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Driver side door rust

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Hello,
Looking to purchase this car, and have come across rust on the outer skin at the bottom of the drive side door. (see pic).

From what I can tell, the rest of the body work is in good condition, but not removed carpets or anything.

Any views on if this is a big job to fix, is this a new door, or could a new plate we welded on?

ANy help appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave 20240613_175908.jpg

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Well that has to be repaired, but is usually caused by the outer scraper seals not sealing against the doors glass tightly, as in needing to be replaced allowing leaves and stuff to congregate in the door.

Big job is a loose term, depends on your skill set and or your pocketbook if you take it to a shop.
Grind out old or find a used door. repair damage with welding, bondo, and Paint.

Find good used door and repair it, and paint to match ( I used a door off a 89 in my 93 because the Previous Owner sprung the door and dented it)
But I have the skills and had a spare car with good doors.

And that the pucker drains on the door are plugged with debris.

Scraper in good condition and window is sealed against
FOD (Foreign Object Damage) aircraft term for loose stuff that shouldn't be where you find it.

Screen Shot 2024-06-14 at 7.26.17 AM.png

Now the front window glass may not be positioned correctly and needs adjustment. in the archive section or click the signature link I have a few how-do-I-do-that links on replacing a Powered window door with a non-powered window door and what you have to modify to do it. .

Your Pucker drains on the car need to be cleaned as they can fill up with trash bypassing the seals and allow water to fill up the door.  which causes them to rust out.

Screen Shot 2024-06-14 at 7.25.05 AM.png

The yellow square is the pucker drain.  There are more on the rear of the car usually under the Clipper kit, but you can access them to keep them clean.  A vacuum cleaner and a crevice tool assists you here, as you have to take off the door cards, and quarter panel card, and clean the trash out…

When I took mine out, there was broken bits of glass from a window being broken, that the shop or owner failed to clean up.  The glass was OEM as it had the proper marks, but the BB's of glass were in the bottom of the door.

Don't get me started about idiots who place there calling cards between the glass and the seals.   I usually call those folks and tell them that they are idiots for possibly causing damage to a car.  I hate Calling cards when under the wipers as well but they will smear the windscreen, not plug up a door.
 

Last edit: by Briano1234


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Where are my DIY Links?

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depends how much £ and what standard you want to end up with

either DIY some isopon P38 in the holes and rattle can it for a few quid or pay someone to cut, weld and spray paint £500+ ?

1983 Mars Red 1.8 Golf GTI
1987 Alpine White 1.8 Clipper Cabriolet

The trouble with doing nothing is that you never know when you are finished.
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