I am in the process of buying a 2nd gen what are some of the problem areas I should look for?

 

what year? t-tops?
2nd gens rust everywhere. fenders, trunk, rear bumper, tops, scoop, etc

 

I had minor rust in the rear fenders, nothing major. It was a California car though. The big problem with mine was leaks in the trunk (fixed with new weatherstripping) and leaks coming into the rear passenger area somehow. Never figured out what it was, but there would be water on the rear drivers side passenger armrest, and the floor would get damp. Could have been a leak from the rear glass. There usually seems to be rust there too so look for that.

Suspension in that car is years ahead of the 1st gens, and with a good set-up you will surprise a lot of people. If it has air shocks, ditch those right away.

 

yep,rust,leaks,sagging doors

 

doors are not sagging and the trunk is dry. The top of the car looks mint but the fenders doors and quarters are rusted. No t-tops. He said there was a new clutch put in the car but it engages all they way up can this be adjusted?

 

My '81 had badly rusted by the lower A-pillars where the dash met the windshield. I was told that in order to replace the area, the windshield had to come out and an entire metal dash section had to be removed and rewelded in...not cheap. Second gens are beautiful, but are just rust buckets down here in South Florida.

The core support is another rust magnet, especially by the battery tray.

 

Nothing new to add. They are very rusty cars. Mine had rust behind the front and rear wheels, floorpans, small spot where the lower A-pillar meets the windshield, rear window down by the decklid, t-tops leaked at the front, doors sagged and the roof area was what I call, oil canned. The metal was really weak and you could push it in effectively denting it, but then you could hit just to the front or back of the spot and it would pop back out and look normal. Was a PITA when I was waxing the car. Also unless you spend a lot of time on the front clip it will never line up all the way around.

 

You haven't seen "rust bucket" until you've seen a CANADIAN 2nd-gen .

Apparently they're built from an iron-ore based (magnetic) material, meant to resemble that of steel, except with the consistancy and appearance of dried oatmeal .

The corners of the dash behind the windshield near the A-pillars (as mentioned) is famous. Around the back window (under the trim) ... heck, even my Dad's '73 was rusted out there, and it was a southern car! (from New Mexico). Floor pans (my '81 was rusted directly above the front sub-frame rails ... the carpet would get wet, but I couldn't see the hole from underneath ). Trunk (& lid), lower fender edges, bottoms of doors, battery box, rad cradle, rad ..... etc., etc., etc., etc., .

BUT, they're GREAT cars when they're fixed up nice . I loved my '81 Z28, I'd take another one in a heartbeat, and I love my Dad's '73 .