Rust Repair Help... Minnesota style., I think I'm ready to throw in the towel. Options

[914orRust]

Ok. About 2 years ago, I purchased a 74 teener. Since then I've had the engine rebuilt and replaced more parts than I dare list all the while knowing that there is some serious hell hole/rocker panel rust to address. The car isn't sagging yet but I know this is an issue that must be addressed.

To make matters worse... I live in Minnesota and I have no welding skills of my own. Thus far I've contacted a couple random body shops and I've received responses ranging from "no way I'm touching that" to "you need a top off restoration". I know I can't afford a top off restoration.

So, my question to the list is... do I throw in the towel and sell to someone that has welding experience? Is there a solution that does not require a full restoration? Is that option available in Minnesota?

Thank you in advance for any wisdom you may have with this issue.

~Marc

[smontanaro]

So, my question to the list is... do I throw in the towel and sell to someone that has welding experience? Is there a solution that does not require a full restoration? Is that option available in Minnesota?

You can always learn how to weld. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Maybe a vocational school auto body or metal working class would be willing to take on the project.

Skip

[VaccaRabite]

Learn to weld.
It is not that hard (if I can do it, anyone can). When you start laying good welds on sheet metal, it is such a buzz.

Plus, once you figure out that you can actually weld, you start looking for other things that you could weld togethr.

Zach

[Bartlett 914]

So how bad is it? A few pictures of the problem may help getting advice.

[So.Cal.914]

Check with your local community college alot have adult edd classes and welding

is a common one. That or hunt down a Cali tub and put all your stuff on it.

Welding is not that tuff, as long as your penetration is good seam sealer will

cover it. Pretty will come with practice.

[SirAndy]

Learn to weld.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

check and see if someone in your area offers automotive welding classes.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) Andy

[rjames]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) as well. You can learn to do it, it's not too hard to get good enough to fix your car, especially concerning areas that won't be seen. It seems intimidating, but as someone else recommended, take a couple of classes and you'll see that it's totally doable. I took a weekend class, then bought a welder and practiced a bunch before repairing the longs and floorpan on my car. You can do it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

All that being said, how much rust do you have? Post some pics. It may be cheaper in the long run to buy a nice tub depending on how bad the areas are...

[914orRust]

Learning to weld looks like the preferred solution. Thank you all for your contributions.

The car is currently at the shop getting some engine work done. I'll probably swing by and take a couple pics tomorrow. I'd love your advice if this is even fixable.

Thanks again everyone.

[Root_Werks]

Most have already said it, learn to weld. Go pick up a cheap flux core mig welder and good 4 1/2" grinder to clean up things. It's mostly labor, not much in parts. Just labor and time.

[914orRust]

Ok, you've got me really thinking about getting into the world of welding...

Any recommendations on the type of welder I should purchase? Any preferred retailers?

[rick 918-S]

You need to stop over to Chappy's house and check out all the welding he did with his small home/shop welder. You can do it. And if you can't figure out how to get started there are some local guy's in the metro than can give you a few pointers.

I'd volenteer but I have a full dance card until late summer/fall.

[yarin]

I've got an experienced welder that will offer me his services, but I need to do the prep work. Isn't welding only about 10% of the time required for rust repair? I imagine most of the work is removing paint, coatings, cleanup, cutting pieces to size, prep and aligning the new metal. Right?

[balljoint]

First you need to determine whether or not the rust repairs are even worthwhile, whether done by you or a professional. Post some pictures.

If the repairs needed fall under the easy to purchase pre-stamped panels category then it depends on the total cost of the panels and the length of time it will take you to learn to weld and make the repairs the right way. If the repairs are going to require extensive fabrication by you then you need to also look at buying a tub or solid roller.

The best thing I ever did was admit to myself that my first 914 was beyond repair. Then I started looking for a solid car to start with and never looked back

That said, I did learn to weld and it was a lot of fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[dflesburg]

Everyone who owns a 914 eventually learns to weld.... and owns jackstands... and learns to say, "It is like owning a boat, those guys never use thier toys either, they just store them."

[PanelBilly]

At 50 I went back to school and took a summer class on body work and welding. I wish I had done this years ago. Sure you screw up and warp some panels and blow some holes in the metal, but it is so much fun.

[rfuerst911sc]

Ok, you've got me really thinking about getting into the world of welding...

Any recommendations on the type of welder I should purchase? Any preferred retailers?

Here's my 2 cents. A welder is a tool that if you buy cheap you will probably get cheap results. This doesn't mean you have to go with the best pro unit available but you want to purchase as much as your budget allows. I personally don't like the flux cored welders. I purchased a Hobart 140 from a local farm/feed store and like it a lot. It works off standard 110v house current and uses shielding gas. I have welded on 2 of 4 GT flares and it works great! Shop around in your area and make sure where ever you plan to purchase they also stock the parts that wear and need replacement ( tips,welding wire etc. ). Also the cost of the welder is just the start, you have to add the shielding gas,probably a cart,welding helmet,gloves,clamps and on and on. My $449.00 welder ended up costing about $650.00 by the time I was done but I have most of the bells and whistles of much higher costing units that will work fine for many years in my application.

[HalM]

It sounds like you are making the drivetrain right. If you want to get it done and enjoy the car, why not drive the car to a shop that knows 914's. For example Bill Dunster in Charlotte. He is active in PCA and owns a Teener. Drive it down, get a dollar and time estimate. Make a decision to fly home and then return to pick it up when finished, or drive it home and scrap it.

[iamchappy]

I have an extra 110 flux core welder you can try out.
I just welded in one side of the Brad Mayeur long kit this week. Extremely heavy weight steel, originally designed to reinforce rust issues in the longs. I added these with the Engman inner kit on a solid rust free car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

You could watch me install the other side, I still have some prep work to do before I
start.

How are your floor pans and the hell hole area.....

Northern tools has a decent mig welder for around 300.00 it's what I use it can weld as thin as 26 gauge. Not as
nice as the Hobart 140 but it can do a decent job.


http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/sto...32691_200332691

[914orRust]

Thank you for the tip on the welder, iamchappy. I appreciate it. I wouldn't mind seeing the work in action some time. It would be good to see what is in store for me.

The hell hole area is pretty bad. At some point, a person removed the battery tray and support only to replace it with a temporary. There is a hole through the firewall.

The pans are not bad, actually. There is a small amount of rust in the back right corner of the passengers seat. Nothing too bad.

I know that the jack post on the passenger side is free floating. I have not removed the outer longitude to take a look at how bad it is. From the underside, there is definite rust/corrosion/holes in the inner longitude and jacking post on the passenger side.

I will try tomorrow to take some pictures to post.

Thanks again!

[iamchappy]

I guess you have to determine how far you want to go with this car. Either go all out and restore the thing right and expect it to cost way to much and expect it out of action for many years, or patch it together here and there were it needs it and enjoy driving it. I did a patch work job on a 914 that I drove for over ten years before I sawsalled it up.