.:HSTuners::

blind34_1 · 10-19-2004, 01:39 PM

anybody every deal with this before? I just got my car back from being looked at for other things (this is the celica im talking about) and they said to take it to a body shop, before dropping ANY money on other things.

They said that the passenger side frame rail is rusted bad, the area around the front swaybar. Two places I've talked to say that working with structural pieces gets VERY expensive, and its not recommended.

Nobody has given me any ballpark numbers yet. Anybody else ever deal with a similar problem? and how much did it cost? I've never had frame work done, so I don't know whether I should keep getting estimates or put the For Sale sign on it now.

ebpda9 · 10-19-2004, 02:55 PM

umm not me. if it's only the crossbeam then that can be changed for about 150 in parts and lots time for labor

*pdiggitydogg* · 10-19-2004, 05:13 PM

couldnt you just have the rusted area removed and replaced w/ fresh steel? A custom welder could do that for relatively cheap, Id think.

Oh, if you use a big hunk of zinc (boating supply shop) and wire it to the chassis/body, you wont ever have rust. You'll need to keep the zinc in a box though, and clean it once a year...until it disintigrates)

blind34_1 · 10-19-2004, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pdiggitydogg
couldnt you just have the rusted area removed and replaced w/ fresh steel? A custom welder could do that for relatively cheap, Id think.

Oh, if you use a big hunk of zinc (boating supply shop) and wire it to the chassis/body, you wont ever have rust. You'll need to keep the zinc in a box though, and clean it once a year...until it disintigrates)

thats what i thought, how much could it really be? I've got one place thats willing to get it in the air and take a look. If its a lot though, I'm going back to the escort.

and, hunk of zinc? what do you mean?

GT40FIED · 10-19-2004, 06:18 PM

Zinc naturally inhibits rust. Plus it looks gold y0.

As for the price...expect it to be through the roof no matter where you take it. Anyone who knows what they're doing will have to line it up on a frame rack since all mounting points and structural point have to be precise. Then you're not only paying for labor, but you're helping them pay off their frame rack and all of the software and manuals that show the exact points of mounting spots. It can be fixed...it just probably won't be anything that even remotely resembles cheap.

sicones · 10-19-2004, 07:10 PM

custom welder and cheap don't go together

*pdiggitydogg* · 10-19-2004, 08:59 PM

they do when he's my buddy eric

blind34_1 · 10-20-2004, 12:53 AM

ah wonderful. we'll see what these guys think, but chances are I'm just going to see what I can sell it for. This is a new record for me, I only had the car for 3 months!

i suppose now its a question of ethics; do I sell it to some poor fool just like it got sold to me, or do I do the right thing and let a potential buyer know of the frame problem beforehand.

Time to bring the Escort back to life, wasn't a bad car anyway.

interesting about the zinc, I did not know that.

AkimboStylee · 10-20-2004, 10:43 AM

sell it as is, if they dont look there its thier fault.............

f that, of course tell them about it

blind34_1 · 10-20-2004, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by krwheeler85
sell it as is, if they dont look there its thier fault.............

well thats what the used car dealer did to me. But I don't think I could in good conscience do that to someone else.

I got underneath it today to take a look for myself. Its about what I expected, a completely rotten section of rail right behind the swaybar, maybe 3-4 inches. I can push with my finger and it all crumbles away. The thing is, it doesn't seem like that could cost alot to repair. Just cut away the bad stuff, and weld some strong metal in replacement.

It was mentioned before that special machines and manuals have to be used. Why is this neccessary? Would the frame really distort that much by cutting and welding on a small section?

And I know its not reccommended, but what could be some consequences of not using these special tools? If a friend who knew how to weld and everything were to do it in his garage, how bad could it get messed up?

*pdiggitydogg* · 10-20-2004, 03:55 PM

If anything, I could see using a plate behind it, tack welded, to retain the dimensions and overall design when the piece is removed.
Then put the new one in and finally remove the plate.

Its probably a lot more work than that...it just seems like that would work to me. But what do I know about it? (the answer is nothing, btw)

blind34_1 · 10-21-2004, 10:16 AM

the only thing i could think of that throws a wrench into your idea is that the frame could already be not square, just as a result of the rust and time. If I were to have caught it before it started rotting, then I might have had a chance (to use your idea)

Well, I know in the future before I buy any car, GET UNDERNEATH IT, and check the frame. What's funny is before I bought this car i said I wanted to bring my jack and check underneath for a few things (never did it). I never would have thought to check for frame rot.

buyer beware indeed.

blind34_1 · 10-25-2004, 10:41 AM

well, its up for sale. my goal is to sell it to no one I know, and I'm going to downplay the rust ("theres a little rust underneath, but it isn't much, and the body is fine")

I made a site for it, and I'll put the site address in the paper.

http://www.wannafork.com/car

10-19-2004, 01:39 PM	#1
blind34_1 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: IL Age: 40 Posts: 1,813	Frame Rust anybody every deal with this before? I just got my car back from being looked at for other things (this is the celica im talking about) and they said to take it to a body shop, before dropping ANY money on other things. They said that the passenger side frame rail is rusted bad, the area around the front swaybar. Two places I've talked to say that working with structural pieces gets VERY expensive, and its not recommended. Nobody has given me any ballpark numbers yet. Anybody else ever deal with a similar problem? and how much did it cost? I've never had frame work done, so I don't know whether I should keep getting estimates or put the For Sale sign on it now.

