06 AC- Front Frame replacement panel

Hi all,

Thanks to everyone for making this place such a well of knowledge.

I picked up an ’06 V8 AC cheap, knowing it needed work (timing belt, steering rack, etc.). It’s a project car for just towing/hauling, and I’m fine with that.

I checked for rust before buying—typical surface rust, nothing alarming for Minnesota—except one spot I just found while washing: on the driver’s side, right in front of the strut assembly. About 6 inches of the frame is rotted before hitting solid metal again. It was hidden behind the soft plastic piece next to the wheel well liner. I should have checked the stickied thread, but like I said, this was a cheap project purchase.

I’ve circled the area and the specific segment with a purple arrow on the Safe-T-Cap diagram, but they don’t seem to sell this specific piece.

What would this frame section be called when searching for patch panels? I can fabricate if needed, but would prefer a pre-made part, if at all possible. I have access to a welder and don't mind taking on more unnecessary projects!

It’ll stay parked until fixed—I’ve got other cars—and hopefully I can continue to be a glutton for punishment

Thanks for any help!

 

I thought someone asked me to update that info sticky with the fact that AutoRust isn't the only vendor selling parts. Rust Buster has several also: https://www.rustbuster.com/products...-tundra-sequoia-front-frame-section-rb8625l-r

Is it possible they have what you're looking for?

Pro tip: You really want to check the same spot on the other side of the shock tower, up under the master cylinder. Inside (toward engine) and outside (under the flap/apron and on top of the rail). Those are both notorious spots to rust out.

Clearly whoever had that truck prior did a shit job of keeping up with frame maintenance.

 

Hey shifty, thanks for all the work you put in! Looks like the frame rot ends right around before that section. Definitely some rust but still very solid metal.

I did check Rust Buster, but the piece I would need would be the gray part (marked by the crude yellow arrow).



Oh yeah, totally. It's a shame, too. The previous owner to the one I bought it from was meticulous with their maintenance, but the young kid I bought it from clearly wasn't. It's sitting at 235k and the last recorded timing belt change was at 89k (!)
Planning on doing the belt, water pump, radiator, wheel bearings, brakes, struts, steering rack, and lower ball joints. Totally not a cost effective way to have a Tundra, but I just have a soft spot for fixing up neglected cars.

 

I mean, there's soft spots, and there's total insanity

I think we all have that drive to fix and improve old vehicles here, sometimes out of love or nostalgia, other times out of necessity.

Honestly, your best bet with that section of frame is probably to cannibalize the same parts from another, cleaner frame, and have a skilled welder tie the new horn onto the original frame using appropriate diamond join plates, fish plates, or whatever is appropriate (I am not a welder, don't ask me)

I get the allure of trying to fix this thing, but you've already brought up several red flags:

• Younger owner with clear signs of utter, over-the-top neglect on this vehicle
• Didn't do critical maintenance in a timely way (timing etc.) so it serves to logic they probably missed other/all basic maintenance too - you've got a boatload of unknowns here, and may fix it only to have it blow up
• The only repairs you can truly do here, unless you're a skilled welder, are going to be very costly, and only extend the life of the vehicle a few years, until the next problem
• If you missed this issue, which is (to me at least) pretty obvious, I'm concerned there are undoubtedly another one, two, three or more other frame issues waiting for you to discover
• You are literally going to be fighting every single fastener at every turn on this truck trying to do maintenance; brake lines, suspension, and misc other bolts are liable to be completely toast

I totally respect and admire your gumption. I wish more people were that optimistic. But man, I'm afraid you've realistically got a parts truck on your hands here, and I'm not sure if that thing will ever be truly safe to drive, or even to re-sell as anything other than "parts"

 

Hahaha for sure, you're definitely not wrong on any account! Very, very irrational on my part. This is definitely more of a hobby than a necessity

Luckily, I haven't put much money into this car at all. I'll keep my eyes out other Tundras being parted out around me and give it a go.
If all else fails, I'll scrap it or put it up for parts

 

Whatever you do, keep us posted. We're interested in living vicariously through other people's crazy

And we like pictures. Like. A lot.