TR6 Frame Advice Sought

[Bob Lang <LANG@ISIS.MIT.EDU>]

Hi Netters,

I was underneath my TR6 last night, and was looking at the frame for any
obvious cracks and holes etc. To my dismay, I discovered that the cruciform
plate on the bottom is rusted. The rust appears to be pretty much all the way
through the bottom plate. In fact I believe I can see the middle frame rails
through the holes created where the cruciform meets the middle frame rails.

The frame looks like this:

          Front

        ||=======||
        ||       ||
        ||       ||
        ||       ||
        //       \\
       //\\     //\\ 
      ||  \\   //  ||    A's indicate the location of the "cruciform"
      ||   ||  ||  ||    plates (top and bottom.)
      ||   ||AA||  ||
      ||   |bAAb|  ||    b's indicate rust "blisters" in cruciform plate
      ======bAAb=====    on the bottom plate.
          //   \\
         //     \\
        //       \\
        ||       ||
        ||       ||

          Rear

Now, my question is this: Has anyone in netland had any experience with
repairing TR6 frames that have rust etc.? Is it time to start looking for a new
frame? Is it time to do a frame up? Can I just weld another plate over the old
one? Should I cut out the old plate and try to buy a new one? I realise that TRF
lists the various parts required (cruciform top/bottom and possibly the
trailing arm crossmembers) because I am looking at my TR catalog and price
list even as I write this, I am just looking for others' experience(s).

Any comments are welcome.

rml

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Bob Lang                Room 11-221            | This space for rent.
Consultant              MIT Computer Services  | Will work for TR6 parts!       
Voice: (617)253-7438    FAX: (617)258-9535     |
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