Rear Roof Damage Above Door

[Ruckus]

Hey guys I was hoping I could get some help. I seem to have a hole from what I think is a falling branch on the extreme rear top portion of my roof right above the door. I kept this stored up in my cabin for a few months and we have had quite a bit of rain. I am completely naive to any type of bodywork and I have two questions:

1.) What do you recommend for filling and sealing it?
2.) If water were to get in this hole where would it be draining? Or would it be draining at all?
3.) And the all important am I better off just taking it to the shop?

Thanks for your help.

 

[ajonesnv]

Looks small enough you could clean the rust, fill it with a sealant (like silicone), and put a little paint on it to keep it from rusting more. It is a very inconspicuous spot so I wouldn't go to the shop with it.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Looks small enough you could clean the rust, fill it with a sealant (like silicone), and put a little paint on it to keep it from rusting more. It is a very inconspicuous spot so I wouldn't go to the shop with it.

I agree except for the silicone, silicone is NOT paintable, and does not adhere well enough. I would take a small piece of sheet metal and block the hole after the rust was cleaned up. Then I would use either windshield urethane or epoxy to bond it and make it waterproof.

 

[ajonesnv]

I agree except for the silicone, silicone is NOT paintable, and does not adhere well enough. I would take a small piece of sheet metal and block the hole after the rust was cleaned up. Then I would use either windshield urethane or epoxy to bond it and make it waterproof.

Good call. I have used roof sealant in the past for sealing applications as well, that stuff is super durable and maybe paintable, not quite sure.

 

[tee-bone]

personally, if I wanted to do it right, I would do the following.

1.) use a small wire wheel on a Dremel to remove the rust
2.) place something concave against the edge and pound on it a bit until the edge is straight
3.) ready-prep or some other rust stopper
4.) primer
5.) bondo - either rough up the primer first or apply the bondo in the primer's recoat window
6.) couple thin coats of primer over the bondo, sanded in between
7.) paint it with some duplicolor

but truth is that it'll still show, and that's a bit of work for a small hole. What I would NOT do is anything that seals it without removing and stopping the rust first. I think you'd be better off putting metal tape on it than doing that.

 

[T4R2014]

I would be heading to the shop. That's a pretty ugly mark.

 

[AZ4Running]

To do it right you would need to prep the surface and wield a small piece of sheet metal to fill the hole, grind and smooth and repaint area.

 

[IBallEngineer]

To do it right you would need to prep the surface and wield a small piece of sheet metal to fill the hole, grind and smooth and repaint area.

Right, Bondo absorbs moisture from the back side and comes apart. It would have to be welded first before applying filler. Obviously as a former body shop owner, I want to say to do exactly as [MENTION=114765]AZ4Running[/MENTION] is suggesting. But I also know that isn't within everyone's circle of skills, or budget. Hence my epoxy suggestion.

:lalala:

 

[3rzrunner]

personally, if I wanted to do it right, I would do the following.

1.) use a small wire wheel on a Dremel to remove the rust
2.) place something concave against the edge and pound on it a bit until the edge is straight
3.) ready-prep or some other rust stopper
4.) primer
5.) bondo - either rough up the primer first or apply the bondo in the primer's recoat window
6.) couple thin coats of primer over the bondo, sanded in between
7.) paint it with some duplicolor

but truth is that it'll still show, and that's a bit of work for a small hole. What I would NOT do is anything that seals it without removing and stopping the rust first. I think you'd be better off putting metal tape on it than doing that.

fftopic: but tee-bone i'm very curious about your A/D/S/ Amp in you sig! tell us more about it!

As I also have an A/D/S/ amp in my 4runner its the ph15.2 and I have the matching cross over under the passenger seat (642ix)

 

[tee-bone]

but tee-bone i'm very curious about your A/D/S/ Amp in you sig! tell us more about it!

As I also have an A/D/S/ amp in my 4runner its the ph15.2 and I have the matching cross over under the passenger seat (642ix)

It's a P840.2, 8 channel amp. The first four channels run my front 6.5 and tweeters in the door, the last four are bridged to run the 10" sub in the back. Had it for 15 years now, still sounds pretty damn good.

 

[MStudt]

I agree except for the silicone, silicone is NOT paintable.

Acrylic silicone is paintable, but 100% silicone is not. Acrylic silicone doesn't contain the oils that 100% does, which is the reason why paint won't stick.

Still, silicone is not a good solution since it's not a permanent fix. Even body filler would be a better option than silicone. I'd either weld in a new piece metal and paint it. Or, clean it up really good and braze it. Brazing takes no special tools and it can look good if you take your time.