2G How Should I Weld This? (Strut Tower)

[Luckris]

So I have has 2 2g Eclipses, and now own a Talon TSi. Only one issue, the drivers side strut tower.

I drove it back from a 2hr drive, and drove it to work and back a few days so it's not going to pop through the hood quite yet, but I need to get it repaired. My uncle said he can fix it next month for me, but it's rusted out even near the fire wall. What's the best way to go about repairing it?

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[AwD4g63TsI]

! If this is back to the firewall I am very surprised it hasn't popped yet. Being that it's this bad in the picture, and you say it's back to the fire wall-you need some major surgery because the other side is going too even if you can't see it. You're entire front clip(from the firewall forward) needs to be removed and a new(used) one welded back in while layering the steel in sections to maintain strength. You can't just lob off the front half and weld a new front in the exact same spot on one seam. You'll need a donor car from a junkyard. You are basically sawing your car in half and welding a new section back on. Unless you've done it before and have access to a body straightening program....or someone lets you use their info, then I wouldn't try this. I've done it to a car before, but that was with a frame machine with everything clamped down at the pinch welds while using tram gauges and laser pointers with drop tags underneath. It's a hell of a job to get everything sitting correctly afterwards. Good luck

 

[Luckris]

! If this is back to the firewall I am very surprised it hasn't popped yet. Being that it's this bad in the picture, and you say it's back to the fire wall-you need some major surgery because the other side is going too even if you can't see it. You're entire front clip(from the firewall forward) needs to be removed and a new(used) one welded back in while layering the steel in sections to maintain strength. You can't just lob off the front half and weld a new front in the exact same spot on one seam. You'll need a donor car from a junkyard. You are basically sawing your car in half and welding a new section back on. Unless you've done it before and have access to a body straightening program....or someone lets you use their info, then I wouldn't try this. I've done it to a car before, but that was with a frame machine with everything clamped down at the pinch welds while using tram gauges and laser pointers with drop tags underneath. It's a hell of a job to get everything sitting correctly afterwards. Good luck

Oh wow! Thanks for the heads up. I'm going to keep my head out for a donor car then. It might not touch the firewall but it sure goes around the tower like a tumor. Don't know how they are built up, but I was thinking if I take everything off near where the rust is I could get steel welded on both sides. Sounds better tan cutting one out of another car and trying to line it back up. There are no car or body shops that will fix it around where I live so I got to do it myself with help from family. And it's my only Eclipse/Talon that has not been in an accident or ruined yet. Guy before me had it since 2006, and he just sold it to me. No mods, all stock. got it for 700$. Thought it would be worth the fix-up.

 

[91-GS]

Time for a full tubular front end
Seriously though, as mentioned above a replacement would be the best option. Look around the car since there might be more rust. Check places like rocker panels and rear strut towers since both are known to have hidden rust. Go as far as tapping areas with a pick hammer to make sure there is no hidden rust under paint.

 

[misfit77]

Could you build a frame of some sorts? Like a 3 or 4 point strut tower brace.

Something like this, with more supports of course.

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[new2me97gsx]

I have the same problem and question for my car on a much smaller scale. My towers are rusted, but just in a couple spots and not quite all the way threw but getting there. How hard its it to replace the towers or weld in patches?

 

[oneslowwdsm]

I have the same problem and question for my car on a much smaller scale. My towers are rusted, but just in a couple spots and not quite all the way threw but getting there. How hard its it to replace the towers or weld in patches?

It's not too hard. An experienced welder can do it. You can cut it out at least and the welder has to take sheet metal, bend it accordingly , and weld it in. If it isn't all the way through get some tough sandpaper and see if you can sand the rust away.

As far as the OP, I would call that a total loss. Find a clean shell and move on.

 

[Luckris]

It's not too hard. An experienced welder can do it. You can cut it out at least and the welder has to take sheet metal, bend it accordingly , and weld it in. If it isn't all the way through get some tough sandpaper and see if you can sand the rust away.

As far as the OP, I would call that a total loss. Find a clean shell and move on.

Never give up on a Talon! I got the struts fixed. After digging I found a shop. The did both sides for me for 1,000$. Then I had whatever that thing is on the back that connects the frame to the back tire and that rusted off. So Im putting a good 2,000$ down to get that fixed. It's almost complete. But you just gotta do ALOT of calling and ask if people do welding on cars. i'm getting mine done at antieau welding.

 

[oneslowwdsm]

Never give up on a Talon! I got the struts fixed. After digging I found a shop. The did both sides for me for 1,000$. Then I had whatever that thing is on the back that connects the frame to the back tire and that rusted off. So Im putting a good 2,000$ down to get that fixed. It's almost complete. But you just gotta do ALOT of calling and ask if people do welding on cars. i'm getting mine done at antieau welding.

Agreed except only if it's realistic. For $3k, you could find a clean somewhat running 2g or find a shell for $1k and spend that $2k into a motor build. Not to mention, sure you fix the strut tower rust but what about the rest of the car? (Rockers, frame rails, every single nut and bolt, etc)

But if the car has some sentimental value then I get it. I'd like to see some pics of said fixed strut tower.

 

[Dsmkauai]

Op I would suggest a donor skin as yours is really bad. Here's how I fixed mine years ago, still looks great to this day.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/fixing-rusted-out-strut-towers.388340/

 

[Luckris]

Agreed except only if it's realistic. For $3k, you could find a clean somewhat running 2g or find a shell for $1k and spend that $2k into a motor build. Not to mention, sure you fix the strut tower rust but what about the rest of the car? (Rockers, frame rails, every single nut and bolt, etc)

But if the car has some sentimental value then I get it. I'd like to see some pics of said fixed strut tower.

