S13 project.....body and rust repair - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

240sxrb25 · 11-21-2007, 11:21 PM

i got a 1990 s13 with a smashed front end from MI and had a complete 1991 front end at home for $900. the car had rust all around. i recently read a full lenth thread about a guy who did all the body work on his and it came along great. i have never had any expirience with welding, or any kind of body work before this.
this car is my winter beater. i have an rb25 sil80 that someone else did the body work on and painted so, this is just my project. please dont haggle me about anything you think im doing wrong. id just like to show people what im doing....
heres the pictures

ill post the rest in a few minutes after they load

soon2bs13 · 11-21-2007, 11:22 PM

good luck with ur project!!

240sxrb25 · 11-21-2007, 11:43 PM

thanks a bunch!! i have the rocker panel finished where you can see its all cut out. ill have pics in a few

Walperstyle · 11-21-2007, 11:45 PM

man, mine wasnt as bad, but very close. Very well done thus far.

240sxrb25 · 11-21-2007, 11:52 PM

240sxrb25 · 11-22-2007, 12:04 AM

thats all for now. i hope that everyone likes what im doing. once i get some more significant work done, ill post more pics.

808_Drift · 11-22-2007, 12:22 AM

are you driving that sil80 with the rb in the winter

Nice work man looking pretty good. I really really hate doing this kinda work lol its so demanding. +1 for you

firelizard · 11-22-2007, 12:24 AM

Dude, It was looking good until you painted over unsanded Bondo. SAND THE BONDO before you paint. And by sand, I mean sand it so that it is smooth and recreates the original contour of the panel as faithfully as possible.

240sxrb25 · 11-22-2007, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firelizard

Dude, It was looking good until you painted over unsanded Bondo. SAND THE BONDO before you paint. And by sand, I mean sand it so that it is smooth and recreates the original contour of the panel as faithfully as possible.

oh believe me i did!! i know better than that. i just didnt get any pictures of it sanded. i got too caught up in the work and just spaced it off. you can see the bondo under the 1 layer of enamel and that it was downsized quite a bit....

bo2o · 11-22-2007, 12:25 AM

meng you got all the same rust i have on my car hahhaha...

im just going to cut off most of the rush and fiberglass it and cover with parts

side skirts and rear valence ftw!
for the frame rail ill prolly do the same thing i was going to get some steal beams and just weld them in.

im stock with a bucket. too..sumtimes i wish i can just start over with a better chassis but im too far in.

gl with yours.

wannabe_drifter · 11-22-2007, 08:04 AM

Good job on that !

You're giving me some hope !

PoorMans180SX · 11-22-2007, 08:23 AM

Man, I don't want to be a downer or anything man, but your welds look really spotty. On bodywork, you want basically solid welds so there is no gap for it to crack by. Same with the frame rails

I'm glad you're restoring an old rusty chassis, cause I hate to see another one just scrapped, but I don't think that bodywork will last for long. I suppose if you're like most of us, you'll just cover it up with a kit though.

Nice project.

Addicted2Kouki · 11-22-2007, 12:13 PM

yeah about the welding. just do that all the way across.
do lil tact welds until you get to the other side if you cant get a steady weld across.

it doesnt have to look like perfect tig welds with overlapping beads.
just get coverage.

it looks like you are using a MIG... those are probly the easiest to control and work with.
you need to adjust the settings.
its either not hot enough or not enough inert gas.
looks like both in some of them.
because they do not look like the metal you are welding and the metal you are welding to are bonding correctly.

also. what gauge steel are you using?

but very very nice. i like your idea.

