The Tin Worm (Suzuki Jimny) (Also lovely rusty pics...)

Mycroft H

Well the recently bought Suzuki Jimny has held up a few surprises. It was cheap to begin I can probably eat into the cash I've saved.

I've eaten my words when I reckoned it was fairly rust free. Amazing what a bit of mud can hide... :o:o

Rust has been fairly active in the boot. Strangely as the rest of the car is solid. It's a new floorpan job I'd believe, it's gone beyond patching at this stage. I'd loose the patching war anyway.


Option the Pricey (I reckon): New floorpan from Suzuki. Spot weld her in. Handy as it will have the seatbelt mounts and chair mounts.

Option the cheap: Get a fabricator to make up a floorpan that matches the old one and fabricate a seatbelt mount off the chassis. It would probably be as strong or stronger than the original but I'd be unsure how the NCT would like a custom floorpan/seat mount/seatbelt holder. Advice?

darragh o meara

Mycroft H wrote: »

Well the recently bought Suzuki Jimny has held up a few surprises. It was cheap to begin I can probably eat into the cash I've saved.

I've eaten my words when I reckoned it was fairly rust free. Amazing what a bit of mud can hide... :o:o

Rust has been fairly active in the boot. Strangely as the rest of the car is solid. It's a new floorpan job I'd believe, it's gone beyond patching at this stage. I'd loose the patching war anyway.


Option the Pricey (I reckon): New floorpan from Suzuki. Spot weld her in. Handy as it will have the seatbelt mounts and chair mounts.

Option the cheap: Get a fabricator to make up a floorpan that matches the old one and fabricate a seatbelt mount off the chassis. It would probably be as strong or stronger than the original but I'd be unsure how the NCT would like a custom floorpan/seat mount/seatbelt holder. Advice?

Jaysus you have a bad dose of the rust worm. As regards a repair, a premade panel might be easier and cheaper than somebody spending a few hours making a piece and then fitting it.
Panels should not be too hard get though as the off-road lads are starting to use these due to the near extinction of the Suzuki Rhinos. I'm pretty sure if you ask them lads you probably find there's either a spurious manufacturer or someone nearby breaking one that might cut you a panel.

On another note it's not totally past the patching stage, whether or not it would be cost effective is another question.

JohnBoy26

I bet that car is rotten to pieces underneath as that rust is coming through from the underside. Anyway the jimney and Suzuki's of that era haven't the best that protection.

I'd be getting that up on a lift and inspecting the underside for any more rust, chances are there's more lurking under there. If so I wouldn't bother throwing money at it as it wouldn't be worth it imo.

Mycroft H

I've been through it with a fine tooth comb now (well a wire brush and an inspection light). Only other problem area is the sills. Rest of it still has the original underseal on it and the chassis has the blue paint on it.

The rest I'm happy with.

toyotaavensis

i would find a scrapped one with a goosed engine or something and get the panel from that. Probably not cost much.

CharlieZeroOne

did you get anywhere with this? almost bought one tonight with the same problem.

Im wondering also where the nct would stand regarding a custom panel made by a professional welder.

hi5

As the rust is on the seams, you will have to replace/repair the panels next to the floor aswell, it looks to me like it rusted from the inside, probably from standing water from a leaking seal.

Mycroft H

Redd4 wrote: »

did you get anywhere with this? almost bought one tonight with the same problem.

Im wondering also where the nct would stand regarding a custom panel made by a professional welder.

Got it sorted, new panel from Suzuki and I got a friend to weld it in.

Once the cross member (what holds the seats in and belts) is sound it should be a doddle to weld a plate in. The sides are generally sound to weld to, its the rear floor that goes.

CharlieZeroOne

was the panel expensive, and what was the NCT's stance on the welding, did you need an engineers to approve it ?

any and all info appreciated ) thanks

Mycroft H

Redd4 wrote: »

was the panel expensive, and what was the NCT's stance on the welding, did you need an engineers to approve it ?

any and all info appreciated ) thanks

The panel was ~200 with the cross member.
Its not been through an NCT but it looks like new now. Even painted the original colour.

I see no need for an engineers report. It's at manufactures specification.

CharlieZeroOne

cheers for the info fella, appreciate it. good result for you.

Mycroft H

Redd4 wrote: »

cheers for the info fella, appreciate it. good result for you.

Send us a PM if your stuck for info

Mycroft H

Mycroft H wrote: »

The panel was ~200 with the cross member.
Its not been through an NCT but it looks like new now. Even painted the original colour.

I see no need for an engineers report. It's at manufactures specification.

Manufacturers spec for what?

CharlieZeroOne

Mycroft cheers for the offer, i may get your number and give you a ring at some stage, if that would be okay.
This is what the boot looks like in the one im buying, the panel is looking pretty rough

Mycroft H

Redd4 wrote: »

Mycroft cheers for the offer, i may get your number and give you a ring at some stage, if that would be okay.
This is what the boot looks like in the one im buying, the panel is looking pretty rough

Send us a PM there. Pull the carpet up further and look at where the belts mount.

Google the 'Big Jimny' forum. Its an owners forum bases in the UK were there is plenty more knowledgeable then I on it!

CharlieZeroOne

hey there again. I ended up not buying the above vehicle, there was rust through the chassis!

I eventually managed to find a rust free 1999 example in blue like yourself for a good price. hard enough to do! but am pleased now. you sticking to the roads with yours or heading to the forests? mine (not mine, my girlfriends lol...) is getting some mild offroading. gonna buy some small agri tyres for it.

have come across the big jimny site, agreed, its a gift.