shoring up a frame rail

[crashoverride7]

if anyone caught my last thread, my pass side unibody frame rail is rotted and is begining to collapse a little where the front control arm mounts up. im planning on trying to shore it up with some fresh metal welded on over the top of it. i dont care if its pretty but i want it strong, cuase i tend to drive a little hard on my vehicles. as of now im stuck in a 90 ford conversion van till its fixed. but im checking before i waste a bunch of time trying this to see if any one says "dear god no dont do it". any naysayers have a reason this wont work.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Totaled.

Find a new shell.

[Hartge_H27]

I personally say don't do it. But it's been done before. so is it doable yes it is. is it safe? depends on how good of a job u do.

[jlevie]

Rust damage like that is seldom limited to just the control arms mount. Trying to fix it is, at best, a loosing battle. Find another shell that doesn't have rust damage.

[crashoverride7]

well, im gonna have someone else do the actual repairs. so as far as how well its done, it shouldnt be an issue. the mere thought of me holding a welder recalls images of things exploding. and i really need this car to make it another year or so. then it can be written off as a learning experince and ill get a nice one. a long as its been done with a measure of success then im gonna try for it. and yeah, the cancer has spread well beyond this spot. but so far everything else is still stable for now.

[Pac1373]

Hot rodders and minitruckers etc. have notched and fabricated frame rails for ever, mind you suspension mounting points, and Uni-bodies are a bit different, but, it has been done.
if the job is completed by a pro, and it can pass inspection. then why not?