240sxrb25 · 11-22-2007, 12:34 PM

24 gauge i think, i got it cheap from school so thats what im using. i have an old mig that was given to me so its not incredible. the panel is just as strong as any other panel on the car. the gaps you see below were sealed before undercoated. if i turn the heat up, it just seems to burn through the metal. sheet metal is tough to make long welds without warping or burning. im only 18 and new to it all, so thanks for the advice.

statik · 11-22-2007, 12:36 PM

wow your subframe/control arms look like a pile of rust =[, good luck with the project though heh

unicoladron · 11-23-2007, 08:15 AM

+1 on not being a pussy and going for it even though it's new to you. my trunk pan is a little rotten, and a lil more rust near the rear left quarter panel. car is from the south

. i too will be picking up a mig soon and giving this a shot myself as i've never done any body work myself. if i were you tho, i would trash that rear subframe and those springs/struts/ca's. pickup some suspension parts in better condition, OR fucking clean all the rust off and undercoat it or powdercoat.

as mentioned before, i would take a little more time with grinding those welds down and neatly applying/sanding that bondo down to a smoother, more uniform finish.

motorsnail · 11-23-2007, 08:23 AM

Damn alot of work looks good though sence its your first time weld better then I can

ROUGE180 · 11-23-2007, 09:04 AM

Damn bro.. good job.. I have some rust on my frame aswell. I had a big ass hole on the driverside on the frame right before it notches up and goes parallel to the wheel well. Got that welded up. I can't wait to see the progress. Much luck.

240sxrb25 · 11-23-2007, 09:13 AM

thanks. my very first 240 had so much rust where yours did that the frame ripped away from the wheel well and it cracked all the way around the strut. the strut tower moved up and down inches when you hit a bump....

ROUGE180 · 11-23-2007, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240sxrb25

thanks. my very first 240 had so much rust where yours did that the frame ripped away from the wheel well and it cracked all the way around the strut. the strut tower moved up and down inches when you hit a bump....

GOOD LORD.!!! rust is EVIL lol.. funny thing.. my first 240 had no rust.. but thats cuz it was from Cali... The one I have now that has the rust is from Maryland. I do need to take care of the rest of the rust before it starts snowing. Damn I miss Cali.

driftxing · 11-23-2007, 09:24 AM

You need some more heat on those welds, other than that, those patches are pretty good quality. The filler is a little wavy, but much better than before. You can get a pneumatic flatboard for 50 bucks and fix all that. Good job on the DIY repairs. Lower rockers are the hardest shapes to try to re-make!

Jung918 · 11-23-2007, 10:24 AM

What make is your welder and which setting did you use?
There should be a guide on your welder somewhere telling you which setting you should use depending on metal thickness and if you are using fluxcore wire or soild wire.

240sxrb25 · 12-09-2007, 07:02 PM

so i got some more work done on the spot infront of the rear wheel and repainted. heres a picture of the side that didnt need any work and the side that i worked on....

240sxrb25 · 12-09-2007, 07:07 PM

this is where a big dent was between the fog light and wheel that i pulled out

and now some work behind the wheel...

inside

240sxrb25 · 12-09-2007, 07:11 PM

ill post more tomorrow. the spot behind the wheel is almost done. i got too into the work and stopped taking pictures up until the bondo part haha.

also some pics of the underneath of the car. the frame patching is done. the surface rust on the rails was ground down to shiny metal and re-undercoated, along with the floor boards.

P_856 · 12-09-2007, 07:06 PM

looks great i with i know how to do body work my car has so many dents

clutch kick drifter · 12-09-2007, 07:24 PM

why.... man i guess good luck but id rather just cover it with a kit and slap some bondo on the shit and fuck it.

drift freaq · 12-09-2007, 07:45 PM

wow I applaud your determination. I would have just scrapped that chassis and looked for somethng cleaner. I give you major props for going on the restore kick.

Lurpin · 12-09-2007, 07:49 PM

wow nice work! I'm 18 as well and, I have some surface rust on my roof, but don't have tools or any kind of experience to do anything about it. After seeing this I'm gonna start thinking about it. You give young guys like us hope =) +1 for you

LloydXmas · 12-09-2007, 10:59 PM

looking good, but I think I would have found a less rusty one to start with.

11-21-2007, 11:21 PM	#1
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	S13 project.....body and rust repair i got a 1990 s13 with a smashed front end from MI and had a complete 1991 front end at home for $900. the car had rust all around. i recently read a full lenth thread about a guy who did all the body work on his and it came along great. i have never had any expirience with welding, or any kind of body work before this. this car is my winter beater. i have an rb25 sil80 that someone else did the body work on and painted so, this is just my project. please dont haggle me about anything you think im doing wrong. id just like to show people what im doing.... heres the pictures ill post the rest in a few minutes after they load Last edited by 240sxrb25; 12-10-2007 at 10:06 PM..

