Jacking point.

I think the problem with the subframes, looking most recently at my front one and back in the day on the TD (where the rear bump stops rusted out) is that they rust from the inside out. If you can jet out the cavities and fill them with wax that is probably more useful for longevity than an external treatment. As you say epoxy mastic can be used to patch up get the metal as clean as possible. PS I have been in the habit of sometimes putting a rust convertor on under the Epoxy Mastic with a light sand afterwards it doesn't seem to affect adhesion, the product info. on line suggests this is ok.

Prepared the rear subframe for epoxy mastic paint today and have the underside of it coated. Will coat the top side tomorrow. Will take your advice Jonti and thoroughly treat the rust trap where the bump stops go in when all is dry. At least it's in sound condition. I blew out any dried dirt with an air line. Subframe not perfect but it will do.

Next pay day will buy 4 new bushes and finally might see some progress towards getting the sub frame back into the car. Challenge will be finding bolts and figuring out where they go!

I can WhatsApp you pictures of my coupe subframe before I stripped it down if you get stuck remembering how to reassemble Stephen, I put Polybushes in mine, Alfa 145 bushes fit in our rear subframes if I remember right poly bush set wash just 65 euro delivered for the 4.

jockmr2 said:

I can WhatsApp you pictures of my coupe subframe before I stripped it down if you get stuck remembering how to reassemble Stephen, I put Polybushes in mine, Alfa 145 bushes fit in our rear subframes if I remember right poly bush set wash just 65 euro delivered for the 4.

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Thanks Robert. I am lucky if I get badly stuck I have a couple of complete subframes on a couple of scrap tipos for reference but thanks for the offer. I don't see any poly bushes online suitable for the rear subframe on the tipo. If you can dig out a link I will certainly investigate it. Thanks.

Based in Bulgaria, polyurethan.me at the time they had them advertised on e-bay, still think they have an e-bay shop would be worth emailing them.

Hi all, great to see the great resto work going on.

The rear subframe bushes are available if you trawl Ebay and look for Brava / Bravo / Marea / Multipla. They are available branded Firstline or (I think) Borg & Beck.

I bought 2 for my Brava but could never justify getting the job done... it keeps getting through its MOT but it definitely seems clonky back there, kind of lets the car down.

bluejohn125 said:

Hi all, great to see the great resto work going on.

The rear subframe bushes are available if you trawl Ebay and look for Brava / Bravo / Marea / Multipla. They are available branded Firstline or (I think) Borg & Beck.

I bought 2 for my Brava but could never justify getting the job done... it keeps getting through its MOT but it definitely seems clonky back there, kind of lets the car down.

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Just waiting for pay day to buy the bushes, next on the shopping list! Have made up and fitted some copper brake lines at the front although the brake hoses I had 'in stock' were slightly too short so another minor hold up there. Plenty to be doing! I have 2 2001 fiat brava's and they are in the queue waiting for attention too.

Unfortunately had to coat the nice shiny epoxy mastic with stone chip for protection but still a vast improvement.

Inside sills looks spotless. This was taken after bung removed from near side front arch.

Have made up and fitted copper brake lines from front to rear along with new lines out to each front caliper. Certainly not perfect and I wasted loads of pipe trying to get bends etc. correct. Slowly getting there.

stephen79 said:

Slowly getting there.

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There's no hurrying a Tipo. It will be only ready when it's ready which will be later than the longest possible estimate. Good work on the subframe, that's going to last a while and you have eliminated the worry of it silently rotting out. I had forgotton the rear subframe is a one piece plate unlike the front.

jonti said:

There's no hurrying a Tipo. It will be only ready when it's ready which will be later than the longest possible estimate. Good work on the subframe, that's going to last a while and you have eliminated the worry of it silently rotting out. I had forgotton the rear subframe is a one piece plate unlike the front.

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No hurrying me more like it! Polyurethane subframe bushes have arrived so once I get access to a press they will be sorted then the rear end will start to get refitted although still have to make up and fit solid rear brake pipes so might be a bit of fooling around for a while yet. The construction of the rear subframe is different to the front as you rightly point out Jonti although that doesn't mean it can't rot! The tube and the bump stop mountings seem solid so will get them rust proofed.

stephen79 said:

that doesn't mean it can't rot!.

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Absolutely. I'd be interested to see how you reattach it and the order of doing things. I am intimidated by the prospect of refurbishing the subframe due to the weight of it and the suspension.

jonti said:

Absolutely. I'd be interested to see how you reattach it and the order of doing things. I am intimidated by the prospect of refurbishing the subframe due to the weight of it and the suspension.

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You definitely shouldn't be intimidated by it Jonti. Compared to the body repairs you have done on your tipo overhauling the subframe is a walk in the park! It was previously covered on here by another Irish Tipo owner (Lordsnowy). I am trying to avoid the rust repairs! Will get the subframe in and then see how I will approach the rear valance or maybe farm it out to someone else when the car is rolling .

stephen79 said:

farm it out to someone else when the car is rolling .

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Yes its not critical, you could simply apply rust convertor on the exposed areas to keep the rust at bay until dealt with. Are you going to do anything with the front subframe?

jonti said:

Yes its not critical, you could simply apply rust convertor on the exposed areas to keep the rust at bay until dealt with. Are you going to do anything with the front subframe?

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Unfortunately I have hacked bits out of the valance thinking I could patch repair it but its like wafer! so it does need to be repaired. Going to leave the front subframe alone for the moment as it looks ok. I have other spare subframes that I could always get blasted and prepared for fitting in the future. The subframe seems to have been nicely soaked by engine oil leaks over the years no doubt preserving it! Priority is just getting the car back down on the ground. I have some work to carry out at the front end anyway, needs all engine/gearbox mounts, inner cv boots are split, timing belt needs changing. I notice the clutch hydraulic hose is in poor condition but can't seem to track one down. I wonder would a brake hose work?

stephen79 said:

Have made up and fitted copper brake lines from front to rear along with new lines out to each front caliper. Certainly not perfect and I wasted loads of pipe trying to get bends etc. correct. Slowly getting there.

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Having needed to renew 3 brake lines in time for my MOT retest which i'll update on in due course, I've a new appreciation for this post which I had in mind as the inaccessible torture went on until 4 in the morning. Its a tricky job getting the tasks in the right order, so easy to forget a fitting or mess up. Well done. Are you going all the way to the load sensor?

stephen79 said:

I wonder would a brake hose work?

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I came across a short brake hose which might work for this, it is the one located by the back wheel, and it is available