Firewall patch panels?

[diznasty]

So as it has become extremely popular now....I am doing a CV crossmember swap. As it goes with any tear down you find unexpected things, even though you should expect that... Anyways, I found some firewall rot at the fender-to-firewall mounting locations on both sides(See attached pic). Does anyone know if patch panels are made for this? Through my initial research its coming up empty. I have found many repairs but since the nuts are in the sheet metal I am hesitant to just make a template and cut it out since I dont know what is behind there.


Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[convincor]

This is were the inner fender attaches, correct??
The bolts are going into square nuts that are caged.

Either way if your going to fix it you'll be cutting it out.
Make a good traceing of bolt hole locations and size, them cut it out.

[diznasty]

Thanks, It was only the outside sheet. I used some 16 gauge. Not finished welding but I plug welded it in the other night. I have a flux core mig so it didnt work too well. My buddy is bringing over his mig to fill the seams.

[bevdan]

Any idea how to get to the square nuts ? Got all but one out and it is slipping and I can't
fiqure out how to get to them to hold it.