finally got her running again, it has a couple of rust spots on the frame (rails-is that what they are called). What to do. I talked to a dude at a body shop and he said, no, they won't weld pieces onto for fear of liability issues. Is my best option to pursue someone else to do it? This has to have come up with other Z drivers....what is my best option?

 

You should get the repairs done. A weakened frame is a bad idea looking for a time and place to fail.

Established body shops can't afford to do it because they have something to lose (the shop) and insurers who will cancel their coverage if they screw up. You need to find an independent welder who will do what you ask him to do but on your liability. That's only fair.

I would check out the weak areas, figure out how to strengthen them by grinding rust down and adding new welded plates over, sketch the repair I need, pick a steel thickness (from plates, angles, other shapes available to the welder) and take those instructions to the welder. Only thing you both need then is a lift so he can get under it.

There's an asian-owned shop here that calls itself a muffler/exhaust repair shop - but they can weld anything. 3 lifts. Drive there, up on the lift, estimate repairs required, done while you wait, down, pay, and out. They would do it for me if I asked. See if you can improvise a similar arrangement where you are.