How is this subframe rust

[dakota1820]

I would imagine at the age these cars are some rust is a given. At what point do you replace a subframe? Or at least say that's compromised. Is this one there yet or is it still ok?

[cgg17]

Originally Posted by dakota1820

I would imagine at the age these cars are some rust is a given. At what point do you replace a subframe? Or at least say that's compromised. Is this one there yet or is it still ok?

Looks decent, the bubbling would not concern me until it is fully through or can be poked through with a screwdriver.

[dakota1820]

Ok good to know. Wasn't sure if the metal separation was a concern or not between the layers of the subframe

[Duner]

Mine is worse than yours. Here is what I did to mine. Post # 6964
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...54031&page=349
I fog mine with oil come fall before the salt season.

[ultravioletnk]

Originally Posted by dakota1820

I would imagine at the age these cars are some rust is a given. At what point do you replace a subframe? Or at least say that's compromised. Is this one there yet or is it still ok?

personally i would call that pretty severe and i'd suggest keeping an eye out for a clean subframe at a junkyard while we can still find them. it's cheap enough to buy one and a relatively trivial swap overall (you can support the powertrain with a ratchet strap and a good external hoist point) and a good time to replace worn lcas while you're at it.

[cujoe_da_man]

Originally Posted by Duner

Mine is worse than yours. Here is what I did to mine. Post # 6964
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...54031&page=349
I fog mine with oil come fall before the salt season.

Just curious about what your method is for using oil under the car. Do you sand/wire wheel the rust already there? Do you prep with anything before applying? What do you use to apply the oil with? How long does it tend to last (I know it's not permanent)?

I've been looking at different things myself and want to know more about what you do. So far my trailing arms are solid, but seeing stories here and having owned a '95 Grand Prix with failed trailing arms has me looking at preventative measures.

[Duner]

I wash the mud off and blow loose rust off. I use a 3M Body Schutz gun # 8997 that I purchased 40+ years ago. They are expensive now but there must be similar at Harbor Freight or some place for less money. I spray them every fall if car gets used in winter. Inside the doors I use Fluid Film applied thru rain drains as there is less mess. I added a piece of rubber hose to Body Schutz gun for ease of use. Don't add long piece of hose as it is siphon feed, it will build pressure inside and it will cover you in oil via the vent on the gun. I did not get my Saturn till it had rust issues and was 18 years old.

[cujoe_da_man]

I'll look into doing that, I need to swap to my winter tires at some point and redo some work on a failed heat shield above the muffler. I've been saving old oil so I could apply it to the deck of a big trailer we got and have quite a bit left over.

[termite]

Could you clean most of the rust off and use one of those rust converter products and then paint it?

[onlinebiker]

I second oiling it.... Park on a dirt driveway on a hot day and squirt it on... Get lots on the top of the subframe - it will make it' s way inside the frame just like it did on the passenger' s side from changing the filter. You' ll never see a subframe rusted out on the passenger' s side...

[cujoe_da_man]

Originally Posted by termite

Could you clean most of the rust off and use one of those rust converter products and then paint it?

The thought has crossed my mind, but at this point in the year, I'm running out of time for projects. I also didn't get the vacation time I thought I would when I got full time (have to be in it for a year), so this will be an ok trial run.

If I do something long term, I'll sand down what I can and get some POR15. My dad keeps saying we need to do that for some of our equipment and I remember my grandpa talking about a car he had in the 60's that he poured it down the inside of the doors (the type of car escapes me, but they were known to rust out the doors first). He said the rest of the car got rust, but the doors always looked new. Someone else here mentioned using it on the oil pan since mine was looking a bit crusty in the front. They said just slather it on and call it good.

I did use the oil with a small amount of diesel to thin out the mix to treat a really, really aging deck on a trailer my dad bought. They were rough sawn 2x6's (true sizes), but the guy that had the trailer never did anything to the deck. I slopped it on there three times with a roller and it makes the boards look like railroad ties.

[Bob243]

Originally Posted by cujoe_da_man

The thought has crossed my mind, but at this point in the year, I'm running out of time for projects. I also didn't get the vacation time I thought I would when I got full time (have to be in it for a year), so this will be an ok trial run.

If I do something long term, I'll sand down what I can and get some POR15. My dad keeps saying we need to do that for some of our equipment and I remember my grandpa talking about a car he had in the 60's that he poured it down the inside of the doors (the type of car escapes me, but they were known to rust out the doors first). He said the rest of the car got rust, but the doors always looked new. Someone else here mentioned using it on the oil pan since mine was looking a bit crusty in the front. They said just slather it on and call it good.

I did use the oil with a small amount of diesel to thin out the mix to treat a really, really aging deck on a trailer my dad bought. They were rough sawn 2x6's (true sizes), but the guy that had the trailer never did anything to the deck. I slopped it on there three times with a roller and it makes the boards look like railroad ties.

My 95 was somewhat bulged out less than yours, I brushed a little bit of this on the area last year. ( I just finished doing this on the whole frame of my GMC as well ) I just applied it with a throw away chip brush from my shop
https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-ru...-platinum.html