Front Clip Rust: [message #229082] |
Sat, 09 November 2013 20:50 |
noi
Messages: 293 Registered: October 2010 Location: South of Fremont
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Greetings:
Well after posting my picture of the front clip rust I found, SteveS advised taking a real CLOSE look at the front clip rails – He also posted/linked pictures of the “surprise” he found after he got it back from being E-Coated:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-subframe-repair/p44459-front-subframe-repair.html
So I picked up an inspection camera and took that closer look.
With no point of “reference” to decide just how much rust there was, I just used the frame rail seam as a “bench mark” – If I could see the seam clearly, would consider that area OK.
When looking down the driver side rail (from the front), the seam was clear and distinct all the way to where it started to “sweep” up.
Looking down the passenger side was a different story!
When I first started looking at what was “inside” the frame, I noticed that some critters had left a few acorns behind – No big deal, and just “shook/vacuumed” them out - When I got to about the center lateral support, I noticed what I thought were some more “acorns” – I lightly “jabbed” a couple with my camera lens and they moved easily, thus confirming my thought they were “acorns”:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-clip-rust/p51476-rust-nodules1.html
As some of the others would not move, I thought they were just “imbedded” in the rust – So I took a long rod and started to “scrub” them out – While doing so, I noticed some rust falling from the frame – Odd I thought, as I did not remember any “holes” in the area – So DW and I flipped the frame over and I took a closer look – Humm, found a small hole near the cross member that wasn’t there before.
So taking a small punch, I started to see what was what – Whoah, just punched right through – Uh Oh… What does the rest of the area look like – Well here’s what it looked like!:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-clip-rust/p51475-frame-holes.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-clip-rust/p51478-rust-out.html
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-clip-rust/p51480-seam-rust1.html
Bummers - Prior to scrubbing out the "acorns", the whole part of that area looked just like the part with no holes in it and it "rang" fine when tapped with a small hammer.
Then decided I would cut that area out and take a GOOD look:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-clip-rust/p51474-cut-out.html
Unfortunately, I was not able to cut it out in one piece, but I was able to get out some large pieces – Here, you can see a section with what it looked like with the “acons” (rust nodules):
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-clip-rust/p51477-rust-nodules2.html
Same section and you can clearly see the thinning metal right down to where it was thin enough to just “punch through”:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-clip-rust/p51479-rust-thinning.html
You can also see how the metal was thinned out on the seam overlap and the holes as a result (earlier picture):
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/front-clip-rust/p51481-seam-rust2.html
Anyway, just something you may, or may not, find interesting - I will post more pictures when I get more familiar with my inspection camera and/or better angles with my flashlight/inspection mirror!
Carl P.
76 Birchaven
South of Fremont
|
|
|
Re: Front Clip Rust: [message #229084 is a reply to message #229082] |
Sat, 09 November 2013 21:11 |
midlf
Messages: 2212 Registered: July 2007 Location: SE Wisc. (Palmyra)
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
noi wrote on Sat, 09 November 2013 20:50 | Greetings:
Well after posting my picture of the front clip rust I found, SteveS advised taking a real CLOSE look at the front clip rails – He also posted/linked pictures of the “surprise” he found after he got it back from being E-Coated:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6096-front-subframe-repair.html
Carl P.
76 Birchaven
|
I have only uploaded my frame pictures but have not yet posted any descriptions. If anyone has any questions on a specific picture please ask and I will explain it.
Steve Southworth
1974 Glacier TZE064V100150 (for workin on)
1975 Transmode TZE365V100394 (parts & spares)
Palmyra WI
|
|
|