Plug the holes???

[digitech]

So, I'm lying under the car, fitting the new exhaust together, and I just happen to notice all the holes throughout the bottom side of the car. I'm thinking I'll certainly plug all of the 3/4" holes in the floorpan - you can see the carpet/pad - but how about all the others? There's a multitude of 3/4" and 5/8" holes in the frame rails and bottom sheet metal, shouldn't these be plugged as well?

And where is a good place to get rubber plugs from anyway? Thanks!

[kmead]

Keep in mind most of the holes are for drainage. Since the holes haven't hurt the car in 20+ years of use, they are probably beneficial. Remember you are driving a convertible of questionable watertightness, the water has to get out somewhere and gravity in this case is your friend.

[digitech]

True, I was just worrying about rainwater coming up from the roadway as well as any standing water I might drive through. Perhaps I'll just plug the floor pan and leave the rest alone if that's how everyone else's Spider is. Thanks for the observation.

[Schnauzer]

Digitec:

I am currently working on my 76 from the ground up. I too found a bunch of holes in my front and rear footwells and rear apron. Mounting holes from a roll bar and who knows what else. There are many here on the Forum much more knowledgable than myself on the odd-isms of the Fiat so take my comments with a grain of salt. I cut sheet metal patches for the holes and used Henry's roofing patch to line fill and cover the patches. Takes a bit of time to dry but produces a water tight patch and has the appearance of undercoating. I did not cap any of the holes in the frame rails. I am certain had I not fixed the voids in the pan that I would have had wet padding and carpet and the pending rust issues.

Good Luck,

Jim

[Schnauzer]

Double post. Oops!
Jim

[manoa matt]

Don't plug the holes in the frame rails. But you can plug all the 3/4" holes as they originally had rubber plugs in them anyway. You might also notice a few triangular shaped areas with the tab of metal hanging down and pointing rearward. Those are ment to drain incidental water from the cabin and since pointed rearward any road water will not get flung up into them. I have a collection of the 3/4" rubber plugs if anyone needs any.

[digitech]

Email sent.