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DougF
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Two weekends ago, I went on a club event. We had a nice run and all, but on the way home I heard what has become a common noise coming from the rear end of my car.
I previously mentioned that my frame broke on the way to Watkins Glen. Well, it broke again. This time right above the gas welds that got me home from New York, along with new cracks on the passenger side.
These all started because of a rubber rebound that had disintegrated allowing the tube shock to bottom out, stressing the frame and breaking it at the weld below the shock mount.
This past weekend and a few evenings last week were spent plating in both sides of the frame all around these broken welds. It was a timely adventure as I also decided to install the new adjustable Goodparts trailing arm brackets, along with a different trailing arm.
Now, this is the fourth time this frame has been welded. The first two were performed outside, and the light breeze must have been enough to blow away the CO2/Argon. Lack of penetration in both cases caused failure. Fortunately, this weekend, I was able to get the car back into the garage. But if these welds don't hold, I will be done for the season. To try to grind out old and repair would be a major task. If they do hold, it will take a winter away from the car to forget everything and be willing to drive more than 50 miles from home. For now, I'm just really fed up!!!!
One broken side is bad enough, but when all you had is 1 inch of thin metal holding your shock and the rear diff mounts, you tend to lose confidence in the vehicle.
This is a rust free frame.
I've driven the car less than 10 miles since the repair with no problems. Only time will tell.
On the brighter side, I installed my rebuilt rocker assembly before our club event. The only thing you can now hear at idle is the whirling of the water pump. It's a good pump, so I'm not concerned about the sound....yet!
I previously mentioned that my frame broke on the way to Watkins Glen. Well, it broke again. This time right above the gas welds that got me home from New York, along with new cracks on the passenger side.
These all started because of a rubber rebound that had disintegrated allowing the tube shock to bottom out, stressing the frame and breaking it at the weld below the shock mount.
This past weekend and a few evenings last week were spent plating in both sides of the frame all around these broken welds. It was a timely adventure as I also decided to install the new adjustable Goodparts trailing arm brackets, along with a different trailing arm.
Now, this is the fourth time this frame has been welded. The first two were performed outside, and the light breeze must have been enough to blow away the CO2/Argon. Lack of penetration in both cases caused failure. Fortunately, this weekend, I was able to get the car back into the garage. But if these welds don't hold, I will be done for the season. To try to grind out old and repair would be a major task. If they do hold, it will take a winter away from the car to forget everything and be willing to drive more than 50 miles from home. For now, I'm just really fed up!!!!
One broken side is bad enough, but when all you had is 1 inch of thin metal holding your shock and the rear diff mounts, you tend to lose confidence in the vehicle.
This is a rust free frame.
I've driven the car less than 10 miles since the repair with no problems. Only time will tell.
On the brighter side, I installed my rebuilt rocker assembly before our club event. The only thing you can now hear at idle is the whirling of the water pump. It's a good pump, so I'm not concerned about the sound....yet!