I have been working on my (actually my girlfriend's) 85 GT for about a year now slowly restoring it. I had posted some engine pics before when I got it running and had promised to post pics of my rust removal. I got the pics in my computor finaly so here they are:
first the rust:


making the patterns:

cutting out the old courtesy of my friend Kyle and his plasma cutter:

clamping in the pieces after cutting them on a chop saw to match the posterboard patterns:

welded rail in car:

next up POR 15

POR 15 and fiberglass cloth used to patch the holes after removing the rust:

POR 15 then gloos black rust tough enamel painted over it:


Now undercoated:

I should also note that the rust in the trunk was cut out and new metal was welded in then I used seam sealer to fill the gaps and POR 15 and paint to protect the new metal all parts ere cleaned then treated with POR products metal ready before being treated.
Here is one of the new cradle next to the old:

[This message has been edited by STRATOHACKER (edited 04-04-2004).]

Nice work!

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www.venomperformance.ca

Alot of work you did there and it looks like it turned out really good. I like your choice of rims.
keep up the good work.
Bob

man why go through all that work to fix the frame when you could have just asked me and i could have given you a rust free 87 coupe frame, with gas tank, title and everything....

matthew

quote Originally posted by m0sh_man: man why go through all that work to fix the frame when you could have just asked me and i could have given you a rust free 87 coupe frame, with gas tank, title and everything.... matthew

The actual frame itself was solid just the upper rails were bad. She has owned the car for 14 years and refused to get rid of it. I got the car for free. Total material costs to remove the rust were less than $200 and If I switched frames I would have had to swap every part on the car. This seemed like less work to me. I got the entire rear suspension and cradle off of an 86 GT for pulling a motor for Jason (tomanyfieros)
so other than my labor I have very little in this repair and my girlfriend gets to keep her car.
Richey

Looks good!, great to see another Fiero saved from doom!

Heres a pic of one I rebuilt for a customer last fall after the seams were sealed and painted up.

I had to rebuild both the upper lower frame rails, align and attach the stut towers, and do the sheet metal work ahead and behind the strut towers on both sides.

This one was bad, but like Stratohackers, the owner had this car from new and really didn't want to part with it.

[This message has been edited by jelly2m8 (edited 04-05-2004).]

Thanks for the compliments.
Jelly, If I would have had to do the lower frame as well like you did I would have swaped the whole frame in from another car. LOL that is pretty amazing.
Richey

Beautiful work fromthe other Columbus! Obviously a labor of love. Can't say enough about it. You have a reason to be proud.

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quote Originally posted by STRATOHACKER: Thanks for the compliments. Jelly, If I would have had to do the lower frame as well like you did I would have swaped the whole frame in from another car. LOL that is pretty amazing. Richey

Actually I tried to talk the owners into either replacing the spaceframe, or finding them another Fiero. I told them multiple times that it would be cheaper to replace the car than repair theirs, but after some thought between the couple, they decided they wanted to have their car repaired, as they bought it new, enjoy it everyday, and wanted to enjoy that particular car in the future. I even joked with the husband at one point and said "you must be emotionally attached to the car"
The right rear cradle mounting area was rusted clear, and that corner was just hanging in the breeze, how anyone can drive a car like that and not notice how bad it drives is beyond me.

This is a local couple who had all their work done to their vehicles at another shop. The other shop kept replacing everything that needed replacing untill it got to the point that there was no where to bolt the new rear flex hoses to the frame!. Thats when someone directed them towards me.

Personally I wouldn't repair any of my own cars if they got that bad, actually I would never buy a Fiero that was anywhere near that condition!, but for the right amount of money I will rebuild them. I've rebuild a number of rusted Fiero frames and engine cradles through the years, and have always had satisfied customers afterwards.

I have a few pics of that job in progress ( I don't take many pics , especially during a job - I like to get to work and stick at it )

Reattaching the drivers side strut tower

Rebuilding the drivers inner lower frame rail

Right side almost complete