Is this worth it?

[trainguy1989]

I have a 94 ATX that I wonder if it is worth it to keep working on. I already have put some money into it, dynomax exhaust, 60k's, brakes, tranny, front-end work, etc. The front-end is pretty much rust free. The rear end is somewhat rusty, especially in the wheel wells. The driver side of this car was sideswiped by a drunken driver and it has some body indentations, but the paint is in great shape. Should I get a different body or is this repairable? There are also many area that have blemishes and dents too that do not show up on the pics. The pics make it look good. This has been giving me a headache.... I saw Phoenix's 94 MTX, and I just about cried...

Here is some pics:










Thanks,
David

 

[Toolman]

looks plenty fine to me. That would be considered rust free by many accounts

 

[trainguy1989]

looks plenty fine to me. That would be considered rust free by many accounts

Are you sure? That just looks expensive. you don;t want to see my brake lines either too my passenger side wheel well is soft to the touch. Its getting worse mind you. There are also many area that have blemishes and dents too that do not show up on the pics. The pics make it look good.

I scared to put such good looking snakes on my rusty car.

Thanks Tim

 

[luigisho]

I understand the way you feel. Only you can determine when you've put enough into a vehicle and it's time to move tro another. The rust at the rear wheels will be a lifelong chase. That's just the way it is with these cars and salt. I'd enjoy it for a while and stop dumping money into it unless it's really necessary. Keep your eye out for a clean body (out of salt area or garaged) and see if it's worth it to you at that time.

 

[sperold]

When your fuel door area is totally rotted out, and your rear strut punches through the top of the tower and ends up in your package tray area; that is when you start looking for a different body.
Stabalize the rusty area with rust killers (in a can) until you figure out what you want to do.
You can try it yourself first, there is lots of information on this forum, and everywhere else on this type of bodywork (you don't need panels yet). The nice thing is, white is quite reasonable to match (I see you have been doing something to your hood).
If you make a mess of it, take it to a shop that the local used car dealers use. The price is the same, even if you take a swing at it yourself.
I had a car completely painted recently, prices ranged from $2,700.00 to $800.00, so shop it hard, if you go that way.
Your car looks great, sits great: anyone in the northern half of America can only dream of starting with a car so good.

 

[shonuffmine]

I,m in the minority that thinks it,s easier and cheaper to find a rust free car,than it is to chase the rust demon.I do all my own work so labor cost is not a issue!Sorry guys i guess i,ve been lucky and never paid more than $250 for a SHO,just gotta look around,or be lucky and be in the right spot!

 

[-DVP-]

How are the frame rail? It looks very savable. Te time and money you would put into swapping shells, or replacing this car could be very close to repairing and maintaining this one minus having new paint.

From what those pictures show, and they could be hiding a lot, it looks to be worth putting the money into building this car and not starting over with another.

 

[Toolman]

It is not a show car, but heck, it is so far from being ready for the salvage. I would not spend a bunch of money or time trying to restore it, but it looks like ite will make a great daily driver for years to come.

 

[luigisho]

From what those pictures show, and they could be hiding a lot, it looks to be worth putting the money into building this car and not starting over with another.

I disagree with this but we just have different perspectives.

I would not dump money into a car with that much rust (at least I would not do so--ever again). I'd drive the wheels off it and look for another when it was convenient. The DIY rust inhibitor route might be worth pursuing.

 

[1995mtxsho]

Some peeps down south need to start cutting out some rear quarters from junkyard Tauri and sell them to us poor salt-belt victims!!!

 

[llamaking122]

run the $#!t out of it. when it rusts trough the floor boards put motor/tranny in a rust free car. assuming its still low miles

 

[llamaking122]

on another note whats the winter weather like there

 

[trainguy1989]

on another note whats the winter weather like there

Cold, bitter cold. Lots of moisture in the air. Fog every morning with it being 5 degrees outside. Its eating my poor car alive.

 

[notbange]

My former SHO had completely rotted through rocker panels, one of the side skirts was sitting on the ground when I went to drive away one morning. Wasn't aware of it until that point. All I saw was the rot around the wheel wells that it had and didn't think too much of it. Take a good look under those skirts. That was a major reason for me getting rid of it, all that plastic ******** traps salt. And now I live in the south, and own a beautiful rust free sho. So, my answer is move south!

 

[luigisho]

Some peeps down south need to start cutting out some rear quarters from junkyard Tauri and sell them to us poor salt-belt victims!!!

All that labor costs more than your cars are worth. Buy a rust free car or shell to start with.

 

[jmpSHO]

I think you should scrap it and sell me the wheels.

 

[trainguy1989]

My former SHO had completely rotted through rocker panels, one of the side skirts was sitting on the ground when I went to drive away one morning. Wasn't aware of it until that point. All I saw was the rot around the wheel wells that it had and didn't think too much of it. Take a good look under those skirts. That was a major reason for me getting rid of it, all that plastic ******** traps salt. And now I live in the south, and own a beautiful rust free sho. So, my answer is move south!

I have tried so hard not to remove the side skirts. I am afriad of what I may find....

 

[trainguy1989]

I think you should scrap it and sell me the wheels.

You'd like that, wouldn't you! Lets make a deal. If you give me a rust free SHO, I will do your VSS.

 

[jmpSHO]

You'd like that, wouldn't you! Lets make a deal. If you give me a rust free SHO, I will do your VSS.

The rust free SHO needs a VSS

I actually doubt it needs a vss though, I am thinking either the speedo is dead or something with the cable.

 

[boat]

I could take those off your hands for ya, I have a pretty red 94 they would look good on . Just joking, your car looks pretty clean for having a little bit of rust in both rear fenders.

I would say it is worth it, but ultimately you have to make the final call. What is that car worth to you to keep it and fix it? You have already done the tough maintenance, your 60k's are done, you have a new exhaust on the car. Have you done your rod-bearings yet? I'd say fix it, but hey, that's me.

Wanna see some more rust, I can show you pics from a RUSTY white 92, the frame rails are rotting, not rusting but flat out rotten. The core support, well, held together by rust, don't loosen a bolt or it might fall apart. It could be more sturdy than that, but not by much.

I scared to put such good looking snakes on my rusty car.