Rocker panels

[Lyle Longboat]

So I have the rocker panels with the little rubber plugs and around a few of them there has been some rust spots that I have been cleaning and repainting with Tremclad/rusteloum paint. However on one rubber plug there is a small
Hole right by the plug that rusted through. Am
I able to use body filler after getting all the rust off or should I just weld a piece in? It’s not even a cm squared. Body filler?.
I’m Use to doing minor body work on the old girl, however not that I knowledgeable with fixing rust holes, just surface rust.
Thanks for your input.

 

[ichime]

Because it rusted through, you'll be better off cutting out the rusted area and weld in new material and finish it with rust proofing IMO. Body filler would possibly trap moisture and have the rust spread through the rim where the metal meets the filler. They have moisture and rust-resistant fillers now, but they are heavily dependent on how and where they are applied (i.e bottom of vehicle where rocks and ice can undo your work quite easily).

 

[Lyle Longboat]

Yeah that’s what I was thinking to do, cut and weld. Just have to wait to head down south as I’m 15 hours away from home and have no welder. No welders around here where I’m at either. Well I guess I’m waiting to get this done. I already cleaned the area of rust so it’s just the small hole.