I hate surprises....

OSP959(R) · #1 06-01-2011, 07:55 AM

I hate surprises.

I removed the interior from the Mustang and found where the left front stud for the drivers seat had been welded resulting in some of the wiring harness melting:

OSP959(R) · #2 06-01-2011, 07:57 AM

I also found a split in the drivers floor where it meets the transmission hump, and I have no idea why there are holes in the floor in front of where that stud was welded.

GSPI · #3 06-01-2011, 09:15 AM

Based on the tear and the seat stud re-welding, I'd say to look for front end suspension damage too, possibly on the passenger side of the car. The car must have had a severe cross body torsional flex occur (I have some other big words too but it got twisted is basically what looks to have happened). If it was a hard enough hit you should see some buckling in the framework metal on the front end possibly from running something over or going off road. These cars do not have a completely rigid chassis (that's why those aftermarket frame rail connectors and the shock tower connectors are available) and the flex can occur if there is a severe enough bump on one of the front wheels at speed causing the twisting motion to occur and overloading the floor pan and causing that rip which also probably tore the seat bolt stud out too.

ImEvil1 · #4 06-01-2011, 10:09 AM

That's some low-bid repair work right there....broke the seat, got a leak, weld it more, drill some holes!

Seriously, we've seen much worse, but don't let it get you too down. It's all correctable.

NoDrama43 · #5 06-01-2011, 11:24 AM

that repair is a very common one for a car that saw over 100k miles of police service. Especially if it was driven by a person of substantial stature. I have several cars with that repair done. It is normally caused by the drivier getting in and out over and over and the flex of the stud support over time.

The crack in the floor near the hump is also common do to the subframe design and flexing of the car under hard acceleration.

nothing but wear and tear on the old girl. Don't let it discourage you. I own and have seen/repaired worse.

OSP959(R) · #6 06-01-2011, 12:15 PM

Is the crack something that can just be hit with a mig welder?

FHP813 · #7 06-02-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OSP959(R)

I also found a split in the drivers floor where it meets the transmission hump, and I have no idea why there are holes in the floor in front of where that stud was welded.

My car had the same crack on the tunnel among many others. I tried to make patches for all of them but found it easier to cut out a section of the floor pan and weld it in. When the metal splits it is fatigued and if it has been there for a while it rusts and thins the metal. I am going to add a reinforcing piece to the ones I did weld just as a precaution. I am also considering some subframe connectors, the type that supports the seat.