11-21-2007, 11:22 PM	#2
soon2bs13 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: TN Posts: 482 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	good luck with ur project!! __________________ neg repping is cool!!

11-21-2007, 11:45 PM	#4
Walperstyle Nissanaholic! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Alberta, Red Derp Age: 44 Posts: 1,729 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	man, mine wasnt as bad, but very close. Very well done thus far. __________________ KA-T ORG-Function over Flush

11-22-2007, 12:24 AM	#8
firelizard Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Age: 36 Posts: 705 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: firelizard Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Dude, It was looking good until you painted over unsanded Bondo. SAND THE BONDO before you paint. And by sand, I mean sand it so that it is smooth and recreates the original contour of the panel as faithfully as possible. __________________

11-22-2007, 12:25 AM	#10
bo2o Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: May 2006 Location: 626 socal! Posts: 1,315 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	meng you got all the same rust i have on my car hahhaha... im just going to cut off most of the rush and fiberglass it and cover with parts side skirts and rear valence ftw! for the frame rail ill prolly do the same thing i was going to get some steal beams and just weld them in. im stock with a bucket. too..sumtimes i wish i can just start over with a better chassis but im too far in. gl with yours. __________________ fS! *vlsd ! slim fans ! hid kits ! lug nuts !* http://www.zilvia.net/f/search.php?d...earchuser=bo2o ^^^click^^^

11-21-2007, 11:43 PM	#3
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	thanks a bunch!! i have the rocker panel finished where you can see its all cut out. ill have pics in a few

11-21-2007, 11:52 PM	#5
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews

11-22-2007, 12:04 AM	#6
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	thats all for now. i hope that everyone likes what im doing. once i get some more significant work done, ill post more pics.

11-22-2007, 12:22 AM	#7
808_Drift Zilvia Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CA Age: 39 Posts: 189 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	are you driving that sil80 with the rb in the winter Nice work man looking pretty good. I really really hate doing this kinda work lol its so demanding. +1 for you

11-22-2007, 08:04 AM	#11
wannabe_drifter Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Québec, Canada Age: 41 Posts: 245 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Good job on that ! You're giving me some hope ! __________________

11-22-2007, 08:23 AM	#12
PoorMans180SX Zilvia.net Advertiser Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 37 Posts: 5,616 Trader Rating: (16) Rides Gallery: PoorMans180SX Feedback Score: 16 reviews	Man, I don't want to be a downer or anything man, but your welds look really spotty. On bodywork, you want basically solid welds so there is no gap for it to crack by. Same with the frame rails I'm glad you're restoring an old rusty chassis, cause I hate to see another one just scrapped, but I don't think that bodywork will last for long. I suppose if you're like most of us, you'll just cover it up with a kit though. Nice project. __________________ Build: http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=643065 Friends don't let friends buy knock-offs.

11-22-2007, 12:34 PM	#14
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	24 gauge i think, i got it cheap from school so thats what im using. i have an old mig that was given to me so its not incredible. the panel is just as strong as any other panel on the car. the gaps you see below were sealed before undercoated. if i turn the heat up, it just seems to burn through the metal. sheet metal is tough to make long welds without warping or burning. im only 18 and new to it all, so thanks for the advice.

11-22-2007, 12:36 PM	#15
statik Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Long Island, NY Age: 40 Posts: 1,358 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: statik Feedback Score: 0 reviews	wow your subframe/control arms look like a pile of rust =[, good luck with the project though heh __________________ 97 240sx esaarr \| Current Status: SOLD

11-23-2007, 08:15 AM	#16
unicoladron Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Age: 40 Posts: 568 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	+1 on not being a pussy and going for it even though it's new to you. my trunk pan is a little rotten, and a lil more rust near the rear left quarter panel. car is from the south . i too will be picking up a mig soon and giving this a shot myself as i've never done any body work myself. if i were you tho, i would trash that rear subframe and those springs/struts/ca's. pickup some suspension parts in better condition, OR fucking clean all the rust off and undercoat it or powdercoat. as mentioned before, i would take a little more time with grinding those welds down and neatly applying/sanding that bondo down to a smoother, more uniform finish. __________________ 1993 KA24DE for sale with 180k..running when pulled.... need to get rid of ASAP...i'm moving

