Frame rust repair by steering box
August 31st, 2013, 12:48 PM
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Frame rust repair by steering box
Car is a 67 Cutlass Supreme convertible. I was working on the engine compartment, stripping down the frame and painting it. I saw what looked like a couple small rust spots where the steering box is bolted to the frame. I took the steering box off, drilled out that spot and tried to fix it with my TIG welder. It bubbled and had some porosity. I drilled out that stuff and welded that spot, and when that other area got hot I got more porosity, and after repeating things a few more times I figured out I'm pulling in rust and oil from the inside and needed to dig deeper. I found some extra holes on the bottom where the sway bar bolts in and cut a hole to see what was really inside. What I thought was 2 small spots was the tip of the iceberg. I think I have cut out enough to be down to good metal close enough to the original 1/8" thickness. Later I'll be tweaking angle iron to match the way this part of the frame was pressed when it was made.
August 31st, 2013, 12:53 PM
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Pics 1
frame_steering_rust_repair_01.jpg
frame_steering_rust_repair_02.jpg
frame_steering_rust_repair_03.jpg
frame_steering_rust_repair_04.jpg
frame_steering_rust_repair_05.jpg
frame_steering_rust_repair_02.jpg
frame_steering_rust_repair_03.jpg
frame_steering_rust_repair_04.jpg
frame_steering_rust_repair_05.jpg
Last edited by seanm12; August 31st, 2013 at 12:58 PM.
August 31st, 2013, 12:53 PM
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August 31st, 2013, 12:54 PM
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September 1st, 2013, 03:25 PM
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svnt442 (Randy) - Thanks for the funny response! I got a good chuckle.
Run to Rund - Yep, will check for more frame rust, starting with the other side where the sway bar bolts to the frame. Fabricating the pieces to replace what I've cut out will take a lot of time as most of what I cut out was pressed with a lot of bends. I'll post more pics as I move along with that fabricating.
Run to Rund - Yep, will check for more frame rust, starting with the other side where the sway bar bolts to the frame. Fabricating the pieces to replace what I've cut out will take a lot of time as most of what I cut out was pressed with a lot of bends. I'll post more pics as I move along with that fabricating.
October 6th, 2013, 04:59 PM
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Frame repair part 2
OK, got most of the repair done, and time to post some pictures. I took a lot and will post them 5 at a time. I wanted to share what I figured out as I went through this repair since I get plenty of info from other folk's posts. Here's some comments for all of the pictures:
1. I started by cutting out 1 part, then another, then another. That's the old rusty parts tack welded back together to show what I needed to replace.
2. After a bunch of cardboard templates that's what I created from 1.5" x 2" angle iron after a bunch of cutting and bending. The bottom of the frame is about 3" wide so 2 2" wide angle iron gave me a good starting point to lap weld instead of butt weld.
3. Sorry the tack weld pictures are fuzzy. I was pretty tired then.
4. The picture with 3 parts if from making one twice. The 1st one (middle) ended up being too small. A whole bunch of crazy bends!
5. How I figured out where to drill the hole for the 3rd bolt. I used washers to space the particleboard over the round steering box.
6. I got a piece of gas pipe from the hardware store for the tube that goes between the bolt holes.
1. I started by cutting out 1 part, then another, then another. That's the old rusty parts tack welded back together to show what I needed to replace.
2. After a bunch of cardboard templates that's what I created from 1.5" x 2" angle iron after a bunch of cutting and bending. The bottom of the frame is about 3" wide so 2 2" wide angle iron gave me a good starting point to lap weld instead of butt weld.
3. Sorry the tack weld pictures are fuzzy. I was pretty tired then.
4. The picture with 3 parts if from making one twice. The 1st one (middle) ended up being too small. A whole bunch of crazy bends!
5. How I figured out where to drill the hole for the 3rd bolt. I used washers to space the particleboard over the round steering box.
6. I got a piece of gas pipe from the hardware store for the tube that goes between the bolt holes.
Last edited by seanm12; October 6th, 2013 at 05:09 PM. Reason: Typo fix
October 6th, 2013, 05:08 PM
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Frame repair part 8
Pics part 8. The end!
The welds were done by TIG. That's the 1 welding machine I have.
Next to drill and tap holes for the stabilizer bar!
Then may get back to painting this dagom frame!
The welds were done by TIG. That's the 1 welding machine I have.
Next to drill and tap holes for the stabilizer bar!
Then may get back to painting this dagom frame!
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