Well, I have had a nice 89 240sx hatch for a while now, and I bought a KA24E engine and transmission looking to throw it in it. But low and behold, I take out the old blown engine, and I see tons of rust. So much, I don't even feel safe driving with a new motor and transmission in it, because of worries of it falling out.
WHAT DO I DO?!?!
HOW CAN I FIX?!?!?
FOR CHEAP!?!?
BAD RUST IN THE ENGINE BAY?!?!
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twistedsymphony
- Posts: 186
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:21 am
- Car: 1997 Nissan 240SX SE
1995 Infiniti Q45 - Location: NH
- Contact:
no matter what you should fix it... because it's only going to get worse.
Parts like the crossmember/sub frame (the part that the engine mounts too) can be easily and completely replaced. If the torsion bars are going consider it a good excuse to buy a nismo power brace, if the radiator support is going those can be had on the cheap too.
If you have a lot of surface rusting on the strut towers and other structural components strip it down to the bare metal and repaint it... this is something you should do on any old car when replacing the engine anyway (when else are you going to have a good opportunity to get it done?)
If you have rot then you might be in trouble... to fix that you should find someone with a part out and take a saws-all or a seam cutter (depending on where the rust is and cut off the good parts from their chassis, then cut them off of your car and weld them into place.
Typically you can get this stuff cheap from a part out since it's mostly just scrap metal for the seller and less they'll have to have hauled off to the junk yard.
take off your fenders and check there, while your at it check the frame rails under the cabin too, especially on the drivers side. brake leaks (if you've ever had a leaky booster or BMC) can accelerate rusting there.
In general there is nothing that can't be fixed... it's just a matter of how serious it is and if you're willing and able to pay for it. with S13s if there is rot on major structual components and you lack the skills to fix it yourself it's often cheaper to simply buy a new chassis and strip the good stuff off your old one.
of course fixing this stuff is a good experience and you'll be proud having saved another 240 from death
... but for all we know it isn't serious at all ... how 'bout those pics
Parts like the crossmember/sub frame (the part that the engine mounts too) can be easily and completely replaced. If the torsion bars are going consider it a good excuse to buy a nismo power brace, if the radiator support is going those can be had on the cheap too.
If you have a lot of surface rusting on the strut towers and other structural components strip it down to the bare metal and repaint it... this is something you should do on any old car when replacing the engine anyway (when else are you going to have a good opportunity to get it done?)
If you have rot then you might be in trouble... to fix that you should find someone with a part out and take a saws-all or a seam cutter (depending on where the rust is and cut off the good parts from their chassis, then cut them off of your car and weld them into place.
Typically you can get this stuff cheap from a part out since it's mostly just scrap metal for the seller and less they'll have to have hauled off to the junk yard.
take off your fenders and check there, while your at it check the frame rails under the cabin too, especially on the drivers side. brake leaks (if you've ever had a leaky booster or BMC) can accelerate rusting there.
In general there is nothing that can't be fixed... it's just a matter of how serious it is and if you're willing and able to pay for it. with S13s if there is rot on major structual components and you lack the skills to fix it yourself it's often cheaper to simply buy a new chassis and strip the good stuff off your old one.
of course fixing this stuff is a good experience and you'll be proud having saved another 240 from death
... but for all we know it isn't serious at all ... how 'bout those pics
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Vegascorbin
- Posts: 732
- Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2007 9:56 am
- Car: 1990 240sx dirt track race car
Re: (twistedsymphony)
twistedsymphony: Good words. That is pretty much it in a nutshell. Just don't panic. There is rust and there is RUST. Send the pics.