11-23-2007, 08:23 AM	#17
motorsnail Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Oklahoma Age: 37 Posts: 625 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Damn alot of work looks good though sence its your first time weld better then I can

11-23-2007, 09:04 AM	#18
ROUGE180 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Potomac, MD Posts: 880 Trader Rating: (5) Rides Gallery: ROUGE180 Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Damn bro.. good job.. I have some rust on my frame aswell. I had a big ass hole on the driverside on the frame right before it notches up and goes parallel to the wheel well. Got that welded up. I can't wait to see the progress. Much luck.

11-23-2007, 09:13 AM	#19
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	thanks. my very first 240 had so much rust where yours did that the frame ripped away from the wheel well and it cracked all the way around the strut. the strut tower moved up and down inches when you hit a bump....

11-23-2007, 09:24 AM	#21
driftxing Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NC Age: 44 Posts: 26 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	You need some more heat on those welds, other than that, those patches are pretty good quality. The filler is a little wavy, but much better than before. You can get a pneumatic flatboard for 50 bucks and fix all that. Good job on the DIY repairs. Lower rockers are the hardest shapes to try to re-make!

11-23-2007, 10:24 AM	#22
Jung918 Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: CA Posts: 3,203 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	What make is your welder and which setting did you use? There should be a guide on your welder somewhere telling you which setting you should use depending on metal thickness and if you are using fluxcore wire or soild wire. __________________ Sale: Hello Kitty Horn Button S14 Rear Valences K.Y. Gordon the Thief (Tony Chen)

12-09-2007, 07:02 PM	#23
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	so i got some more work done on the spot infront of the rear wheel and repainted. heres a picture of the side that didnt need any work and the side that i worked on.... Last edited by 240sxrb25; 12-10-2007 at 09:45 PM..

12-09-2007, 07:07 PM	#24
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	this is where a big dent was between the fog light and wheel that i pulled out and now some work behind the wheel... inside Last edited by 240sxrb25; 12-10-2007 at 10:08 PM..

12-09-2007, 07:11 PM	#25
240sxrb25 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: omaha, ne Age: 35 Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	ill post more tomorrow. the spot behind the wheel is almost done. i got too into the work and stopped taking pictures up until the bondo part haha. also some pics of the underneath of the car. the frame patching is done. the surface rust on the rails was ground down to shiny metal and re-undercoated, along with the floor boards.

12-09-2007, 07:06 PM	#26
P_856 Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,424 Trader Rating: (7) Feedback Score: 7 reviews	looks great i with i know how to do body work my car has so many dents

12-09-2007, 07:24 PM	#27
clutch kick drifter Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TN Posts: 498 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	why.... man i guess good luck but id rather just cover it with a kit and slap some bondo on the shit and fuck it. __________________ Color of car has not been touched.

12-09-2007, 07:45 PM	#28
drift freaq R.I.P. Aya, always love Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Los Feliz/Hollywood Posts: 18,564 Trader Rating: (215) Rides Gallery: drift freaq Feedback Score: 215 reviews	wow I applaud your determination. I would have just scrapped that chassis and looked for somethng cleaner. I give you major props for going on the restore kick. __________________ "Having a lot of tracks on a song is like putting stickers on a car to get more horsepower" New Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uebV1OnbRsw Buy my mounts! http://zilvia.net/f/sale-items/51531...ns-mounts.html http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/317539...e-mouts-6.html

12-09-2007, 07:49 PM	#29
Lurpin Leaky Injector Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Maui, Hawaii Posts: 118 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	wow nice work! I'm 18 as well and, I have some surface rust on my roof, but don't have tools or any kind of experience to do anything about it. After seeing this I'm gonna start thinking about it. You give young guys like us hope =) +1 for you __________________

12-09-2007, 10:59 PM	#30
LloydXmas Zilvia Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: ......... Posts: 295 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	looking good, but I think I would have found a less rusty one to start with.