Hi all:
I really like my car. Its an 84 Firebird, Van Nuys, V6, auto, carb. Got it for a good price, even with the rust. Engine/transmission good. Reliable. I get in to go to work, turn the key and the car goes. Drives great/fun. Guages work, headlights and signal lights all work.

I'm new to trying to understand cars. Have been reading past posts, using post search, and surfing internet to try and learn about frame/chassis. From what I've read so far I'm not sure whether a hole in the strut tower apron can be patched or not.

The hole is just above the engine coolant reservior, about a tennis ball sized hole. The strut tower cap and the first part of the apron seem solid (has rust under, but there is metal under the rust.)

So, asking you guys. Can it be patched? Does that weaken structural integrity? If it can be patched, how many hours labour am I looking at to get it done? Would the shop have to take the fender/bumper off?

Should I get a shop to check the frame, floor panels, etc. for extent of rust before I get any work done.

Problem is I am on a tight budget (single parent) and I dont have a yard/or tools to do work myself.

Any advise would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Judith

 

That section of metal is structural, it is part of the car's suspension. Sounds to me like your car's rust problem is much more than just cosmetic.

Like anything, it can be repaired; but the bigger question is whether the expense of cutting out all the deteriorated metal and welding in new that's strong enough to do its job is worth it. That's a pretty thick chunk of steel. Odds are, if something that thick has rotted through, there are lots of other places as bad or worse, all over the car. Definitely, before you spend another dime on that car, look it over closely for any other signs of rust in the floor pan and around the "frame" where it attaches to the body under the firewall and of course all around the strut towers; if it's bad in any of those places, the car is no good any more.

It's probably a better idea to just look for another car; it will cost you less in the long run than trying to patch a rust bomb, one hole at a time.

 

Sorry, I'm still learning my car vocabulary. Just checked another illustration on gmgoodwrench.com and it looks like I should have said the hole is in the wheelhousing that the strut tower assembly sits on. Does that make any difference to the prospects for my car.

I am still going to have someone go over it from the bottom up before/if I do get any thing done

Thanks for your reply.
Judith

 

same prospects yeah,

i have same rust through on this 84 Z28 i just got a couple days ago, has no existenst floor board driver side and is ate through gone all around the strut towers up there and in the front lower of rear wheel tubs, too. im either gonna cut up the car or find a welder and ots of welding wire and metal to patch in with...


rust rust rust.. they all rust this bad it seems.,
good luck