I just bought a 88 Notch back 5.0 for 600$. The seller wanted a lot more but i found some rust on the frame rail where the strut tower crosses it. Is there any way to fix this? Cutting out all the rusted metal and welding in new? Is it worth fixing? I have not been able to find a notch for under 3K and im not looking to spend that much right now till i sell my 500awhp talon(4banger). IM willing to pull the engine and fenders so its easy to access to weld if possible. PLEASE HELP and tell me i can save my car. The rest of the car looks pretty good.
Fixable rusted frame rail?!?!?!
- Thread starter 91 white tsi
- Start date
no plasma cutter here. Thinking of taking it to a body shop and getting them to fix it.... How much do you think that would run? I got a good deal on the car so i think i could spend about 500$ to fix it....it seems to be the only rust on the frame/chassis. The doors are rusted on the rocker pannels but i dont really care about those as they arent going to affect the power it can handle
by the time you go to a body shop you'll spend enough money you could have bought a nicer notch, any vocational schools in the area, be a nice class project, it would be hidden if the case ended up them not doing the smoothest job in the world, shop around for a fix on that
GearHd6
Member
Looks to me like you better make sure your master cylinder isnt leaking once you get the rust fixed. Im thinking that was the culprit if the rest of the car is rust free. Like someone else said above, at minimum the engine needs to be out. You could probably cut most of it out with a bunch of cut-off wheels and then fabricate all the pieces. You could do it yourself if you've got a decent mig welder.
jammer84_03
New Member
- Nov 30, 2003
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i got the same issue on both sides. i was going to do the repair myself as i know many guys with stangs that have this same issue on the front frame rails. and before the damage is to bad i need to get it done. anyone got pics up of a repair they did?
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news man, but if the cancer is that bad there, there's a good chance its bad in other places too. These cheesy Fox platform need all the help they can get to maintain their structural integrity even with a decent body to work with....and now you've got additional rot to contend with?!? I'd keep it as a donor car and look for a good low mileage 4-cylinder car to swap out the drive train into.
look at the passenger side frame rail right above my k member i did the same fix,its easy. i cut out the old crap with a cutting wheel, sandblasted the piss out of it,welded a plate in and then welded a plate over it for more strenth.my equal length shorty mac headers i had at the time wiped out the frame rail.
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jammer84_03
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- Nov 30, 2003
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ok....the car is extremely solid all the way around. this is the only real spot. a little surface stuff in the rear but a lil blasting and paint will bring it back. its going under the knife in the few weeks when i store it, so im just getting all my peas in one pod. just got a turbo kits waiting for me and im accruing the cash, and the rest of the car is one payment away from being one heck of a car next summer.
thx for the pics 408, thats a real clean repair. what did you use for the patch panel?
thx for the pics 408, thats a real clean repair. what did you use for the patch panel?
samickguy15
Member
Just buy some 1/16 or 1/8" plate. You won't need much, and it's cheap. Just get or find somebody with a good mig and some cut-off wheels. Chop, cut, rebuild.
jammer84_03
New Member
- Nov 30, 2003
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i got all the stuff at home. just redid the garage and i bought a whole bunch of goodies. if i cant do it at my place then i'll buy the stuff to do it...lol
i used 1/8"84 rusted left frame rail
I am currently replacing the left frame rail on our 84 GT 350 we design a rail with all the inter supports and inter shock tower plate also the swaybar mount. So far I have it fitted in and ready to POR 15 inside to help prevent rust in the future. The parts where cut on a plasma cam and bent in the shop. It is a job but I hope to have a orignial look to it and hold up better than the factory one...
I am currently replacing the left frame rail on our 84 GT 350 we design a rail with all the inter supports and inter shock tower plate also the swaybar mount. So far I have it fitted in and ready to POR 15 inside to help prevent rust in the future. The parts where cut on a plasma cam and bent in the shop. It is a job but I hope to have a orignial look to it and hold up better than the factory one...
- May 8, 2006
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I had to do the same thing on the outer (passenger side) frame rail. no matter what, you will need to pull the moter. Afterwards, take a die grinder (with cutting wheel) and cut out the cancer. You wont truly know whats bad until you clear it out. If your right, just cut the plate and weld it in. Ford was nice enough to leave all kinds of holes in the frame. I actually found leaves and rocks in mine. Good luck and let us know if it works out.
