Just browsing through EBay and looking at classifieds as I'm always looking to find a good deal on a fixer upper. I scored my Camaro for 1100 and it has been fun getting it back into somewhat nice shape. The thought came to mind, when is a car too far rusted to validate its repair or restoration. Its not like these cars are super are and you cant find cars with little or no rust.

I'm scared of cars that have allot of rust, I've seen Third Gens rust in the allot of the same spots, such as the A pillars and just above the windows.

When is a car too far gone for you Guys?

 

Like most other cars when extensive and very costly rust repair is needed. Basically if the floor boards or quarter panels need replacing then it is a good time to move on. Things such as fenders and hoods and easily removed and replaced parts I can live with. However generally if you have rusting problems with these components worse things are probably unseen in the car. Seriously though, the cars are still very cheap so if I see rust I generally keep moving on.
-SmallTires

 

Still enough third gens out there that buyers can be very selective. Even so, these cars have areas that are common to rust problems which may not be apparent without knowing where to look during the inspection. Not too many sellers want to let us pull carpet up or remove body mouldings per say... all things considered, these cars all have some age on them and probably more than a few miles. When I'm looking at a perspective purchase sometimes I look beyond the rust to see how the car was optioned for salvageable or hard to find parts.

 

Agreed, if it was a highly optioned or rare car, then yes I may look beyond some rust. I've got sopme rust bubbles forming on the drivers side pillar...Also under the body moldings are starting to rot, but that looks like just the doors. I've yet to look under the rug, but the floors look great from underneath.

I'd hate to strip down a car that looks good, it was painted just last year by the previous owner...Painted-but the rust wasnt done. I dont want to let it get to ugly either, I'd rather sell the car or fix it soon.

 

Have you taken it to any auto body shops for their opinions? Might be cheaper to save it now before the cancer does more damage.

 

it depends on where the rust is at. if the car needs a new quarter, id forget it. if it needs some floor panel patches, it depends how big they are. but in general, i dont have any rust on either of my third gens, and i dont think i would buy one with any (unless i didnt know it)

 

Get a car from down south, no salt so not near as much rust. My car is originally from Florida, then I moved to Ohio, and then now it's back in Florida where I stay, and I only have slight surface rust from scratches or little stuff from the motor swap and other things I've done to it, and as soon as I get back down to Florida I will be fixing it, I agree with, find out how much to fix it, and fix it sooner rather than later.

 

Yup...I live in Florida nowadays and bought the car down here. Problem is the car is originally from New York.

 

You know ... I have been asking myself the same question. I have a New York 1984 with the L69, and I have replaced the hood, a fender, both quarters, part of the floor pan, and yesterday the muffler shop told my wife that my rear wheel wells are swiss cheese. I'm on the edge right now ... I have so much invested in my car I would be a fool to sell it now, but when is enough?

While I'm at it ... how much am I looking at to replace the rear wheel wells? Can it be done without crippling the structural integrity? How rare (or not) are the true L69 cars?

You can see what I started with and where I am at this link: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2212186

 

I had an 85 Z28, floors turned out to be paper thin with a few holes. I ended up buying an 86 IROC that I checked out completely, no rust on the floors or quaters (southern car brought up to the new england area), well no wonder the car had no rust it had been sectioned right behind the front seats. the entire car was clipped and welded back together and seriously under coated.

turns out even rust free cars have BIGGER issues

 

like some have already said it depends what u want out of it. if you want to make a show car out of it then i would look for little to no rust, but if its just a parts car and u want the interior or the motor etc. then rust realy isnt to big of an issue. my car had minimal rust when i bought it and it still took alot of work to get it where i wanted it before paint (3 months just on body work alone). so good luck with which ever direction u go with it just dont over pay!

 

any rust is no good but it you can tap on the rust spot and not break through it then its usally an easy fix,you can get cheaper cars that are rusty just make sure there not rusted through and you can fix it with little or no money