strut tower reinforcement plates?

[m tr4nch]

well i am still working on my car, and trying to take care of all the rust. i started grinding down some rust on the top of the front strut towers (in the "usual" spot). it was pretty bad and i had to go kinda deep to get at what i thought was most of it:

look at all that rust dust..



so after i did this i could still see a little more hiding under that reinforcement plate. i decided to just drill all the spot welds out to get the plate off so i can get at whatever was underneath.

good thing i did that haha, look at all this crap underneath..



so my question is.. what should i do about that seam now that i have the plate off. im obviously going to clean off that rust by sandblasting. should i make some new plates and weld them on? or can i just stitch weld that seam pretty good? let me know what you guys think.

thanks

[babowc]

i'd personally weld over the seam, then make plates and weld them on too.

isnt that a flex point?

[m tr4nch]

i'd personally weld over the seam, then make plates and weld them on too.

isnt that a flex point?

hmmm.. interesting idea...

[mrzabala]

been done before. just you dont see everyone with time, mig welder, and money to spend. looking good though hope everything comes out nice and the rust gets eliminated.

[jdm_master_X]

i used to have plenty of rust on my car. the best idea to make sure the rust doesnt return is to use SIMMs rust remover (its a really strong, smelly, gel that you work into the metal for half an hour or so). then go over it with zinc enriched primer. as far as the welds are concerned (and yes this is a flexing point), just make sure to seam weld along the framerail. using a metal plate above and below the mount might make it a little more sturdy.

[neverlift]

I would agree that its a flex point and that your lucky you did this now. That could have got BAD. custom up some plates thicker.

[m tr4nch]

I would agree that its a flex point and that your lucky you did this now. That could have got BAD. custom up some plates thicker.

im gonna get some plates fabbed up, then i should be good to go

[amolao]

Got rust?? Good eye, looks like surface rust. If you can clean the original plates, clean them and reinstall. I like the idea of seam welding the plates, make sure to clean all rust and use something like PQR 15 or whatever is called to.....to protect the surfaces. Also check the underside for rust, clean and protect with a good undercoating.

[m tr4nch]

Got rust?? Good eye, looks like surface rust. If you can clean the original plates, clean them and reinstall. I like the idea of seam welding the plates, make sure to clean all rust and use something like PQR 15 or whatever is called to.....to protect the surfaces. Also check the underside for rust, clean and protect with a good undercoating.

reusing the plates are a negative.. 13 holes + bent up and rusty = no thanks. i was actually just gonna get some new ones from nissan, until i found out they cost about $75 each (with 20% discount off msrp ).

and yessir i got my die grinder/wire wheel/sandblasting stuff, my new paint gun + rust bullet primer, and my 5 cans of 3m rubberized undercoating

[babowc]

you might not want to use a thick piece of metal on that.. i believe thats where the fender sits on.. i forget, anyways. yes, b/c of the fenders.. maybe test fit first and then weld the actual plate on there.