Damn tailgate, grrrr

[steviem]

So, as there are little bits of surface rust poking at the bottom of my tailgate, and some surface rust around the handle. I decided to get rid of the rust and try my hand with some filler...

I quickly proceeded and found this under the handle (after an ickle bit of sanding):

as you can see, its not too awful...

Then I thought, hmm, I'll take off the number plate, maybe its got a little bit there, and I found this staring back at me!!


So. my boot at the moment is this:


Its gone from an easyish bit of surface rust, to a gaping hole, so how could I get this sorted?

[Bazzer]

p38 and p40 mate... maybe a little bit 'o mesh too...

Really annoys me when I see this, it's cos the dealer insist on using self tappers for the number plates, not stickons or the nice surrounds you always see on german cars....

[steviem]

Cool, I'll be getting some of that tomorrow, then...

Although, that hole would be a handy chocolate bar loading hole...

Oh yeah, the number plate will be stuck on from now on....

[Agreeable Slick]

hole looks a bit large to mesh up to me, and remember that it will be under stress when being opened and closed, which could make the filler crack and the mesh pop out. personally i would get a new tailgate from a scrappy, and get it painted if you cannot get one in the right colour. Might even be cheaper than all the repair stuff.

[steviem]

That's a good point you have there, Slick. The hole is going to become a lot bigger once i get rid of all the rot.
Hopefully I'll find a cheap tailgate quite soon.
Its weird, all the rustiness is on the backend of the car, the rest is OK, except for the front of the bonnet, but thats been caused by stone chips, I think.

[monzablue16v]

That's a mere flesh wound easily fixable!

[Dizzie]

I would advise replacing the whole boot and be safe in knowing there is 0 rust in the most common place on a mk2.

I have another tailgate stored which is 99% rust free. (tiny bit around number plate holes) which Monza was having. If he doesn't want it it'll be up for sale.

[steviem]

Well, I have nothing else to do this week, so I'm going to try out repairing it, and also try spraying. Just to learn on, you know...then I'll be getting a better tailgate

I wish I had a welder, then I could try smoothing it totally...howabout soldering a plate on!! 

[steviem]

Well, I've filled that hole, mesh, P40 and P38, and put on a few coats of filler primer, then matt black primer.

My tailgate now looks like this:


I haven't sorted all the painting, like the actual main paint and lacquer, but I am liking the matt finish on there

So, now, opinions, to matt or not to matt, that is the question..