subframe rust

[mc54]

Hi everyone

I was hoping someone could help me. I recently bought a 1959 fc. It’s the same old story, I heard about the car through a friend of my brother. His accountants father owned the car. He passed away many years ago and the family more or less just parked the car in the garage and never got around to selling it. That was about 20 years ago. So, through sheer luck I bought it.
Since the car hadn’t been started in 20 years, it had all the expected problems.
That was 4 months ago. I took it down the block and back last week and everything is almost ready for a blue slip, except for one thing. Rust. Not a lot, in fact I didn’t even notice it for the first couple of months. Before my question, some photos.

My car.










The rust








The replacement parts.



The question.

I am going to have to take the car to someone else to do the welding. Can anyone recommend someone to do the job, I live in the Sutherland Shire area of Sydney. Also, what should I be paying for this type of repair? $500 - $1000 or more?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

[NO NAME]

if the subframe was off it would be cheap and easy, maybe even a carton of beer job. but on there its different, looks like you need more than just that peice attached.

[smithy]

just looking at where the rust is from pics supplied i would try and find a complete subframe from somwhere.

you never know your luck till you ask and if possible you do the work yourself it should workout a lot cheaper.
that is if you have the space and the tools and or mates to help you out.
But be prepared for some hidden suprises, we are talking a car pushing 50 years old
 
this would probably be the best place to start looking though the worst possible week

[FC427]

If the other side is in good nick it is not that much of a big job to cut the replacement piece so you are just changing the corner section and would think about $650 for the rust repair with out actually seeing it, it is a bit of a stab in the dark but should be close to the money .......FC427.........

[mc54]

I would love to replace the subframe but the gargage I am working in is small. Too small. The car barely fits inside. It has to be pushed out to be worked on and pushed back in at night.

The top of the subframe looks to be OK. I am going down to the local vehicle restoration place and see what they say. If I can can get away with around $1200 for the repair - if I supply the parts, I will be happy with that.

I appreciate the information. Not being able to weld, I don't want someone to take advantage of me.

I would also like to thank you all.

Over the past number of months I have searched the previous posts for information on certain problems that I ran across. The information has been invaluable. Without it the process of getting the old girl on the road again would of been much more painful

Mike

[nige and Jody]

G'day Mike,

Your car is exactly the same colours as mine, unfortunately I brought mine in a half disassembled / half primed / crappy condition so it's great to see yours all together before you start, gives me an idea of what I am aiming for.  I had similar rust in the subframe so I dropped the engine out (I was going to do a ground up resto anyway) split the subframe and got it blasted first (that cost 150.00).  Then I took it to a panelbeater and asked if he could place it on his 'when he has a spare minute' schedule, as I hoped this would be cheaper.  A bit of a risk I know as some guys are really busy, but he had it done in about a month and it cost $200.00, so all up for a rust free, primed subframe it cost me $350.00. 

Obviously, if you have lots of rust in the dogleg sections of the subframe it may be cheaper just to cut it loose and look for a better one, problem being that you lose your matching body/id plate numbers but I guess you could work out something with the panel beater to swap these over as well, depends on how original you want it.  I agree with the other boys, you aren't really going to know until it's either out or cleaned up enough to expose all that hidden rust.

Good luck with the car, I love those colours.

Nige

[mc54]

Thanks nige

I'm going to take a section out of the lower subframe where the rust is and take a good look inside. Don't think it's too much more than you can see. I've taken a screwdriver to the holes you see and can't get them any larger. If it is all corroded to hell inside, well then there are some decisions to be made.
Good luck on your car. Removing the front end on one of these vehicles sounds hard - seems like rusted bolts and other things could cause headaches. Putting it back together and getting everything to line up sounds like more of a challenge. But that's what makes it fun.

Regards All
Mike