Is it possible to remover the shifter rods (the long shafts which go from the controls under the seats to the transmissions) for both the land and water trannies without removing the transmissions? There doesn't look to be enough room between the 2 lateral frame pieces to fish them out.

I've got some surface rust on the floor down there and I'd like to remove everything (shifters, brake cables, radiator hoses, etc) so I can clean it up and repaint it.

Also, I read somewhere (haven't been able to find it again) about drilling inspection ports in the top of the 2 main frame rail boxes in order to clean them out and remove any water? Is this something most people do? Does it weaken the frame? Where and how big of a hole? How do you kill the rust back where you can't see it?

Thanks,
Victor


        
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__________________
Victor
Clear Lake, IA

I have recently torn down my car for painting, and I
had the same question. According to the guys at
Hugh's, there is no way to remove those rods without
removing the engine and tranny, which I have done.

In addition, it was a little tricky getting the water
tranny bar out since it has a bend at the front end.

The guys at Gordon's can walk you through it.

Ed Howard
Orange County, CA
64 Red

--- sublimate <> wrote:


---------------------------------
Is it possible to remover the shifter rods (the long
shafts which go from the controls under the seats to
the transmissions) for both the land and water
trannies without removing the transmissions? There
doesn't look to be enough room between the 2 lateral
frame pieces to fish them out.

I've got some surface rust on the floor down there and
I'd like to remove everything (shifters, brake cables,
radiator hoses, etc) so I can clean it up and repaint
it.

Also, I read somewhere (haven't been able to find it
again) about drilling inspection ports in the top of
the 2 main frame rail boxes in order to clean them
out and remove any water? Is this something most
people do? Does it weaken the frame? Where and how
big of a hole? How do you kill the rust back where you
can't see it?

Thanks,
Victor


        
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GORDON IMPORTS INC.. The world's largest source of Amphicar parts and accessories. Visit our new website today.

Victor,

I did a whole article on drilling the frame rails, for inspection and removal of water, a few years ago. It was printed in the club newsletter and I think photos of the process were on the old photos page. I don't know how many people have done this but everyone should since water does get into those frame rails and will rust them out. If you can't find that old article or the photos, let me know and I'll see if I can find my original copy. I did the writeup in July of 2003 so I expect the article was in on of the fall newsletters.

I'm sure I have photos of this modification too but here's the copy I did on my computer:



SECRET RUST IN THE FRAME RAILS

I have two Amphicars that I have restored over the last couple of years. One of them has always been an extremely dry car and has had almost no water in it since I bought and restored it. Its previous owner also hadn’t operated it in a number of years. Therefore I was surprised to find water dripping out from behind one of the front wheels several days after having it in the water. I had operated this car in water many times and never had this type of leakage before. I found the water was seeping from the rear area of the steering linkage box. . The water was coming out of a small hole which I was able to open to about ½” wide and 1/8” high. At first I couldn’t understand it since the water was coming out about 1/2“ above the floor and the floor inside the car was dry. It turns out that the frame rails run along the floor and are welded to the back of this box. The water was coming from inside the frame rail that had rusted through the back of the steering arm box. Since this steel is fairly thick, I became concerned that there might be serious damage in the rails.

I had always assumed that either these frame rails had drains in them or were completely sealed against water. Neither of these assumptions was correct. There are no drain holes in the rails and although they appear to be sealed, there are holes from various things that puncture these rails. Incidentally, one thing that does not puncture the main rails are the smaller, front frame rails that are open ended in the trunk area. Water that might get into them simply will pool on the top of the square main frame rails since they are welded to the top of these rails.

I decide to drill inspection holes in the top of the frame rails several inches in front of the transmission mounts. The hole I drilled was 1 1/8” across. Since the forces on the rails are running down the sides, making this hole doesn’t compromise the strength of the rail and yet allows easy inspection and clean out if necessary. If your car is relatively dry, water won’t get into these holes and if your car tends to flood, you can plug these holes with a rubber plug to keep water out of the rails.

When I drilled the second rail, there was moisture inside and old rust flakes so clearly water had been in there too at one time. After finding this, I drilled both rails in my other car and was stunned to find ¾” of water in one side and moisture in the other. Clearly rust in these rails will seriously weaken the frame of these cars and I have only seen one reference to this problem in the past.

I cut out and replaced a square section of the steering box where the rust and leakage had occurred. Although I have the equipment to suction out any water that might get into these rails, I decided that it would also be a good idea to have a way to drain the rails in case of an accidental flooding when away from home. I decided to install drain plugs at the front end of the rails where the original rust through had occurred. Drilling at this location also gave my a way of seeing just how much rust damage had already occurred in these areas on the rails where it hadn’t rusted through. I was also able to flush out the debris that had accumulated in the rails. I used ¼” to 3/8” brass bushings with ¼” plugs to form the drains. It’s a bit tricky to solder the bushings in at that location but I was able to do it and now I have simple plugs that can be removed to drain the rails in an emergency. While doing this I also coated the inside of the frame rails with a rust preventative that is made for automobile rocker panels. Although this coating probably isn’t necessary if you keep the rails dry, it will add extra protection.

I feel this is a problem that deserves much more attention than it has received.

John Friese


John Friese jfriese(at)mindspring.com
67 White
67 Red


        
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As John F says, you should drill those frame rails, either in the top but the best place is through the bulkhead at the front as you can then get a long wax lance in there.

You're right about the shifter rods, no way out. After a full rebuild you must ensure they go back in before engine and transmission - as I found out once many years ago....

David C


        
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In a message dated 8/27/08 6:04:52 PM, writes:



Can you provide exact details and photos as to where these holes should be
drilled, and how you get the wax lance in there, and what wax product to use.
Also how does that keep moisture from getting in there again?
Chas


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Hello,

Here are some photos of the frame rail fix that I did on my two cars. You can spray in the interior coating through the top holes if you get an applicator with a flexible wand. I think I got my coating stuff and applicator from Eastwood. I drilled the holes into the front cover sections partially because one of them had already rusted through in that area. It also comes in handy if you have to drain the rails without using some form of vacuum system.







        
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More Photos:






Hope this helps.

John Friese


        
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That looks really nice, John. Not sure if I have the fabrication skills to solder the bushing on with any confidence, though!


        
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Peter,

I had those brazed on by a local welder but nowadays I would think they could be attached easily with those new filler glues that hold body panels on modern cars. Probably even JB weld would work. That stuff holds like crazy.

John Friese


        
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