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Topic: newby needs help (Read 2933 times) previous topic - next topic

newby needs help

I have just purchased a 86 turbo coupe that has been converted to a SO 5.0 5 speed, got it on ebay when it arrived I found it to have a lot of rust on the undercarrage  :sawzall: still I would like to keep the car any thoughts on rust repair the torque box area and rear frame rails, being here in texas rust is not a problem,so no one has the answer but to sell it, Marty

Re: newby needs help

Reply #1
Rust on the underside of cars is normal. If car is falling apart because of the rust then you have a problem and i don't think there is much you can do. If it is the floor boards that are rusting then you can replace them but you weren't very specific. do the rear frame rails have surface rust or are they rotting away? And what is a torque box?

Re: newby needs help

Reply #2
Quote
Rust on the underside of cars is normal.

Here on the east coast of VA it ain't...  I'd be willing to bet you could se all day under my TC, and not come up with a teaspoon of rust. Only rusty Birds I've seen have come from the northeast or Michigan(which I parted out).

Marty I don't know what to tell you, but if the frame rails and torque boxes are falling out of it, I'd be looking for another Bird to swap your drivetrain into. Even if you get those fixed, the rust will come through somewhere else. Once salt gets embeded in the seams, its just a matter of time till rust shows up again.

Re: newby needs help

Reply #3
Well the underside of my car is very rusty (but not rotting away rusty) and I live in Maryland. It looks like it was parked in a lake for a few years, there is surface rust everywhere underneath the car.

Re: newby needs help

Reply #4
My '86 was somewhat of a northern car.. spent time back and forth between here and Michigan before I got it.. and it has some rust underneath, back by the gas tank/back bumper.. but the original owner got some lifetime undercoating, so the rest of the car underneath is pretty clean, rust-wise. My '88 has been completely a southern car, as far as I can tell.. and has hardly any significant rust anywhere.

Re: newby needs help

Reply #5
Thanks you guys rock, the car was in CT. the rust on the frame rails is more than just surface rust but the body is not bad at all, kind of odd? the car rides fine, in fact it's great, that's why I picked it up, I have a 83 capri rs that is in the middle of a FI convertion ,rpm heads e cam cartech intake, tremec, it's a great car but very loud, the bird is nice and quite, rides well, so if I have to get rid of it I will have to have another. for those old enough it's kind of like the differance between a trans am and a gto both get it done ones just bigger and rides well, thanks again Marty

Re: newby needs help

Reply #6
Quote from: lowcat
Well the underside of my car is very rusty (but not rotting away rusty) and I live in Maryland. It looks like it was parked in a lake for a few years, there is surface rust everywhere underneath the car.

Since when have you lived in maryland?!
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: newby needs help

Reply #7
Since 1986 :ies:

Re: newby needs help

Reply #8
Quote
And what is a torque box?
It's that extra-reinforced area the rear controls arms sit in, like an open-ended (ahem) BOX.  :D
Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

1988 5.0 Bird, mostly stock, partly not, now gone to T-Bird heaven.
1990 Volvo 740GL. 114 tire-shredding horsies, baby!

Re: newby needs help

Reply #9
Quote from: MasterBlaster
It's that extra-reinforced area the rear controls arms sit in, like an open-ended (ahem) BOX.  :D


is that supposed to be a shagual innuendo of some sort?  :ies:  :ies:  :ies:

Re: newby needs help

Reply #10
Oh. I never knew that had a name. Interesting, learn something new everyday!

Re: newby needs help

Reply #11
:ies:  :ies:
I see you have a clean box Mr. Blaster!  Seriously, how bad is it?
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Re: newby needs help

Reply #12
well the car is great to drive, so I may find another body,the v8 ,5 speed turbo coupe is the best of both worlds, keep you posted!Marty