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Honest Opionions Requested
Okay... here's where I'm at. My car has always pulled right a little, so when I noticed a place that does alignment checks, I had 'em take a look. They got it up on the lift, and like all Californians () they were afraid of the rust. But they did let me look all over the car while it was up there, and I snapped some photos of the rear with my phone. They also showed me a little something up front which was distressing. So here it is, here's everything I know about my car. I want to know if it's worth saving, or even if it's possible to save it.
First, pics of the rear. Rust, rust, everywhere... Rust so bad that it ate holes into the brake rotor guide. And then... -Most any part under the car is rusted -Brake rotors need replacing (my own fault for not doing them when I did the calipers and pads) -Engine Mounts are shot (front-left is literally split on top, front-right is very loose) -Engine leaks oil from somewhere inside timing covers (probably cam caps) -Car pulls right (probably a combination of factors) Aside from that, nothing else. The overheating doesn't happen anymore. So...verdict? Should I bother to spend any more money on this thing, or should I just get rid of it? |
#2
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Some down time for disassembly, a sand blaster, and some good paint will go a long way to help preserve your svx
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#3
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Honestly, the rust you have on the components looks to be just surface rust. The backing plates could use changed, just to keep water out of the e-brake. Rust usually isn't a problem, until it starts to rot the metal of the body itself. Even then, until it starts to eat the suspension mounts, it's repairable.
Here's an example of rust that's repairable: Yes, it's structural, but with a proper repair, it's not terminal. This is terminal cancer: Note that it's completly rusted through where the suspension attaches. While the rust you have looks bad, it's not unsafe. As for the rest of your woes, they are cause for concern, but with a one problem at a time approach, they're all fairly simple fixes. My 2bits on it pulling: Have the control arm, and strut bushings inspected.
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[SIGPIC]http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=5569&dateline=1207440 507[/SIGPIC] Naught but by the grace of God "42" Current Stable By Age:'89 Subaru XT6 Silver "Audrey" as in Hepburn '96 SVX LSi #767Brilliant Red "Lil Red" Now on the front burner. Looking for a totalled, but running parts car. Last edited by crazyhorse; 04-19-2008 at 04:06 PM. |
#4
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Pfft. That's nothing. I've seen far worse rust. What you've got is "age rust." Surface rust, nothing more.
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-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#5
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Ditto them. My rust kicks your rusts' butt any day...
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-Craig 94 LSi 5spd Barcelona Red, 14Xk miles. Full custom exhaust (Stebro cat-back, custom rest of the way forward) 8000K HID kit from Tom (SVXfiles), Energy Suspension front sway bar bushings, Non-Droopy visors, Race Concepts C/D + Dimpled Rotors, Axxis Ultimate pads,SS brake lines, Bontrager Works #009 (or something like that), stripped interior. (up next) Full cage, fuel cell, 327 swap |
#6
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I agree, as I was trying to find something of any significance. Fix the car as you know where you will be starting and finishing. Much better than another dive into the wilderness.
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Trevor, New Zealand. As a child, on cold mornings I gladly stood in cowpats to warm my bare feet, but I detest bull$hit! |
#7
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Cars here in Iowa have FAR worse rust than anything like what you have on yours,and they run for years and years.
That's really just surface rust that really isn't bothering anything. Sure it looks tacky and you CAN clean it up, but the car is not going to fall apart anytime soon if you do nothing about it.
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Jesus is the remedy 2015 Expedition EL Ecoboost Ebony Pearl '95 Subaru SVX LSi Home of the Bontrager Works 22mm rear sway bar!! |
#8
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Here's another example of bad rust. This is the frame of a 1997 Geo Metro. You can't quite see it there, but that crack is all the way through the frame. That car went to the junkyard.
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-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#9
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Figures. These guys had me thinking that the car was doomed or something. I should have paid more attention to the fact that they're Californian. Great. So it's fixable, that's good.
So now, where should I start? Motor mounts and engine overhaul go together, that's obvious. But about the suspension bits and rusted brake parts, how should I go with those things? I'd love to get a plan together. |
#10
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Those suspension parts don't need replaced. A coat of POR-15 will help keep them from getting any worse. You can brush that on.
The brake backing plates look bad, but if they keep water out of the E-brake, they're good for the short haul. If not, or if you're seroiusly concerned, they shouldn't be too expensive, or hard to find, used or new. As for the floorpan, does it have any signs of rust? If so, get the POR-15 after it immediately. Oh yeah, POR-15 is Paint Over Rust, formula 15. No cleanup, no mess, just brush, or spray it on. And it WORKS!!
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[SIGPIC]http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=5569&dateline=1207440 507[/SIGPIC] Naught but by the grace of God "42" Current Stable By Age:'89 Subaru XT6 Silver "Audrey" as in Hepburn '96 SVX LSi #767Brilliant Red "Lil Red" Now on the front burner. Looking for a totalled, but running parts car. |
#11
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I too can recommend POR-15. Works well, and goes on easy.
You just paint over the rust!
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Jesus is the remedy 2015 Expedition EL Ecoboost Ebony Pearl '95 Subaru SVX LSi Home of the Bontrager Works 22mm rear sway bar!! |
#12
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Quote:
$35,000 later . . . |
#13
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Quote:
Cool, man, that is absolutely cool. Those cars redefined the spirit of motoring for fun in their day. Of course it was worth restoring. Beautiful. Joe
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Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic 40,000 miles Jersey Girl |
#14
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Quote:
After that maybe your engine mounts. I would simply replace the rear dirt deflector for the rear brakes. Those things are paper thin anyway. And that PQR 15 sounds a good solution. While you are doing the PQR paint over, you should also check out the How To on buying an SVX. I seem to recall that serious rust can start in the rear arches around the upper strut mount, and you have to take off the plastic arch protector to see it. Not trying to worry you or anything, but if you want to be thorough and not worried about it, it would be worth checking that area and addressing whatever you find there. Joe
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Black Betty [Bam a Lam!] '93 UK spec, still languishing Betty Jersey Girl Silver '92 UK [Channel Isles] 40K Jersey Girl @ Mersea Candy Purple Honda Blackbird Plum Dangerous White X2 RVR Mitsubishi 1800GDI. Vantastic 40,000 miles Jersey Girl |
#15
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Quote:
We had the 'pleasure' of going to a world class body shop. They spend countless dollars on cars and only deal with 'bolt on' parts. IF it has nasty RUST, they can't handle it! WE bought a Ford Phaeton that they had deemed "Too bad to restore", for $350.!! It was a LOT better than most of the stuff we start with! P.S. Wear rubber gloves when you paint your rust w' the affore-mentioned product! (I had black hands for 2 weeks)
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I'm not a REDNECK! I am an Appalachian-AMERICAN!! "Can't go to work today. The 'voices' said to "Stay home and clean the guns". Most famous Red-Neck last words... " Hey Everybody, Watch This!!) http://s306.photobucket.com/albums/nn272/subi-crosser/ Jerry |
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