Hey, I took off the A arms and suspension while im doing the engine bay repaint on my 1971 mustang. Underneath the A arms, where the frame and the shock inner fender's are, theyre is a small rectangle CUP that was just filled with muck,dirt,rocks and rust! I took it all out and found theres a hole at the corner. If i throw it all back together now, i fear that this same area will rust through again because it will hold water. What have you guys done in the past for this area? welded a plate over the top? filled it with foam?? -Jon

 

I had a similair response when I was rehabbing the suspension on my 68 including new lower and upper control arms. I just figured it was the work of the same designer that gave us the rusted out cowls. i agree it doesn't make any sense to me. Its only purpose seems to be collecting dirt, pebbles, and water. I was surprised that mine wasn't rusted out.

 

eeeek, today i took of the other side... its straight through, all the way across the bottom. U can see the engine support brace going across through the gap. I guess i have to weld a plate in there then what!?? Suggestions please! Did you just leave yours the way it was? -Jon

 

Is the hole a rot hole? On my 67 there is a hole at either corner where the shock tower meets the frame rails. They are for drainage, so that when water does get in that pocket it has a place to go. If you fill that hole, you will have a swimming pool, as the water will have no where to go. You just have to make sure you keep it free of dirt etc. I would wire brush the metal and treat with Por-15 to prevent further rust. I am cuirrentyl rebuilding my suspension as well and have stripped the whole shock tower, treated with Phosphoric Plus (eats rust) then Por-15, primer and topcoat. Search my posts, I have listed my process in detail in a couple of older posts. It has worked for me, just one method to consider.

If it is in fact a rot hole, never mind..........