Engine Bay Frame Rails

[Scotty_Rah]

I'm in the process of restoring my 260z and will be needing to repair a rusted out hole that is on the side of the left hand engine bay frame rail. I'm not sure how this would have happened over the years but I'd like to fix it.

 

My question/s is - Does somebody here know the gauge of the steel in the rails? and would a cut and patch be sufficient for prosperity of the rest of the vehicles life? would doing this repair compromise the structural integrity or am i on the right path? Just don't want to have to go through replacing a whole rail and running up the $$$'s

 

The hole is right above where the stabilizer bar bolts into the rail too.

 

please see photos below for clarity..

 

 

 

[gav240z]

Weird... my guess the car had a front ender and was bent, it was kinked in that location perhaps and then possibly rusted there? It's not a normal area to see it. I would probably get it on a chassis jig to make sure it's straight, you could probably get a look inside the rails to determine how rotten they are inside.

 

I'm looking at rust converters and primers like KYB rust seal, rust bullet, POR-15 etc.. I'm also looking at devices that allow you to spray into areas like this that are not normally accessible.

 

In terms of thickness get a set of vernier calipers to stick in that hole and measure the width of the steel that way.

 

If the car is 'true' and no major rot in the rails, then a patch should be just fine.

[Scotty_Rah]

Weird... my guess the car had a front ender and was bent, it was kinked in that location perhaps and then possibly rusted there? It's not a normal area to see it. I would probably get it on a chassis jig to make sure it's straight, you could probably get a look inside the rails to determine how rotten they are inside.

 

I'm looking at rust converters and primers like KYB rust seal, rust bullet, POR-15 etc.. I'm also looking at devices that allow you to spray into areas like this that are not normally accessible.

 

In terms of thickness get a set of vernier calipers to stick in that hole and measure the width of the steel that way.

 

If the car is 'true' and no major rot in the rails, then a patch should be just fine.

 

It has had a front end collision some time during its life but it was on the other side. It looks to have been pulled, straightened and repaired. Looking at the impact area, it seems to have only affected the chassis channel that runs under the front fender. I assume it was repaired correctly, but I'd like to know for sure.. It looks straight and seems to not have affected any of the front wheel assembly or the right hand engine bay rail..

 

I'll be sure to look into the rust converters, will come in handy with other repairs I'm doing on the car.

 

Ive always wanted a vernier caliper, good excuse to buy one 

 

Thanks Gav

[KatoKid]

This is pretty common as there is a doubler insider the frame rail to support the stabilizer bar mounts and it retains moisture with the obvious result.

[Scotty_Rah]

This is pretty common as there is a doubler insider the frame rail to support the stabilizer bar mounts and it retains moisture with the obvious result.

 

Ahhhhh Shiiiii...

 

That looks familiar. I wonder if any place makes these as a replacement weld in part?

Looks as though this might be tricky to repair.. Doh!

[KatoKid]

Its pretty easy repair....have a look at my build thread, covers it pretty well there.

[Scoota G]

Many cars have similar issues up in the front rails. The photos below are from a repair on an XT Fairmont. The concern is modifying or altering rails behind the firewall where the Organic Components are housed. Take a sample of the steel to your local supplier if you can't work out the thickness.