You might be able to get it repaired, but it will never have the integrity that it once had...If i was you I'd take my chances with finding another one, and avoid the one you have like the plague...

 

Yeah, cancer is no good.
Its not worth the money to fix, especially because S13s arn't very expensive.

 

I figured as much. Here's an update as well, and I have a feeling that I know the response already...

My brother got on the creeper and rolled under the car so I could show him the problem. He got past the frame rail under the downpipe, looked up, and said, "Uh oh."

I was them able to stick a screwdriver up from the bottom of the frame rail through the 6" rust hole on the side of the rail next to the downpipe. Didn't see that one before. Basically, the frame rail right there is almost totally rusted through on two sides for a full span of six inches, and there is evidence that the outboard side of the rail is starting to rust through as well.

Is there any chance that it can be repaired, and that it will be worth the time and effort to have that done? I'd rather not start over...but I don't want a critically injured car.

Thanks for the replies.

--->DJ

 

Well how much did you buy the car for? It's sounds pretty bad though. It would suck to spend all kind of money on the car to repair it with the chance of it not be completely repairable. If 240's are not too rare in your area I would see what else is out there.

 

i say avoid it and get a new car. not worth the time effort and most of all money. use it as a parts car or part it out to pay for the new s13

 

Well im not sure about what im about to say even if its possible and cost effective but whatever. You could definelty do some crazy stuff, like replace both frame rails, and reinforce them at the same time.

The only way its worth the money is if all you have to do is pay for materials and you have the tools/time/interest/skill/patience. Its definetly over $1000 job getting it done at a shop, and to me, that exceeds the value of any S13.

Plus, you can obviously see someone has already tried to fix the problems with the rust and shock towers with the car. I would bet everything is totally out of alignment. Could very well be this car was doomed the second it rolled out of the factory.

Frame rails arn't exactly the easiest thing to replace, Im not even sure if a shop would really want to do it and a dealer would rape you until your inside out.

 

I was afraid of that. I picked it up for like 400 with a blown motor, so I can't really salvage anything from it. But i'm not out much either if I have to junk it and find a new chassis.

Question: I was thinking about having it towed to a local auto body shop to have them basically strip all the rust and do whatever is necessary for the frame rails. I'm not worried about paying a grand or so, but I don't have the welding tools or skill to do that part of it, so a shop may be the best option. I can do the swap and all the wiring and mechanical work, and the majority of the body work as well. Does anyone have an idea if something like that would be feasible?

Thanks again,

---->DJ

 

No fuck that, buy a new car.
You only payed $400 for it.
Im gonna slap you if you have it fixed.
S13s are dime a dozen, part it out.

Its just not worth it, wait a while and you will find a S13 with a wayyy better body for around the same price you paid for that one, just keep looking.

 

Yeah, ditch it. It's a S13, not a 67 Mustang.

 

Why do you keep asking if you should have it "fixed"? A car with that much rust can not be salvaged. Sell it for parts or for scrap. Steel prices are very high right now. But trying to "fix" a car with that kind of rust is like trying to sweep clean a dirt floor - it will just keep falling apart.

 

*sobs* in my area 80% of S13's i find are fully frame rusted D:
but im determined to have a S13 as my first car! >:O
... this is such a b**** xD

thankz for the responses

 

i agree with everyone else. its not worth the time nor the money. if anything i would strip of the body parts, interior parts, suspension, anything that can be unbolted and reused, and then scrap whats left. you should still end up with $400 in spare parts.

 

Come on guys. This is from 2005. I knew this was old when I saw Shwag posting.

 

Yup. This is old news. And for the record, one of my father's friends re-boxed the frame with new steel, primed, and painted it. Straight as an arrow, good as new...

...And then we came across a '92 coupe from Florida. No rust. We put the SR in that.

I advertised the repaired hatch for a while, but no takers on the shell (even at and below $400). We took the interior bits we needed, and sent it to the scrap yard about three years ago.

--->DJ

 

Yea...

 

Bought my s13 1993 and had the same problem. frame rail completly done and i could go trought my floor with a screw driver without forcing on it. cost me 1000$ to have frame rails replaced and floor done. 300$ for a kit of stabilization bars and car is stiff.