Help with rusted front spring mount / shock towers

[SLOSpider]

Well its been the same story no matter what I have touched on the Fiat in the last 3 weeks of me owning it, everything is needing a complete redo! I finally got the wiring and engine buttoned up and wanted to drive it a short distance tonight for a meeting. My left front tire was showing steel and separating so I aired up the good spare, I think the only thing that has not needed attention, and removed the right front tire. Now when I bought the car I noticed that the under coating looked like it was flaking off in some portions but after I removed the wheel I took a screw driver to the area that looked a bit odd and found the rubber bumper mount was completely rusted out. No biggie but then started to probe the sides and found some nice rust through spots, I dont think there were holes here originally.

It seems that the tower may actually be flexing a bit as I can see part of the lower portion of the tower may be a little separated from the back panel. The right side is showing some signs of this too but not near as bad.

So now that I am in this for a few hundred dollars in repairs to the carb, electrical and engine maintance I am wondering what the best option is. Replace the panels if they are available? Grind it all out and have a body shop pull it straight and just weld in some new panels and supports?

If anyone has seen or repaired this kind of problem before please post up. Im thinking the rock hard stock shocks have had a role in this happing but the rusted out towers are not helping. Funny thing is that the floors are all good as is all the rear end attachment points and cross member mounts.

Here are some pics:

Drivers side:





Passenger side:




This after i finally get the engine running good and went from this:



To now this :

[SLOSpider]

Ok I found the replacements from IAP $290.00 EACH Anyone have some that wont cost me almost half of what I paid for the car?

[narfire]

Hey.. those look like mine in a 72 I have. I'm drilling out the spot welds and replacing the whole towers with a set from my parts car. I'm doing the drilling but a bodyshop is doing the weld and alignment. I don't believe there is a difference in towers as my parts car is a 81.
If anyone in your area with a parts car,perhaps you could spend a few hours and get the towers. Wheel,cutting torch and rough out the towers and when home,do the detailed stuff carefully.

The engine looks great!

[TulsaSpider]

It needs to be said that driving one of these with rusted out shock towers is just plain dangerous for you and others!

[SLOSpider]

I agree that I dont intend to drive any further till its repaired. My next step was going to do the front suspension anyways. I guess the next step is to see how bad it is by grinding down all the crud and undercoating. The top rails look fine with no bulging or bending. Maybe the right side is salvageable but time and a grinder will tell. If its not one thing its ten...Im almost to the point of no return any ways and its a 75 so here in Ca its worth fixing due to no smog requirements. Now to make friends again with the local body shop guys.

If anyone has a parts car with good towers you want to sell post up! Thanks.

[TulsaSpider]

well it seems there are abundant supplies abounding in Cali! I am sure you can acquire some!

[SLOSpider]

Well I too the wire wheel to it after work and it just got uglier .... If only I could weld! Stupid fiat design but then again my last 77 had none of this rust...

My thought is to have the rust cut out squarely and have new plates welded around the center section. Im just wondering how the plate will weld to the multiple layers of metal for penetration as you cant weld behind it.

Then again Maybe Ill just offer it for sale as is or part her out...decisions decisions








Passenger side, was too heart broken to do any more wire wheeling...

[narfire]

I know how you feel kind of. I was going to strip my 72 down to a shell and have a bodyshop do the tower swap but also looking at a good shell and dropping the good running gear from the 72 into it. Its just we don't have many spiders in this part of the world where it would work.
You have serious rust issues and at the worst time of the year.. just when top down season starts bummer.
The tower swap is doable,perhaps someone here has done the change and can chime in. I wonder about alignment after,but was hoping an experienced body shop can sort that out.
Good luck

[SLOSpider]

Havent had luck with anyone selling just the outer panel but I heard this was available once. Any ideas?

[mdrburchette]

Pm sent.

[azygoustoyou]

I can check on my one car to see how they are. I'll cut out the whole thing if you want. I can't remember how they look but will look tomorrow morning.

[SLOSpider]

Thanks for your help in keeping another Fiat alive! Replied to your PM. Hope to get something soon so she is driving rather than jacked up looking sad in my driveway.

[SLOSpider]

I really dont know why I keep pouring money into this car as everything needs total attention when I touch it but I dont have too much more to touch so what to do? I think Ill be selling it soon to put towards buying my condo and Fiat #6 will have to be in better shape when I start.

I wanted to update that thanks to Denise I got the replacement shock towers in. There was rust in the frame rail when the old ones were removed which I suspected. It was replaced with good metal and button up. I had to have a friend help with some spot welding as I wasnt 100% pleased with the body shop end results. It also destroyed the paint inside as to be expected. Once some of the high welds were ground down I bondo the inside for a smoother look, seam sealed the outside and under coated.

It also got all new control arms, new shocks, tie rods, center link, re oiled the idler, new wheel bearings and seals. I cut a coil off to lower it a bit for the small split bumpers I am making for it. Im hoping to get $2500 -2800 for her as I also put in a Nardi Wheel to make her driving a bit more pleasurable.

Old towers removed:





Cut out rust and treat:




Denise's panels that I separated and added my own drain holes. The rust comes from those pocket channels you see on the inside. I believe the water enters in from the recess on the bump stop pocket and creeps into the channels to rust from the middle out. I added drain holes to the bump stop pocket and the inside of the shock tower. They should outlast the car now!




The new panels in place and finish work with some touch up:






Some bondo and paint:






Nardi:

[manoa matt]

Those green shock towers came out of a 76 I cut up. I sold them to Denise for her Lemons racer, I hope she gave you a good deal. I'm glad to see the sad death of one spider helped bring another one back from the dead. The floor pans went to Chris "Rook" for his rolling restoration.

[narfire]

Well done. I have a 72 that needs the same treatment... interested?
Thanks for the pics. Did you use a spotweld drill bit to break the welds?
With some welding lessons I might give it a go this winter.
I like the steering wheel. Great job, another "save"