Passenger Frame Rail Rust - how bad is this?

[73tiiDavidPA]

Finally got the newly purchased dorment '74 tii up on jack stands so I could crawl around underneath.  I pretty much knew of a couple of spots of rust, but this one was a new one for me.  On the passenger frame rail, on the part that is raising upward there is a rust through hole.  The metal around it seems pretty solid.  I'm not trying to turn this car into a show car or anything.  Its condition mandates that it will always be a "driver".  I bought it last week, non-running, and plan to get it road worthy and move it along.  That frame rail is also fairly dented where it is parallel with the ground (toward the rear of the rail).  Getting it on jack stands, I had to raise that stand (the passenger one) another click to have the car sit level (both jack stands are at the same front / back position).  FYI, this is also a snorkel tii, so it has had the front clip replaced at some point.      

 

1.  Any comments on the rust, the extent of its badness, whether its critical to repair or not (I'm not keeping the car - just getting it road worthy and selling it)

2.  The denting in the frame rail - not sure if this is serious or not?  

3.  Does anyone else have to have their jack stands set at different heights to make the car level?

 

Any comments / suggestions / ideas would be appreciated (hopefully I haven't bought a basket case, I don't think I did even with this new discovery)

 

 

[jerry]

do you have a MIG welder and are you handy with thicker gauge sheetmetal.  if so, it is a relatively easy repair to do a nice job if you take the time to cut out the rot and butt weld a patch in place.  the frame rail is pretty straight in shape to begin with so you don't have any complex curves to deal with.  it looks like the area aft of your rust has crumbled in from jacking (i suppose).  that might suggest that it is rusty too and weakened.    i would wire-wheel the entire frame rail from the rust hole aft.  cut out the rust hole area and then take a mechanic's mirror and see what you can find inside.  you can cut a piece of hardwood to use as a template to reform some 14-16 gauge sheet metal to shape.  i'd probably want to make my welds along the side of the frame rails and not the bottom surface, but that's just me.

[73tiiDavidPA]

29 minutes ago, jerry said:

do you have a MIG welder and are you handy with thicker gauge sheetmetal.

 

My apologies, I should have mentioned up top that I have no welding skills or equipment.  I value you reply though, and I may get someone local to fabricate a repair.  I've seen it done (on tv) but don't think this is the correct opportunity for learning the skill.  

[Mike Self]

It's unusual for the pax side front frame rail to rust through like that; it's usually the driver's side, brought on by a leaky master cylinder.  Brake fluid runs down the rail to where it ends under the front floorboard, and rusts the rail out.  That happened on my '69, and I had my local body shop weld in a sound one from a parts car.  That was before I learned how to weld.  

 

Those dents are most certainly from jacking the car up on the rails, and that rust hole is no big deal.  A good welder can make a patch panel and fix it right up.  Based on the bits of grass around the hole, I wonder if a little critter (field mouse?) has taken up residence inside.  Mouse pee is highly corrosive...

 

mike

[73tiiDavidPA]

12 hours ago, mike said:

Those dents are most certainly from jacking the car up on the rails, and that rust hole is no big deal.  A good welder can make a patch panel and fix it right up.  Based on the bits of grass around the hole, I wonder if a little critter (field mouse?) has taken up residence inside.  Mouse pee is highly corrosive...

 

Thanks for the comments Mike... I'm assuming your using your Air Force stowaway rodent experience here?

[adawil2002]

Look for a quality body shop or hot rod shop. They should be able to repair that no problem.

[dang]

That repair could even be done by a competent muffler shop.

[Tsingtao_1903]

There appears to be a crack in the rubber boot on the ball joint for your tie rod.  You may want to inspect all your ball joints "while there".