10-19-2004, 02:55 PM	#2
ebpda9 Repost Wagon Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: over here Age: 44 Posts: 17,266	umm not me. if it's only the crossbeam then that can be changed for about 150 in parts and lots time for labor __________________

10-19-2004, 06:18 PM	#5
GT40FIED Best...mod...ever Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: At the end of the longest line Age: 43 Posts: 7,451	Zinc naturally inhibits rust. Plus it looks gold y0. As for the price...expect it to be through the roof no matter where you take it. Anyone who knows what they're doing will have to line it up on a frame rack since all mounting points and structural point have to be precise. Then you're not only paying for labor, but you're helping them pay off their frame rack and all of the software and manuals that show the exact points of mounting spots. It can be fixed...it just probably won't be anything that even remotely resembles cheap. __________________ 1984 1/2 Mustang GT350 #842, Faster than you...nuff said Anna Fan Club President/Dictator Someday, in the event that mankind actually figures out what it is that this world actually revoles around, thousands of people are going to be shocked and perplexed that it was not them. Sometimes this includes me. "If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever." - George Orwell Welcome to the new Amerika

10-20-2004, 10:43 AM	#9
AkimboStylee Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Bay which holds no water, Palm Bay, Fl Age: 39 Posts: 1,688	sell it as is, if they dont look there its thier fault............. f that, of course tell them about it __________________ A very good quote : " I have many vices in my life, and those keep me from perfection, and not being perfect makes me a human being with morals" -Anonymous

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10-19-2004, 05:13 PM	#3
pdiggitydogg Yahoo Watashi wa kattaze! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Meanwhile, up in The D... Age: 41 Posts: 10,579	couldnt you just have the rusted area removed and replaced w/ fresh steel? A custom welder could do that for relatively cheap, Id think. Oh, if you use a big hunk of zinc (boating supply shop) and wire it to the chassis/body, you wont ever have rust. You'll need to keep the zinc in a box though, and clean it once a year...until it disintigrates)

10-19-2004, 07:10 PM	#6
sicones Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: the MVP garage, New York City Posts: 516	custom welder and cheap don't go together

10-19-2004, 08:59 PM	#7
pdiggitydogg Yahoo Watashi wa kattaze! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Meanwhile, up in The D... Age: 41 Posts: 10,579	they do when he's my buddy eric

10-20-2004, 12:53 AM	#8
blind34_1 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: IL Age: 40 Posts: 1,813	ah wonderful. we'll see what these guys think, but chances are I'm just going to see what I can sell it for. This is a new record for me, I only had the car for 3 months! i suppose now its a question of ethics; do I sell it to some poor fool just like it got sold to me, or do I do the right thing and let a potential buyer know of the frame problem beforehand. Time to bring the Escort back to life, wasn't a bad car anyway. interesting about the zinc, I did not know that.

10-20-2004, 03:55 PM	#11
pdiggitydogg Yahoo Watashi wa kattaze! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Meanwhile, up in The D... Age: 41 Posts: 10,579	If anything, I could see using a plate behind it, tack welded, to retain the dimensions and overall design when the piece is removed. Then put the new one in and finally remove the plate. Its probably a lot more work than that...it just seems like that would work to me. But what do I know about it? (the answer is nothing, btw)

10-21-2004, 10:16 AM	#12
blind34_1 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: IL Age: 40 Posts: 1,813	the only thing i could think of that throws a wrench into your idea is that the frame could already be not square, just as a result of the rust and time. If I were to have caught it before it started rotting, then I might have had a chance (to use your idea) Well, I know in the future before I buy any car, GET UNDERNEATH IT, and check the frame. What's funny is before I bought this car i said I wanted to bring my jack and check underneath for a few things (never did it). I never would have thought to check for frame rot. buyer beware indeed.

10-25-2004, 10:41 AM	#13
blind34_1 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: IL Age: 40 Posts: 1,813	well, its up for sale. my goal is to sell it to no one I know, and I'm going to downplay the rust ("theres a little rust underneath, but it isn't much, and the body is fine") I made a site for it, and I'll put the site address in the paper. http://www.wannafork.com/car