Op I would suggest a donor skin as yours is really bad. Here's how I fixed mine years ago, still looks great to this day.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/fixing-rusted-out-strut-towers.388340/

The struts are already done. By the end of this week I'll have the car back and take a video and some pics of the welding on the front and back of the car. It's a lifetime warranty and they put a substance over the metal to protect it from dirt and salt so it wont rust again.

Here's a pic of what was rusted on the back. The panels where rusted as well. He said there was just inches thick of rust he had to get out. I can imagine this ob running into the 2,000$ price range because he's doing both sides before the other side snaps off.

I do have a 420a Eclipse Im driving right now, and a 06 Eclipse I'm almost done fixing up. So I'm not giving up on the Talon unless I don't have something working that can get me to work and back.

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[2gmitsueclipse]

My advice is to stop putting money into this terminally ill car. This car is one Michigan pothole away from killing someone. I would look out of state (south) for a clean DSM. Salvage what you can in terms of parts, and scrap the shell. This is not safe to drive. This is only the rust that is visible.

 

[oneslowwdsm]

Has to be the worst i've ever seen on any 2g and I'm from Detroit, i've seem some bad 2gs. Agreed with above, unsafe to drive and any shop telling you different is just looking to take your money.

 

[Black95TSIawd]

Please do not drive that car. She's a gonner. DSM's are so damn cheap these days. Get a shell and swap over any goodies.

 

[Luckris]

Has to be the worst i've ever seen on any 2g and I'm from Detroit, i've seem some bad 2gs. Agreed with above, unsafe to drive and any shop telling you different is just looking to take your money.

Please do not drive that car. She's a gonner. DSM's are so damn cheap these days. Get a shell and swap over any goodies.

Like I said. It's already done. Why would I not drive it after putting 3K into it? I already have a DSM that had a rusted bearing and something in the axle and the wheel fell off going 60mph. Then when I went to put it on a jack stand the frame/undershell bit you put it on snapped and bent the floor in. Can't get much worse than that. But the frames not bad on this one. Plus I get one day off a week. I can't grab a car from down south. Just gotta learn how to fix and take care of my cars. It's michigan, if I buy a rust free shell it's just gona get rusty anyway.

Plus I'm in a apartment. Can't do a shell swap here.

 

[2gmitsueclipse]

Like I said. It's already done. Why would I not drive it after putting 3K into it? I already have a DSM that had a rusted bearing and something in the axle and the wheel fell off going 60mph. Then when I went to put it on a jack stand the frame/undershell bit you put it on snapped and bent the floor in. Can't get much worse than that. But the frames not bad on this one. Plus I get one day off a week. I can't grab a car from down south. Just gotta learn how to fix and take care of my cars. It's michigan, if I buy a rust free shell it's just gona get rusty anyway.

Plus I'm in a apartment. Can't do a shell swap here.

Like I said, that is only the rust you can see. DSMs have a uni-body frame. I think some of us will have differing opinions about what is safe. Just because you put 3 thousand into it, doesn't mean you should drive it.

It is possible to have a clean rust-free DSM in Michigan. I still play in the snow.

It is your money, spend it how you want. You were only seeking advice. That is what you got.

 

[Luckris]

Like I said, that is only the rust you can see. DSMs have a uni-body frame. I think some of us will have differing opinions about what is safe. Just because you put 3 thousand into it, doesn't mean you should drive it.

It is possible to have a clean rust-free DSM in Michigan. I still play in the snow.

It is your money, spend it how you want. You were only seeking advice. That is what you got.

don't get me wrong. I'd sell it for like 4k but I'm not going to screw somebody over. Plus I'm only driving it until I blow the motor. Which might be a few months time. Depends on what's going with my 4G.

*Edit in
what should I do with it if not drive it? Where is all that money gone to?

 

[oneslowwdsm]

don't get me wrong. I'd sell it for like 4k but I'm not going to screw somebody over. Plus I'm only driving it until I blow the motor. Which might be a few months time. Depends on what's going with my 4G.

*Edit in
what should I do with it if not drive it? Where is all that money gone to?

Take some serious precautions like checking it over every once in a while and make sure everything is tight and not coming apart on you. Also be very cautious of your speed and definitely stop throwing money into it.

 

[EvilTsi95]

Not worth the work and risk. I weld for a living and the amount of work that will need to go into that to get it back. Not worth it. I wouldn't even waste my time.

 

[crimsondragon]

Could you build a frame of some sorts? Like a 3 or 4 point strut tower brace.

Something like this, with more supports of course.

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That would do absolutely nothing to support the front weight of the vehicle on the towers.

 

[dyablo]

WOW and to think I literally gave away for free a 99 gst spyder shell that had zero rust. That car looks like a money pit not to mention the safety part. Reason being I love the dry heat, no rust.

 

[steve]

what should I do with it if not drive it? Where is all that money gone to?

Scrap it and chalk the loss up to one of life's hard lessons to not throw good money after bad.

 

[Luckris]

So I did end up getting it fixed up. I got another issue I got to post about soon about some wires I messed up, but the resault is fine.

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im going to move on to my wiper issue now. prob start a new thread after looking around.

 

[lasershark]

Wow, I'm surprised you were able to get that fixed. I hope they did a good job as that rust looked nasty.
Post a new thread on your wiper problem if you cant find a resolution.

 

[Gsx_frank]

Holly mother of cancer you need to find a doner car