Honest Opionions Requested

Nomake Wan · #1 04-19-2008, 03:14 PM

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?

SuberNatural · #2 04-19-2008, 03:23 PM

Some down time for disassembly, a sand blaster, and some good paint will go a long way to help preserve your svx

crazyhorse · #3 04-19-2008, 04:02 PM

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.

Manarius · #4 04-19-2008, 05:12 PM

Pfft. That's nothing. I've seen far worse rust. What you've got is "age rust." Surface rust, nothing more.

ridered777 · #5 04-19-2008, 05:17 PM

Ditto them. My rust kicks your rusts' butt any day...

Trevor · #6 04-19-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manarius

Pfft. That's nothing. I've seen far worse rust. What you've got is "age rust." Surface rust, nothing more.

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.

Nevin · #7 04-19-2008, 07:17 PM

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.

Manarius · #8 04-19-2008, 08:32 PM

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.

OrangeOkie · #9 04-20-2008, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomake Wan

. . . I want to know if it's worth saving, or even if it's possible to save it. . . .

Just like the master body man said, who resurrected my family-owned-since new 1965 Mustang (car I drove to HS, then went through five brothers and sisters) . . . "Phil, unless this car has some sentimental value, I don't think it is a proper candidate for restoration."

$35,000 later . . .

svxistentialist · #10 04-20-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeOkie

Just like the master body man said, who resurrected my family-owned-since new 1965 Mustang (car I drove to HS, then went through five brothers and sisters) . . . "Phil, unless this car has some sentimental value, I don't think it is a proper candidate for restoration."

$35,000 later . . .

And worth every dollar.

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