Hey guys whats happenin? the other day i noticed that i have some rusted out holes in the strut tower and was wondering how i would go about fixin that? Or should i just take it to a body shop and have new metal welded into place? they arent giant holes or anything like that just a couple quarter sized holes and some surface rust forming. Thanks for your time guys and any input on this matter would be appreciated.

 

 

ya sorry that is pretty useless without pictures but here they are. this is just the drivers side the passenger side is nothing like that. I bought the car cause it has a really straight body it just needs a bit of work on the paint im trying to reverse the damage done by the previous owners

 

If the strut towers are rusting, how is the rest of the car??? You can get them recapped, I've done a couple. In my opinion, the vehicles I did this to were not worth saving... Looking @ those pics i'd say get rid of it....

 

Only an idiot would condemn an entire care from two small rust spots like that, without seeing the rest of the car first.

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One side is obvious surface rust, easily fixed, the other isn't as bad either but that looks like it rusted from the under side, which probably means the under coating in the wheel wells is toast. Which means you need to take a closer look.

But just what you got in those two pics. Some sanding and 5 min with a welder to fix.

Time to give it a full once over and post what else you find before folks suggest you crush it.

 

Obviously, you don't agree w/me, but looking at those pics, I'll tell you that's more than surface rust, this isn't anything to mess with halfass patchjobs. You are talking about the structural integrity of the car. Only an idiot, would take that lightly...

 

If the rest of the car is perfect then I would take the caps off and cut out all of the rust. Then weld a patch. If done right this will INCREASE the strength of that area. Then weld on new caps. If you look closely these cars like all cars are just tack welded together every few inches all over. Usually a good welder will weld any replacement parts on and they will be very solid. I would however check your floors, especially drivers side behind the front fender near the rocker panel. A lot of guys buy one of these cars thinking that its rust free only to find rust there. It is definately fixable but there is more than likely rust there. Good luck on your car.

Kevin

 

ya thanks for the input and yes the rest of the car is in awesome shape theres no surface rust anywhere on the exterior its just the towers and maybe a bit on the floor(totally fixable) that are the worst of it all. Im gonna obviously take it to a body shop later this year to address all the issues and have it professionally done i was just wanting to get some outside opinions on the matter. "get rid of it" thats a good one bud but i got too much into this now to just get rid of the car. Seems a little drastic wouldnt you say?

 

If people got rid of something with ten times that rust there would not be as many classic cars on out there anymore.

If you take an ice pick or screw driver and tap on the areas you will be able to hear the difference between a solid area and a near rusted out area.

 

I stated to look at the rest of the car, just cuz something looks solid, does not mean it is. I live in the rust belt and have seen what rust can do. Getting rid of a car is not drastic, sometimes the smart thing to do in the long run??? I hope the rest of the car is solid. I got tired of fighting rusty 3rdgens and finally went to Arizona and bought a roller, and built my current Z from it. If you fix it, make sure it is done right, and not just sanded and weld a patch. the rusty metal needs to be entirely removed first either w/ chemicals or cutout and replaced.... Good luck....

 

^ agreed. If rust is left in there you will see it again. You also need to seal the areas that are welded so they will not be prone to rust around the areas you welded.

 

^This

 

That's some serious corrosion. You are fooling yourself if you think the strut towers are the only problem areas.
Take it from a Canadian, salt spray doesn't attack just one area, it gets in EVERYWHERE becasue it's thinner than water that doesn't have any salt in it. It's just the strut tower that you noticed first.

Get the car up on a lift and check it real good before you commit the time and money into it.

 

u need to check the rear also, and floorboards

 

Well I guess its possible to only have rust there but mine is the opposite. My drivers floor had a hole and yet my strut towers look fine. Go figure. I think when it warms up I am gonna go look a little closer. How about the metal rail that your bumper cover goes over? i wil be cutting out metal and replacing it on mine. I have to weld in a partial quarter also and I will pretty much be done. Most people would have trashed my car, I probably should have but I still have less than a grand in it and it has taught me how to weld.

Kevin