Floor reinforcement replacement - help

[nitrofarm]

If you have to make a bend with the straight piece.Instead of bending the tube. You "notch" the tubing with a chop saw,cut off wheel. (cut out a triangular shape).Then you just have to bend one wall of the tubing to close the gap on the notch Make sense? And yes of course after its all tacked in.If you have expierence.By all means sew it up with continious beads. Just dont use to much heat.

[Larry Hampton]

Is this a piece that normally rusts out on you northerners? Festfull & I have a parts car at my house that we were going to figure out what parts of the shell we ought to cut off before sending it to China (via the scrap yard). It looks like either someone tried to cut the area where the axles and steering pass the frame, or it was wrecked bad enough that it cracked it.

[fstamand]

All depends on how the previous owners rust treated the car.

Here in the salt heaven, most cars rust badly (especially Japanese and Korean). Winter driven cars are subject to heavy corrosion. My festy is a '88, almost a quarter/century old. Most festivas around here were crushed over 10 years ago.

[JPT]

Is this a piece that normally rusts out on you northerners? Festfull & I have a parts car at my house that we were going to figure out what parts of the shell we ought to cut off before sending it to China (via the scrap yard). It looks like either someone tried to cut the area where the axles and steering pass the frame, or it was wrecked bad enough that it cracked it.

PM Sent.

[Larry Hampton]

PM Sent.

Replied

[fstamand]

Some progress...

Introducing, the patient:




All jacked up, canuck style. Tree stumps!



The hole.



The replacement frame



The tools



Safety first !



So far:




I am going to put a 90* of sheet metal at the corner of the new frame and the floor, like OEM and weld
Whatcha think?

[Hot_Wheels]

its good to see you save this one!! we need to keep all the festivas we can on the road!

[Larry Hampton]

That or angle iron. I'd also plate the seams at the ends with some flat plate overlapping the joint by a couple inches.

[nitrofarm]

If its not to late try to put a level on the rocker panels and get the car fairly level b4 you weld. LOOKS GREAT OTHERWISE !

[Fordverde]

mmmm you might want to replace those brake lines while you are there....

[Pgh5spd]

In the rustbelt those frame sections are prone to rusting out. They also take a beating particularly on the drivers side from salt you track into the cabin. And definitely, do the brake lines too, while in it. Also, altho I'm a great fan of logs for jack stands too, you might want to set it up on the wheels to make sure you don't introduce a kink in the cab to the point that the doors don't close properly afterwards.

[fstamand]

crap, should of thought of bracing the door.... It's all welded up now, pics to come.

[fstamand]

Ok I'm done. here are the pics. your comments welcome. Safety check tomorrow

outdoor work bench / welding central



massage the new frame. Create drain holes



had to do a bend (oem frame bends a bit at front)





welded some "wings". 45's to weld at floor



Zinc primer. You can weld through it.





tapped the brake line "holder"





welding started



zinc primer





Tar




Finished product





:eeeeeek:

[JPT]

Nice job!

I just recently discovered that I should do the same thing. This thread will be a big help.

[Charlie1717]

Good call on the zinc primer then tar! I don't see rusting in that area in your future haha