Rust: A problem?

[Tim]

My car came from Ohio, and along the way it picked up its share of rust. I'm concerned because the rear axle bar thingy have rust flaking off of them, the parking brake assembly is about gone, and right below the radiator, in the middle, is a place where 2 bolts hold an engine mount and it has a lot of rust on it. What really concerns me is the master cylinder. It's very rusty, but does not leak or cause any trouble. The car has taken many a pounding and has yet to complain.

Am I running on borrowed time here, or is this something I shouldn't lose sleep overl?


Regards,

Tim

[IdealSociety]

finally someone who feels the pain i do lol... its not rust... its natural weight reduction!

on the old board i posted pics of my rust "problem", my tranny crossemmber was being held on by about 1/16 an inch left of rust on the front side. also half my frame members were completely rusted and gone lol, with panels removed inside i had 6 inches of daylight shining through my fenderwells into my car on each side left and right of my fenders...

know how to weld? :twisted: theres not much 1/4inch steel cant help stiffen up :lol:

my recomendation... drive it till it falls apart, then weld it back together w/ scrap steel... drive it till it literally disintigrates...

or if you have money unlike me jsut find another festiva/aspire

[Tim]

Yes, I know how to weld fairly well. Probably can do it for free in metal shop...

You have a big rust problem! Luckily mine isn't too bad - aside from the front engine mount and the MC, the engine compartment is relatively rust free. The body has normal rust for a car its age, but luckily it's not too obvious. The back undercarriage is the part that's worst. When I bought the car I had to replace both rear brake assemblies because the parking bake calipers were rusted solid, causing the cable to snap.

[Ataristyle]

Tim- I had the similar prob. for the parking brake mechanism that was frozen up. Parking brake never worked when I bought the car. Some PB blaster, a hammer and a vise was the cure for me Sorry for the delayed response but just registered.

[rotinaj13]

LOL could be like lucky, she is missing chuncks in the frame rail that runs beside the rocker... LOL gotta love ohio

[Safety Guy]

My '89L had tons of rust, mostly under the hood and front underbody, and the rear axle assembly. When I did my brake/suspension swap, it made things real difficult due to the brake line hookups being totally fused and I was unable to loosen them. Had to snip the metal brake lines on three out of the four, IIRC.

I doubt I'll do an engine swap in this one since there is so much rust. I sanded and repainted the front strut tower insides as best I could to save that area as long as possible. I wonder how my crossmember and front sway bar mounts are holding up? I'm afraid to look!

Oh yeah, my MC doesn't look too good either, but it still works!

Karl

[batstiva]

My only real rust problem is on the frame rail under the driver's side door. Am willing to pay to get it fixed, just keep being told to junk car and get a "real car" :evil: :x . If I had a nickel for everytime I have heard that I'd be rich. Funny thing is, most of the people who tell me that have gone through several cars while I have had just the one. Go Figure. :roll:

[jeffdjeffd]

Rust finally killed my 88. I put the jack under it, started raising, heard an awful noise and looked up to see the jack pushing right THROUGH the frame rail. ACK!

[Tim]

Well, there's always sheet metal!

Luckily mine's still solid, although a small part of the floorboard on the passenger side is rusted through. Not too big of a deal -yet.


Regards,

Tim

[Gforcefd]

Rust rules!

Yeah right,

Well Ive been tearing apart my car and finding rust mure than I thought it had. I wish I could weld, so I could fix my quarter panels, and a whole under the battery tray, but I cant, So i will have the ultimate sleeper. Rusty as flux on the outside, clean and fast in the engine.

I plan on doing the engine swap with the 1.8 get all the bugs worked out, then take it to a newer festiva.