Car Rust

[Borci88]

Okay so the story goes, we bought this GTS-4 for just a bit over $6k from NSW, it had had pinkslips and he was going to give us one also (he didnt).

We take it home (VIC) anyway and take it to our mechanic who puts it up on the hoist and says nah its got chassis rust, its a write off.

It's rusted through the struts and they just bogged over top so you couldn't see it. Theres rust underneath in the chassis.

We took it to another mechanic (my mothers boyfriend), he put it up on a hoist and said most of it underneath is surface rust.

This is the rear facing the diff.

This is the Strut Tower

I'm considering options currently, theres a LITTLE rust on the chassis underneath that I can see that will either have to be cut out and welded, but the rest looks like removeable items like the crossmember and diff?

Regarding the strut I was thinking buy a front cut minus engine and cut out the struts in that and replace the rusted ones with those, it would have to be engineered though which is fine.

Any thoughts guys? It's been sitting in my driveway for 4 weeks now and we're not sure what to do.

Its either the above or scrap it for 2k, selling it in parts is not an option.

The car is in IMMACULATE condition on the outside and inside and drive train, just not underneath.

Cheers guys,

Borci88.

Edited March 19, 2010 by Borci88

[l_uk3y]

Man I hate rust. That 2nd photo is nasty.

Hope it ain't too serious and you can get it cut out and weld in fresh stuff to pass the inspection

[Dan_J]

well the surface rust is easy just sand, rust converter with a wire brush/cloth and repeat until you have no lil black bits. wear a mask as your lungs don't like the acid in the converter.

your gonna have to either get the the bit of the the strut tower top with rust cut out and weld in a new fab'd up section with the same or harder grade steel or just get it cut off a front cut etc

Edited March 19, 2010 by Dan_J

[Borci88]

Well as far as I can tell most of it is surface rust, if not most of it can be replaced underneath, I'm just not sure about that Strut Tower? Is it possible to replace it?

[NISSAN GTR]

thats farked it looks like its been sitting on a beach for to long when you see the surface rust , to manufacture a new strut tower is possible but will cost a fair bit cutting out old an fitting new . Good Luck

[CARSICK]

well the surface rust is easy just sand, rust converter with a wire brush/cloth and repeat until you have no lil black bits. wear a mask as your lungs don't like the acid in the converter.

your gonna have to either get the the bit of the the strut tower top with rust cut out and weld in a new fab'd up section with the same or harder grade steel or just get it cut off a front cut etc

Agreed ^^^

For a ballpark $ figure, go to panelbeaters X2 quotes for the fabrication work.

Because Japan salts their snow covered roads, next time when you're buying a Skyline, get the VIN# checked on this forum first to see if the car has come from Hokkaido or N. Honshu if poss.

[mad082]

you suggestion of buying a front cut and cutting out the strut towers and welding them into the car is going to be the easiest way to do it. you can make up a template and cut the extact same size piece out to make things easier. this way anything that bolts to the piece you have cut out will still bolt back up in place.

[Borci88]

you suggestion of buying a front cut and cutting out the strut towers and welding them into the car is going to be the easiest way to do it. you can make up a template and cut the extact same size piece out to make things easier. this way anything that bolts to the piece you have cut out will still bolt back up in place.

That was my exact thoughts, but now I have been told by ANOTHER bodyshop/mechanic that it will be useless and the car is far too gone, it has literally been in the drink and just too many parts to fix, for now I think we'll stick to hounding him in court. If we get nowhere, you guys know where to come to get a GTR Drivetrain and any other parts.

Cheers guys,

Borci88.

[seriesII]

hi, sorry to pop in, but i have some rust as well, and was wondering what to use so it never comes back..

so i use rust converter? ,with steel brush until its gone.. what is the best primer or something to use to cover the area.. just something from repco like a anti rust primer and paint?.... thanx guys..

[seriesII]

sorry. doubled posted

Edited March 21, 2010 by seriesII

[Dan_J]

just sand, rust converter with a wire brush/cloth and repeat until you have no lil black bits. wear a mask as your lungs don't like the acid in the converter.

if your just doing lil bits hear and there u can just grab a good spray can primer and give it at least 2 coats, wait for it to dry in between coats. if your unsure if a primer is any good get some steel panel/bit , remove paint to bare metal, paint a bit in primer and leave the rest bare. then you just make it rust by leaving it outside and putting water on it now an then. once you see surface rust get paint stripper out and clean the primer off so you can see if it works.

an epoxy primer is the best ( rubber based), go by what spray painters recommend.

[mad082]

That was my exact thoughts, but now I have been told by ANOTHER bodyshop/mechanic that it will be useless and the car is far too gone, it has literally been in the drink and just too many parts to fix, for now I think we'll stick to hounding him in court. If we get nowhere, you guys know where to come to get a GTR Drivetrain and any other parts.

Cheers guys,

Borci88.

you said originally that the car had had a roadworthy done on it, well i would be reporting the place that did it. they obviously did a dodgy job so make sure you get them into trouble.

[Duncan]

I agree, I think it has been for a swim sometime. scrap it