I'm working on the fairly extensive battery rust, caused by the bad tray design. Who thought

rolling a battery tray lip down over a structural part was a smart idea? Oh well, just thought I share the fun

with you guys. Enjoy? https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...DIR#>/ohmy.png ,,,,BB

wow, thats really bad!

https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683572.gif Thats extensive.Get out some 16 guage steel and a welder and goto town.And people here ask me why I like to relocate the battery.

Only real rust on the whole car, go figure it would be so bad, huh? I got some 14 gauge angle to bulk up the top of the frame rail. I already cut off the piece that stands up straight off the rail, and the angle will replace that. I have a sheet of the lighter gauge that forms the inner fender, to fill in. Once this is overwith, I am building a battery tray out of 16 gauge, with a 1 inch lip all the way around, and a drain to outside of the car. The tray will be powdercoated as thick as they can possibly do it. I don't want to do this again.,,,,BB

Took a day off, and got back on it today. Got the rail piece made. Easy. Made some pie cuts in the angle, bent it to follow the rail, then weld and grind it off. Looks pretty spiffy, hehe. Now I have to find a way to de surface rust the rail, so the welder will do it's job. I only have a blast cabinet, and the cars a little too big for it. I guess I could fit the grinder in there somehow??,,,,BB

I use a Makita 4.5" grinder with a wire wheel to clean up bad ares like that.Then use a good rust primer and paint.

I was able to get my air grinder in there, and got it clean enough to give good penetration. Makita wire wheel would've been my first choice, but it would not fit with

the T handle installed. About 10-12 years ago I had a Makita jump out of a two handed

grip, almost slashing my left wrist open, pinch bruising my leg through blue jeans, and then hit the ground, only turning off when the wheel caught the power cord. Since then I NEVER remove the T handle, lol. An experienced coworker had removed it. I found it, and installed it with a wrench, hehe.,,,,BB

Is that who i think it is? nice dreams? ( pardon me i cant spell )

Yeah, that's Cheech, playing the ultra sleezy doorman/vampire in From Dusk Til Dawn...,,,,BB

LOL!! Hows that repair going?

Thanks for posting the nice pic's

It's kind of on hold right now. My wife came home for a week, and I decided spending time with her is more fun;) I will get back on it next Tuesday.



I did find some halfway decent 87 model seats, and I'm looking for reasonably priced reupholstering. One shop asked what car they were for, and I made the mistake of telling him. I could see dollar signs pop up in his eyes even over the phone. He says $285, I was like cool, for both?

And he says no, that's one. I thanked him and promptly hung up. Next place I called I only described the seats, and got a way more reasonable estimate of $175 a piece.,,,,BB

I just got done fabbing up the new battery tray. It weighs a little more, but it shouldn't cause nasty rust

like the original. Before I installed the drain I filled it with water, and not one drip. The battery sits down into

it with 1/4 inch all the way around. Snug, but not crooked tight. Now I need to grind it all down, even up the top edge a little, make brackets, and make some brackets for the hold down. Then it's off to the powdercoater. The drain is going to stab through a hole in the inner fender, to completely exit the body. https://www.nopistons.com/forums/pub...1047683329.gif ,,,,BB

Wow, 100* heat index and welding don't mix. But, it's all done aside from the hole drilling. I have to drill holes for the main brackets, and weld some nuts inside the frame rail before I seal it up. Then one on the inner fender for the steadying bracket. And,,,, yet more holes in the hold down tabs. It should be able to hold up a small elephant, haha.,,,,BB