Typical inner fender rust holes, do you ignore, fix, or replace ?

[Green Machine]

My next project '70 C10 has a real nice front clip, including rad support has no holes under battery. Inner fenders have the typical rust holes by front brace. I really don't want to replace them because of expense and all the bolts likely to twist off like they did on my '68. This will be a nice truck when done, more of a driver than show truck though. Can you fix the holes easily so it looks nice ? or just pop rivet on a patch (I don't weld), or just paint the tubs and ignore the holes ?? I will be removing the entire front clip as an assemblly for general cleanup, and spray can paint tubs and support anyway.

[Palf70Step]

Beer can, pop-rivets, and roofing tar. 15 years later still intact and you can't tell what it was or if it was patched.

[raggedjim]

Palf, I think you have worked on my truck at one time of another... I keep finding license plates pop rivetted in weird places...

Rg

[Green Machine]

You would think someone would make a patch panel for that area since thats one of the common places to rust ?

[purple gas]

I cleaned up the inside of the hood area pretty good & repainted lots of stuff.. This project is just a driver and NOT GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.. ( I have to keep reminding myself that).. So I just left the pass side fender the way it was. I figure it took nearly 40 yrs to rust as much as it did, and with the battery in there who's gonna see it. When it comes to fixing up your ride, it's not "Where do I start?" the big question is " Where does one stop?" I stopped short of replacing the inner fender,, where you stop is up to you.

[Huskerboy2]

If it were me, I'd have to replace it. But I'm a little anal about that stuff. As long as you are going to have the front clip off anyway, it would be too easy to just bolt in a replacement. I think a repop is around $90, which is a little bit of a dent in the wallet, I agree. Probably impossible for you to find a good replacement in a junkyard in Iowa. I would post on the parts board that you are looking for a decent inner fender in or around Northern Iowa. Maybe somebody within an hour or so from you has one for $20 or $30.

[jamal]

If you dont want to replace it, I would use a fiberglass cloth and fiberglass the hole up. Just make sure you get all the rust out. As posted above you could first cover with some this metal like a beer can, and once it is fiberglassed you will never know it. I lucked up I have a perfect front clip on my 67, my ton truck is another story and am going to fiberglass them up as mentioned above. I am making it look nice as well, but not for show as my 67.