to find out how the water is getting into the trunk but I am guessing from the convertible top window area. The same parts supplier tells me there is supposed to be a plastic shelf to divert water out into the wheel well area and that it may be missing or clogged with debris.There is a white plastic water trough that runs around the underneath side of the well. I think you can see it from inside the car. Stick your head over the back seat down into the well and look up. This piece often becomes cracked from age.

For small holes, remove the fuel tank, and have someone hold a block of copper or aluminum over the hole from the underside while you or someone else welds up the holes. Then grind smooth and, if necessary, skim coat with filler. I would paint the car, including the hinge areas, and trunk latch area before I painted the spatter paint.

Jim,
My trunk is no where near as bad as the condition yours was. It only has 2 small holes and as I found out last night they are not visible from the underside. I won't need much to fill them.
My trunk must not be original. The oval holes do not appear to "punch" out. I tried to knock them out last night without sucess. They would just bend the metal instead. I see from your pix's that your holes were not open originaly. How did you open your holes?
Where is a good source for the splatter paint? Does the type of clear coat paint matter?
It looks like it will be a little while before I can help anyone else concerning Camaro issues. I see I have lots to learn. I actually have a 69 Coupe roller project that I put on hold until I get this one the way I want it ( and get $$ to fix ).
Thanks !
Fred

Try our sight sposor for the spatter paint and clear (specifically designed for spatter)... it's worth it to give 'em a shot.

wire brush the worst spots well, and then shine a light on the underside and look into the trunk, you may see many more pinholes that you'll want to fill..

I used the por putty and powermesh like click did on mine with great results.

The oval pucks were glued in with seam sealer at the factory they should pop out with little fuss, a little prying should help to get them out... that is if that's the original trunk we're talking about here..

John

Larry,
My trunk floor is probably not original although it is very hard to tell where the repair was made. I am certainly no expert at telling this however. I did not see any plugs to knock out. It looks like a solid piece in the oval depression area. Hitting the depression with a hammer only made dents in the metal. I am thinking of just drilling a large hole in the depression area for water to escape.
I located the white plastic water trough inside the trunk area. It appears to be in very good shape for the entire length that I can see and feel. I felt a hole opening near the top center that I think the convert top window area drains through. It appears to be open. I see that the plastic trough goes downward and toward the front of the rear wheel wells. Where does the trough spill out? I can't seem to figure that one out. I see a black rubber plug in the wheel well towards the front but the plug appears to be closed. I was expecting a hole that water to drain from. What am I missing here?
Thanks for your input ! :D
Fred

My floor holes are there and have the metal plug in them in the final photos there. I used a bead of seam sealer and a small sheet metal screw to hold them in place. This was original trunk floor and was very visible from underneath too. Since I replace the gas tank also, it was easy to be underneath and putty from there and also I used the POR mesh screen on the underside as well for added strength.

I did not see any plugs to knock out. It looks like a solid piece in the oval depression area. Hitting the depression with a hammer only made dents in the metal. I am thinking of just drilling a large hole in the depression area for water to escape.

There is nothing to knock out. From the factory, these oval depressions were cut out and a flat oval metal plug covered the hole and was held in place with seam sealer. To remove them you would have to pry them up. They are very obvious so apparently you don't have them. You could drill a hole but that wouldn't be a very clean way of doing it. I would cut out the holes in their complete oval shape then install replacement caps after you solve the water problem.

I located the white plastic water trough inside the trunk area. It appears to be in very good shape for the entire length that I can see and feel. I felt a hole opening near the top center that I think the convert top window area drains through. It appears to be open. I see that the plastic trough goes downward and toward the front of the rear wheel wells. Where does the trough spill out? I can't seem to figure that one out. I see a black rubber plug in the wheel well towards the front but the plug appears to be closed. I was expecting a hole that water to drain from. What am I missing here?

Not exactly sure of the path the water takes but it does not exit through the wheel well plug you are referring to. Read this post for more info.

http://www.camaros.net/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002209

To find the leak, you might try having someone run a hose over your top while you are laying inside the trunk.

Great post Larry. The referrenced post says to look for small holes in the floor pan under the quarter windows. I found a very small hole on each side of about 1/8" in diameter and it is located about an inch behind the front rear leaf spring mounting point. I don't know if this is the correct place I'm looking for. Next chance I get I will take a garden hose and do some investigating where the water goes ( or does not go ! ) :D

Fred