Frame Rot

atomicalex

Earlier this summer, I posted about some of the problems I’d been having with my Rabbit. My rear axle swap turned into a nightmare of cut studs, mangled metal, and major frame rot. It seemed like every time I thought I’d found some good metal to weld to, well, I was wrong. I realized that the unitbody was pretty much beyond salvaging at that point, so I faced the decision no car person likes to make: scrap it and move on, or kill myself trying to fix it. I spent two months meditating on the matter. I made my decision last week. What would you do if you were staring at this, and this was the good side?

Frame Rot

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Posted at 1:46 pm in Katherine, Rabbit, VW

Comments

OldsCruiser
Nov 12, 2009 at 3:57 pm

Yeah, I think it’s on the other side of saving. However for future reference, before the rust gets to bad, you can use a product called por -15 http://www.por15.com/
I’ve used it on my camino, and my wagon to stop rust from spreading. It works by encapsulating the rust with a non porous paint, that only hardens when it gets moister. Cost a bit more, but is worth every cent.

DxDean
Nov 10, 2009 at 7:13 am

im having the same problem with my sunfire, the rear sub-frames in the 3rd gen j-bodys are known for rotting out where im from, but its my first car and i plan on keeping it for a very long time, so i plan to find a good sub-frame and replace it, and up here in nova scotia canada they use alot of salt on the roads, so that means no winter driving

SuzyBruisy
Nov 9, 2009 at 9:25 pm

This photo makes me weep; I fear my Eagle is succumbing to the same fate. It’s kind of like making the decision of when to put the family dog to sleep: heartbreaking no matter what. For my Escort GT, the car I’d owned since highschool, I decided it was worth doing whatever it took to the extreme surgery that was needed. And I’ve never regretted that decision for a moment, even though I’m still paying off the student loans I dumped into it. As for the Eagle? I think it might be time to learn how to weld. It’s either that, or spending god-knows-how-many years kicking myself. “Why did I junk it?”.

sarahsmile90
Nov 9, 2009 at 8:41 pm

Aww…poor Rabbit…but yeah I scrap it at this point.:(

gfaules
Nov 9, 2009 at 8:24 pm

I’m reminded of an old joke punch-line I heard when I was a boy….

Everyone want to cut, cut, cut. Just leave it alone long enough and it will rot off.

bulldog_1995
Nov 9, 2009 at 8:19 pm

it doesnt look that bad for a mich. car (i grew up in ia) my advice would be to pull up th carpet and see how bad the pan is if it is swiss cheese then its time to let it go you could also get yourself another rustfree body from the south or west from craigslist.org they could be had for as little as $500 and swap your parts onto it after a good undercoat just an idea

retroman
Nov 9, 2009 at 3:06 pm

For me, it depends on sentimental value. My ‘93 Dodge Spirit was my first car, and I have alot of memories with it. It’s rusted out badly, but I since I don’t plan on selling it, piecing it back together was worth the trouble to me. I hope to make it into a unique ride yet. After I get the rust fixed, then it will be time for some upgrades in the power department.

IH-international
Nov 9, 2009 at 2:41 pm

don’t scrap it……….yet! take it to daves farm!!! he has a place for vdubs!!! mawahuhuhuhuhu!!!!!

dragorphan
Nov 9, 2009 at 2:39 pm

I live in arizona so I would not bother. Just find another rust free body and swap all of your good parts then scrap what is left.

Jim Brennan
Nov 9, 2009 at 1:55 pm

Katherine, hate to say it, but I’d scrap it. There is nothing to save here.