Rust Repair

DG624 · 10-10-2006, 05:11 PM

I have just had my front lower frame panel replaced due to rust...this was worse than I thought. The body shop used "Restoration Design" suspension pan. A major effort that improved the handling significantly.

This is the area under the battery which shows surface rust.

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This shows the bottom where the front suspension connected.

I was really unaware this was so bad until I was in a small accident and the front suspension was exposed. The rust was covered by the undercoating and was not really visible. The strange thing is the handling deterioted so slowly that I didn't really notice much except understeering and some pulling on braking. During the last few months I was taking it easy until I could get the car fixed.

This is also an '86 Carrera so I thought that rust was not as big a problem with the zink coating. Shows that if you see surface rust you should check closely.

DG624 · 10-12-2006, 12:19 PM

Nick, here is my rust problem with the Restoration design part. A much better car now that handles better.

air-cool-me · 10-12-2006, 02:04 PM

nice close up shot... now i can tell i will have to do some minor patching on right wing becuse its has a quarter size hole in it.

Further striping will show me what i really have to deal with.

rwjackson · 10-14-2006, 04:32 PM

I am in the middle of doing it right now myself and it was amazing how strong the rubberized undercoat is. it kept it all together even though the metal had virtually disentigrated
we had to break loose the mounts for the torsion since they didn't perfectly line up. if you have the same problem they are only tack welded

Zeke · 10-14-2006, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rwjackson
...... if you have the same problem they are only tack welded

Correct you are, and there is another piece not shown here that reinforces those mounting bosses. You can't use just the pan as it is shipped. At least weld the bosses real well. But, if you plan on using stiffer torsion bars or sway bars, you better get the reinforcements adn weld them in.

I can't believe this Res Design outfit doesn't automatically include those with the pan. From his own site, they appear to be there, but the ones I've seen don't have them. I'm not talking about something on the bottom. This is inside under the gas tank support.

PcarPhil · 11-28-2006, 03:21 AM

Can you guys give me a ballpark estimate of parts and labor on how much this job costs to get done?

Thanks for the help,