[190529mabotofuz]

Hi everyone. I'm a newer Mustang owner and new to this forum. I recently discovered my 95 GT has developed a decent size hole in the drivers side strut tower due to rust. The rest of the car is in a good shape and it runs and drives well (110k miles). I have been to several bodyshops to see if it can be repaired but most of them won't even touch it. The ones who are willing to work on it are telling me that the motor needs to be dropped in order to weld in a new tower which is going to run upwards of $2500-$3000. Does anyone have any experience with this repair who can tell me if this it the only way to do it? Or is there a less expensive alternative (Welding/splicing in a panel)? I am not concerned about the appearance of the repair as I'm not planning to turn this into a show car or anything. I would just like it to be as structurally sound as possible. Thanks for any advice.

Links to photos below:

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115507366532952697590/albums/5850165167048522689/5850165355695250978
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115507366532952697590/albums/5850165167048522689/5850165368890744530
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/115507366532952697590/albums/5850165167048522689/5850165370552861522

 

[stevegt2012]

Looks like some nasty road salt damage. And there is no evidence anywhere else, wheel wells at the outer body lip, etc?

I would think a repair patch could be fabricated (or a section cut from a donor car shock tower or a new shock tower) and that area repaired from the tire side without pulling engine . Pull tire, suspension, fender, etc. Any hot rod, custom restoration shops around your area?

Anyway you look at it, it's a bit or work. Good luck with it, looks like a really nice car otherwise.

 

[uedlose]

that thing is pretty bad and it looks like it is getting down into the rail. For that reason I would say no it should not be patched BUT I dont have the car here to look at. The thing about rust is while what you see is bad when you get beating and pecking around the hole it will grow bigger. If they are gone to put in a new tower and or rail in yes the engine needs to come out. It is a shame it looks like a nice car otherwise.
Maybe you should look for another car or find someone that can do it as a side job if they are a bodyman. If you were closer I may take it on.

 

[stangdawg]

That's fixable but if you can't do it yourself, it will be costly as you've found out.

I've very important to know how rest of chassis looks underneath because if you have numerous rust spots that all plays into which direction to go.

Do you have tools and mechanical ability to pull the motor out (can get engine lift for cheap in Craigslist pretty easy)? You'll need to be able to weld and cut out the rot and replace the rail for you.

Curious how much you paid? Unfortunately it looks like you may not have known enough on what too look for as the strut towers rusting out is very common but also easy to find.

 

[190529mabotofuz]

I've never done any welding and I don't have garage space so I would need to take it to a shop to do the work. I paid $2k for the car with 110k on it. Everything else is in great condition and no rust anywhere else except on those strut towers.

At this point I'm just trying to decide whether I should have the repairs done at the cost of $2k-$3k at a shop or sell the car as I don't really have the time or knowledge to invest into doing this type of repair myself.

And yes, I wish I had known how big a problem that rust was going to be before I bought it. But I guess it's a learning experience for me haha.

 

[stangdawg]

I've never done any welding and I don't have garage space so I would need to take it to a shop to do the work. I paid $2k for the car with 110k on it. Everything else is in great condition and no rust anywhere else except on those strut towers.

At this point I'm just trying to decide whether I should have the repairs done at the cost of $2k-$3k at a shop or sell the car as I don't really have the time or knowledge to invest into doing this type of repair myself.

And yes, I wish I had known how big a problem that rust was going to be before I bought it. But I guess it's a learning experience for me haha.

OK, at least you didn't put huge money on it. If you want get the repair done, correctly, for 2k then you'll at least recoup some of that in higher resale value. Other than the wheels, what other mods does car have? Looks mostly stock.

Is this a hobby car or do you need for a daily driver?

It's up to you but if it were me, I would sell the car and get what you can out of it and get something else.

 

[Smurf stang]

That is a good amount of rust and I am pretty positive that there is more around there. Unfortunately for a job like that the motor needs to come out to get all that cancer. I do not think it should cost that much but hard to say.

 

[190529mabotofuz]

Other than the wheels it's mostly stock. 3.55 gears, magnaflow exhaust, Baer front brake kit, and a Hurst short shifter kit all done by the previous owner. Then he gave the car to his wife who barely drove it and it just sat for years, hence the low mileage.

It's my second vehicle so I don't need it as a daily drive but I do like the car and I would like to get it fixed eventually. Just seeing if there's a less expensive way to do it other than dropping the motor. But regardless, I appreciate your feedback. Definitely gives me something to think about.

 

[Nikon1021]

go find yourself a donor car, and swap parts over craigslist junkyard just look around i'm sure you can find something. hell look for someone selling a shell, or car with a bad motor alls you need is the shell.

 

[Nikon1021]

if do the whole swap thing save all the metal, and scrap it when you done make a litte cash back.