9/78 Frame rail rust-- GSL-SE donor frame???
 

How's it going guys--

"Coming off" my nearly finished project of a megasquirt controlled, streetported T2 swapped 88 vert which was under the knife for 8 months, & wanted something eaaaasy, so I began on this SA. Plan was to just yank the motor, rebuild for fresh seals, & basically change all the fluids throughout the car & tag to take advantage of the cheap classic/antique tag.

You guys KNOW it's never as planned, ha!!! Also, and probably a curse that I have, is that I *HAVE* to save this POS. Yea it'd be easier to find another shell (esp here in FL), but this ones cool... just like all of them. LOL.

I noticed a ton of frame rot, I think it's a combo hit of the lack of antirust treatment ala mazda until 1980, & a long sitting, bad battery. Here's the pics!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...h889-no/14+-+2

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I...h889-no/14+-+3

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x...h889-no/14+-+4

So there you have it. My original plan is to go cut from the firewall forward, and over to about the centerline of the car out of this guy:

http://lkq190.com/2014/03/01/c4p-009.jpg

(don't worry, it's not saveable. Once in a junkyard in FL, it's illegal for it to ever leave unless leaving as parts.)

Here's my question-- how interchangeable are the parts/sheetmetal that's bad? Really to me it looks like some of the crash support stuff up front, & then just the frame rail it's self all the way back.

Thanks for the help guys!!

Landon

I think the front clips are pretty much identical in the first gens. The big difference is the front fenders on 79/80 are different than 81-85, but that won't affect the inner fender below the battery tray, which is a common area of rot. There's a couple threads here that show pics of people replacing front clips and such.

Are you replacing just the frame in that area or the frame and a section of inner fender? These cars are all unibody and welded together in sections so you have lots of options to de-construct along factory seams and piece back together. In that area though, the inner fender is one large stamped out piece so you'll have to create a new cut line. There's a cream colored car on here that had the front clip replaced so I know it's been done. I forget the name of the thread though.

Good luck. Take lots of pics and let us know how it's going!

except for a couple of little brackets and maybe studs/threaded holes, its the same

Woohoo thanks guys!!! Assuming the donor is more rust free than this ill be lopping off the front tomorrow.

grab the suspension and rear end since no one else mentioned it

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q...h889-no/14+-+2

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-W...h889-no/14+-+3

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J...h889-no/14+-+1

Nailed it!! Just had to reply so I don't look like one of those guys who claims to start a project, but doesn't. Wished I could've gotten further back on the dr side, but hey, it's a GOOD start. & the price was more than fair :)

PS: saturn's seriously RULE.

Striking pose, well done!

As previously mentioned, the suspension parts on that model are highly sought after, and could be worth your time to retrieve.

I need to find one that hasn't been smacked up in the front. I need new front tow hooks.

Not to worry, someone beat me to the suspension, but the engine, harness, trans, driveshaft, & vast majority of the interior did come home w/ me when it was initially parked.

All with a battery powered sawzall, that's awesome :)