When is there too much rust to repair? I have a New York 1984 Camaro 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?

 

It doesn't matter if it's body or mech. repairs, if you put more labor and parts into the car then it's finished value, it's not worth it. i.e. if you put $20,000 into a car that will only be worth $10,000, it's not worth doing.
As far as the repair goes, if done properly, the stucture should be unaffected.

It's going to be a long time before these cars will be worth more then a couple of thousand.

 

im going to put my 2 cents worth into this one. i ahve a 86 camaro. i got it and it was worth nothing. over the past 2 years i have been fixing it all up from the ground up, it may not be worth anything for a bit more. but i think it depends on if you plan on keeping this car for any amount of time. but yes he is right it wont be worth anything for a while yet.
i personally will never sell this car now. i will keep it and hand it down to my son one day.

just thought i would mension it but u might have other things in mind

Douglas

 

I'm just speaking from the practical side. If you get emotional about your cars, then all bets are off. Many a collector car is with us today because some guy 50 years ago couldn't part with it.

 

My 85 Z28, was almost nothing but rust, I bought her for $1200 5 years ago when I was 19, ya I was dumb for buying her but those 3 letters made me want her.... Z28 , the floors were gone both driver and pass. front AND back. part of the rockers outside and inside and the front subframe, long story short she was on the verge of braking in half I`m not even kidding, my bro-in-law is a weilder and we spent 2 months making paches and weilding them in. may 24 2001 was the happyest day of my life, thats the very 1st day my Baby was on the road.

right now I need the replace the quarters and doors and do alittle more underbody stuff to her to get rid of all the rust.

I ALSO need to replace the Tranny with a t-56 and replace the 10 bolt with a 9bolt and replace the 305 with a 383, and put a cage in

in all I`ll probly put upwards of $20 000 in her buy the time she`s done and I`ll have a car worth what $10 000??? if that, I don`t care, she`s my baby my 1st real car, I love my Z28 and will own her forever, I`ll die with this car or in it.

do you love your Z28 like I love mine???, if not sell it to some young kid who will.

 

haha, wow. someone is a little to much like me. ive replaced the doors the front fenders and the hood and front bumper.. just got the quarters left . alrady did the motor swap and am waiting now on the tranny

 

Looks like a good time to mini tub it.

 

Thanks for your replies. I lost a lot of sleep over all of this. Ever since I was a kid I dreamed about her, and when I finally got her I didn't do anything but eat, sleep, and dream about her. So my brief thoughts of selling her are gone. I now have to make other plans for a daily driver though ...

Mini-tubs? They make those for thirdgens? I don't plan on using a wheel larger than 8inches wide ... and I don't want to lose anymore interior room (already small enough). Does anyone make trunk floors? floor pans? Pretty much the entire floor for these cars or do I have to fabricate pieces myself?
Thanks!

 

if he has no plan to sell the car then 10,000 dollars for resale is meaning less. it all a mater of how much u like the car. i have a 95 i have to replace the wheel wells on and to me if i had to replace the floor pans and truck and every thing else i would fortunetly its just the wheel well becuase it wasnt undercoated properly but

 

for sure they make them..

http://www.crosscanadaparts.com/cgi-...nada/about.htm

this is all canadian.. however there is a location by windsor which is just across the baord from american. im sure there is a american site and im sure others will post.. yeah dont ask me what that fool is talking about with the mini tub.. he probably wants us all to join him.... wow.. what a ***

anywayz yeah man.. ive worked hard on my car and she has come a long way. u will be happy if u fix it and then decide what you are going to do iwth it if you ever do decide to sell it u will at least get something for it!

Douglas

 

Rust was the deciding factor in me giving up my third gen. It was a tough choice and it sucked to let it go, but the cost to repair a quarter panel, all the floorpans, the fenders, and not to mention the big gaping rust hole in the chassis itself, along with an all-around paint job would have run thousands. I would much rather put that kind of money into the motor or something else so I let the car go. Good luck with whatever you decide though.

 

Man don`t sell your baby, I just looked at your page and my god my mouth dropped when I saw what she looks like now, that is one nice Z28, don`t sell it off because of rotted wheel wells.

 

chris check your msg's

 

Hey thanks for the compliments and thanks for the website! That sight is awesome! It has the floor, trunk well, and stuff. The only thing I didn't see is wheel well, but I will call to see if they carry those or know someone who does. I think I am about 4 hours from Toronto, so if I have to drive there to save money on shipping I am willing to do that (gotta be cost/gas efficient to do so though).

Yeah, I mulled over it, and I am going to spend the next year or two repairing the rust. Our local autoshop offers a one day welding class for $10, so I think I will invest the time and money to go that route with a buddy or two that know how to weld (gotta find one or two of those too).

Does anyone know how difficult it is to cut out the wheel wells? Has anyone ever done it before? Thanks.

 

10 bucks. wow.. where is it? is there a webpage? i go to saginaw michigan every once in a while to see my freind.. i wouldn't mind gonig to that course too.. always fun to juist try to weld ureself tho

yeah that site is awesome.. they will ship to you im sure! give them a call