A little sad...body rust

I have brought this up few times and couldn't decide if I should give up the 3G. After talking with a few people, I want to give some body shops\restore places a try.

Went to a local Maaco showing the guy about the rust. He was telling me they really can't repair rust at that level. They can only do simple rust. So he redirected me to another local body shop that can do much more rust repair.

I went there and showed him the rusted areas and he was really shaking his head. He was very honest though and didn't even quote me any price.

I have the gut feeling that he is absolutely right things will get nasty once he takes the job and start opening up the panels.

My son said just drive it until it can't anymore and get something newer. The sentimental thingy gets into me and hope of keeping it a little longer is fading........

One of my jack points just gave me a crunch a few days ago. I'm not giving up mine. I'd rather put thousands into a car a like to drive than thousands into purchasing a newer car. I purchased a welder a while ago and will use it, haven't gotten it setup yet but will soon. I dont expect my repairs to look amazing or be perfect, if i can get rid of the rust and have decent paint on the car where it looks good from 15 feet away i'll be happy.

My rockers, rear seat pan, and rear quarters are gone. Going to have to put in the quarters I pulled off another car and patch the seat pan, but the rockers I don't have much of a game plan. I have it in my head that I am going to completely cut them out, replace them with square tubing that will double as a stiffener, then put some 4g plastic side skirts over.

Where I live, these cars rusted badly. As early as the early 2000's, I was seeing rusted through rear fenders and rocker panels.

I have an 87 hatch that I started restoring but since having kids has been put on the "future projects list". I've already tackled most of the rust but it was bad let me tell you.

I really wonder what's "bad rust" in Florida. I know "mill supply" sells replacement panels that can be welded to repair rust. Maaco won't do anything good with these cars and regular body shops will rarely get involved into a restoration project. It all comes down to labor cost and value of the car. Sentimental value is something you can't put a price on.

I'm sure you could get shops to do the job but it's going to cost you. No rust is "unrepairable". People dig out muscle cars that have been abandoned for decades in the woods and restore them. I'm not saying our cars are worth as much an a 70 Chevelle but you get the idea. Anything can be repaired, at a price.

Any pictures of the rust?

Here's some pics.

Also there are some rust under carrage at the front passenger side close to the jack point. I don't have a pic for that and not sure if this is structural.

...and some more ...

Ah, sunroof car. Rust makes a lot of sense.

https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthre...-getting-rusty!

I posted my pictures here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Oldblueaccord

https://www.3geez.com/forum/showthre...-getting-rusty!

I posted my pictures here.

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Rust on yours are probably worse than mine. I haven't gotten under or using an endoscope to take pictures. I'm sure I will find more rusty area if I do that.

What have you done to repair the rust ?

I haven't done anything.

I just dont drive it in the rain but more that the passenger side leaks from the door seal.

fyi honda had a recall on some yrs for the gas cap area rotting out

shes crusty but if u take ur time u can fix most of that