s13 Rusted frame rails question - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Nidd · 03-05-2010, 05:14 AM

basically i bought my s13 about 4 months ago with the intention of using it as a daily and eventually a drift car, pulled a [email protected] move and didn't check the rails. this is what i got...

both the driver and passenger side rails look like that at the front.

with all the rust i'm mostly posting this to ask if i welded in some new rails with reinforcements would it hold well enough? or am i basically S.O.L?

PoorMans180SX · 03-05-2010, 10:25 AM

You can get a new rail from nissan for one side (forgot which one) but they don't make the other side.

For that you can just get some stock-guage sheetmetal, make it the basic shape of the frame rail, and weld it in.

There have been plenty of people that have done it. Our unibody chassis' don't mind at all, haha. Save a chassis!

Nidd · 03-05-2010, 11:55 PM

yeah i would love to save the car. i was just wondering if any one had done it when the rail was that gone and still been ale to drift with out it giving out. would hate to spend a bunch of cash to fix i then have it bust.

PoorMans180SX · 03-06-2010, 10:25 AM

Our cars are unibody chassis, which means they use every part of the body to maintain rigidity (including the doors and fenders). Cars in japan came without a section of frame rail from the factory, so it's not really that big of deal. It's not like somethings going to break because of it.

Nidd · 03-07-2010, 09:29 AM

i found a site that sells replacement rails, but it's not cheap lol.

PoorMans180SX · 03-07-2010, 06:50 PM

750 Member :: Body Front, Roof & Floor :: Genuine Nissan Parts :: 240SX Parts (S13) 1989-1994 :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com

Click on the part numbers for pricing. Like I said, they don't make the right hand side lower rail anymore.

BTW, don't fall for that "We make ours out of thicker metal!!" bullcrap. Thicker metal will do nothing for your chassis. Actually when thicker metal is welded to thinner metal it makes it weaker.

Buy a drivers side rail, then go to a reputable shop that can make you a passenger side one out of factory gauge metal.

buentellomma · 03-10-2010, 07:16 AM

being a collision specialist , this is a easy fix. yes this can be saved, yes its going to cost some money, no i would not recommend doing this yourself unless you are a skilled welder and are knowledgeable on unibody frames( this does not mean you are knowledgeable on cars through forums like this, to do this correct you need years of hands on experience or someone to do it for you that knows what they are doing) not trying to insult your intelligence but im just being honest with you.

J90lude · 05-10-2010, 03:26 AM

My frame is rusted, but not like yours and if it was I wouldn't junk it tho...

240sxcure · 05-10-2010, 09:16 AM

You would have to thoroughly clean all of the rusted areas inside and out to ensure it would hold.

Otherwise rust will be forming underneath were you welded.

Best advice, start with cleaner chassis and sell this one.

PoorMans180SX · 05-10-2010, 12:04 PM

Way to bump a 2 month old thread!

03-05-2010, 05:14 AM	#1
Nidd Leaky Injector Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern IL Age: 32 Posts: 85 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	s13 Rusted frame rails question basically i bought my s13 about 4 months ago with the intention of using it as a daily and eventually a drift car, pulled a [email protected] move and didn't check the rails. this is what i got... both the driver and passenger side rails look like that at the front. with all the rust i'm mostly posting this to ask if i welded in some new rails with reinforcements would it hold well enough? or am i basically S.O.L?

03-05-2010, 10:25 AM	#2
PoorMans180SX Zilvia.net Advertiser Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 33 Posts: 5,431 Trader Rating: (16) Rides Gallery: PoorMans180SX Feedback Score: 16 reviews	You can get a new rail from nissan for one side (forgot which one) but they don't make the other side. For that you can just get some stock-guage sheetmetal, make it the basic shape of the frame rail, and weld it in. There have been plenty of people that have done it. Our unibody chassis' don't mind at all, haha. Save a chassis! __________________ Build: http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=643065 Friends don't let friends buy knock-offs.

03-06-2010, 10:25 AM	#4
PoorMans180SX Zilvia.net Advertiser Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 33 Posts: 5,431 Trader Rating: (16) Rides Gallery: PoorMans180SX Feedback Score: 16 reviews	Our cars are unibody chassis, which means they use every part of the body to maintain rigidity (including the doors and fenders). Cars in japan came without a section of frame rail from the factory, so it's not really that big of deal. It's not like somethings going to break because of it. __________________ Build: http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=643065 Friends don't let friends buy knock-offs.

03-07-2010, 06:50 PM	#6
PoorMans180SX Zilvia.net Advertiser Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 33 Posts: 5,431 Trader Rating: (16) Rides Gallery: PoorMans180SX Feedback Score: 16 reviews	750 Member :: Body Front, Roof & Floor :: Genuine Nissan Parts :: 240SX Parts (S13) 1989-1994 :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com Click on the part numbers for pricing. Like I said, they don't make the right hand side lower rail anymore. BTW, don't fall for that "We make ours out of thicker metal!!" bullcrap. Thicker metal will do nothing for your chassis. Actually when thicker metal is welded to thinner metal it makes it weaker. Buy a drivers side rail, then go to a reputable shop that can make you a passenger side one out of factory gauge metal. __________________ Build: http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=643065 Friends don't let friends buy knock-offs.

05-10-2010, 03:26 AM	#8
J90lude Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2008 Location: MD-VA/DC area Age: 34 Posts: 383 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	My frame is rusted, but not like yours and if it was I wouldn't junk it tho... __________________ "Drive it like you running from the cops"

03-05-2010, 11:55 PM	#3
Nidd Leaky Injector Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern IL Age: 32 Posts: 85 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah i would love to save the car. i was just wondering if any one had done it when the rail was that gone and still been ale to drift with out it giving out. would hate to spend a bunch of cash to fix i then have it bust.

03-07-2010, 09:29 AM	#5
Nidd Leaky Injector Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern IL Age: 32 Posts: 85 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	i found a site that sells replacement rails, but it's not cheap lol.

03-10-2010, 07:16 AM	#7
buentellomma Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Goodyear AZ Age: 35 Posts: 480 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	being a collision specialist , this is a easy fix. yes this can be saved, yes its going to cost some money, no i would not recommend doing this yourself unless you are a skilled welder and are knowledgeable on unibody frames( this does not mean you are knowledgeable on cars through forums like this, to do this correct you need years of hands on experience or someone to do it for you that knows what they are doing) not trying to insult your intelligence but im just being honest with you.

05-10-2010, 09:16 AM	#9
240sxcure Zilvia Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NE Posts: 270 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	You would have to thoroughly clean all of the rusted areas inside and out to ensure it would hold. Otherwise rust will be forming underneath were you welded. Best advice, start with cleaner chassis and sell this one.

05-10-2010, 12:04 PM	#10
PoorMans180SX Zilvia.net Advertiser Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 33 Posts: 5,431 Trader Rating: (16) Rides Gallery: PoorMans180SX Feedback Score: 16 reviews	Way to bump a 2 month old thread! __________________ Build: http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=643065 Friends don't let friends buy knock-offs.

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