I started the task of stripping the undercoating from the bottom of the car in order to put some POR15 on. As I was doing so I noticed this part that seemed like it had been fillled with dirt. I started scraping it out but I realized that it was a pretty good size "crater"

The blue is the entire part that was filled. The red is where I scraped it out. Is that supposed to be filled or not?

BTW, the other side is the same way when I check it. It seems to be filled.

 

thats a brake line in the left, and the shot is of the front frame rail, right?
mabeye its just a spot that didnt need to be welded closed. any joint in the metal there?
whats the stuff in the hole? just dirt and not old nasty rubber or anything?

 

You are correct of the location. Its right around the front spring.

It seem like a nasty dirt/rubber type stuff... I can pick it out pretty easly and when I do its clean metal in the pocket that its caked in. Just wondering if I should take it all out and paint some POR in it. Wasnt sure if it served some purpose.

 

honeygoldcoupe just posted about this, except his did not have the undercoating? rubber? substance, leaving rust holes in this tray, another design flaw by ford,

i dont think its factory, but whoever did it had the right idea and saved you soem troubles dealing with rust

i would scrape it out, but more than likely fill it back up, that tray catches a lot of rust causing stuff

 

That is forty+ years of gunk.
It was not filled originally.

 

Yeah, it is the same spot I recently discussed. The back is actually part of the shock tower. When you clean it out you should find a couple of drain holes. There should be one in the center at the shock tower and one at one end. Maybe being completely filled has kept it from rusting. If it has deteriorated you can buy patches for that section. I just ordered mine and am expecting them today or Monday. I can post a pic of the patch part when I get it.

 

I scrapped some of it out and it is clean metal. I am going to leave the drivers side alone. Should I fill it in with something where I took it out already?