the rust saga continues...

[alefcourt25]

I washed the van to get all of the salt off and noticed that some body filler was peeling. A screwdriver and 3 hours of chipping revealed copious amounts of rot that had been covered by thin tin and a 1/8th inch of filler. The rust was just covered...never treated. Oh, the horror. Next step, cut out the nasty bits and POR 15 the rest/new panels.



http://photobucket.com/86quadravan

 

[ujoint]

WOW. That's terrible. Worse than my 78, and I thought it was bad. I would consider a complete body swap if I were you.

 

[bucketosudz]

x2 on what Ujoint said, that will take an immense amount of effort and work to rectify. Best Wishes.

 

[adventureduo]

Yeah i agree with the above posts.. ouch that's bad.

 

[jammyauto]

I really hate to say anything negative about someone else's rig but I really think you'd be better off to find something else alltogether. There may be a few salvagable bits on that van but it's not worth the effort. I bet even the frame has some issues. Better to hear it now than when your half way through the project.

 

[GroupSe7en]

Looks nasty :Wow1: - but if you can fix it, you are definitely 'The Man'.

Keep us posted on your decisions/progress.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Stumpalump]

I've been there done that with rust. In you case I can tell by your post that you will move forward anyway. Thats OK. Don't ever think that thousands in body work will make that rig like new so don't spend it. Spend your first efforts on critical things like mufflers falling off and make sure the gas tank wont rust off it's brackets. Fix the mechanically critical rusty things first. Next or first if you drive it is too seal the interior from carbon monoxide. You can't even pass inspection in some states if you have holes into the interior. I'd forget about restoration and go with a plan to "just fix it". I've used plywood for floors and sheet metal from used heating ventilation ducts to get metal. A good pop rivet gun, a handful of 1/8" drill bits and a few nice tools to cut the metal and you can do wonders. Don't focus on getting it perfect just functional and safe. So what if you have a few pop rivets and sheet metal patches as long as your cuts are square and your rivets look well placed it will look and work fine. I'd take a paint chip to a paint store and have them match a gallon of outdoor metal paint. Brush it on and lather it over the cleaned up rust then call it good. Then drive it and use up whats left of the vans motor and enjoy it for what it is.

 

[alefcourt25]

Thanks for all of the feedback. (Stumpalump for the positive!..) I know I should be discouraged but I've wanted this van since I saw Aspen Extreme way back in '92. Anyways, the rust does not look nearly as horrifying as it does in the photos and I'm ready for a challenge. I managed to get it inspected back in December when all of the rust was covered up. (so I have the rest of the year to make it right) The exhaust is brand new, yet the previous owner overlooked the cracked manifold. Headers are just waiting to go on. Growing up in the northeast gets one used to the salt eating things so I'm no stranger to rust. This isn't even the worst I've owned. It does have more than I initially expected but I wanted to learn how to weld...now I have a test bunny. I'll keep the pics coming as long as the progress continue.....

 

[T.Low]

I'm sorry, I couldn't look. Its awful that a good truck be lost before its time due to rust cancer. I've forgotten what thats like since moving from Michigan.

Good luck with her...I hope she makes it thru restoration.