Is all the body work worth it?

[mindset]

Hey guys, my car is 18 years old. It has some minor rust spots with rust underneath. Typical Ohio car. I don't know if I want to put money into my car because of the condition of the body. The front sags bad, the hood lines are not flush with the headlights and bumper, and there is several rust spots on my car. Some are surface and others are too hard too tell if I have to replace a whole side panel or not. And if I put all this money into my car I don't want there to be rust holes. Anyone ever been in my situation? What did you end up doing? Paying for body work? Painting it? How about the underbody? I hate rust and its a big concern of mine.
Thanks.

PS I have some decent goals for my car. Replacing & Rebuilding motor with a goal of 11 or 12 seconds.

 

[deflator]

Well, you could try to live with the rust and put the money into performance. Everybody loves a rusty sleeper and you could hustle with it. Just a thought.

I spray painted the rust wounds on my first car, 91 Tbird POS, emphasis on the S. It worked and lasted almost 6 months before a repaint was needed, $7 bucks

 

[mindset]

Well, you could try to live with the rust and put the money into performance. Everybody loves a rusty sleeper and you could hustle with it. Just a thought.

I spray painted the rust wounds on my first car, 91 Tbird POS, emphasis on the S. It worked and lasted almost 6 months before a repaint was needed, $7 bucks

I mean I was thinking that too. But everyone loves a clean 1g. But everyone thinks its funny when they see a rusty 1gen pull up next to a Corvette and its gets owned by the 1g.


Thanks for the input.

 

[need2boostpsi]

my car came from Massilon Ohio and its nickname was rusty i knew i wanted to keep the car for along time so i wasnt afraid. i had 4 rust spots and rusted out fender, i had a local body shop do all the work cutting the rust out and welding new sheet metal in. it wasnt cheap, i could have a built bottom end by now, but the end results were worth it.

 

[mindset]

my car came from Massilon Ohio and its nickname was rusty i knew i wanted to keep the car for along time so i wasnt afraid. i had 4 rust spots and rusted out fender, i had a local body shop do all the work cutting the rust out and welding new sheet metal in. it wasnt cheap, i could have a built bottom end by now, but the end results were worth it.

Your cars an inspiration to me. Its from Ohio, and built quite a bit. What did you do about the underbody? Were there a lot of rusted out suspension parts?

EDIT: Oh crap! You're the guy with the HX35 ! When I seen that video and the before pics I just imagine the potential of my car. I actually bookmarked the thread. I love that thing!

 

[need2boostpsi]

Your cars an inspiration to me. Its from Ohio, and built quite a bit. What did you do about the underbody? Were there a lot of rusted out suspension parts?

EDIT: Oh crap! You're the guy with the HX35 ! When I seen that video and the before pics I just imagine the potential of my car. I actually bookmarked the thread. I love that thing!

i had to drop everypart from under the car and sandblast paint and undercoat, luckily the car had a good undercoat so the chassis stayed rust free. but the gas tank heat sheilds driveshaft...everypart that bolts on was replaced if needed or sandblasted. took the better part of an entire summer to do. i wouldnt buy a car just to do this, but it looked good on ebay wasnt until 700 miles later i found out about the rust.

now that i look back on all the work i and a buddy did, im proud i didn't turn around and sell it. i did everything myself except the actual bodywork

 

[tkelly27]

If you're gunning for deep 11's, why don't you wait until you hit it and you're doing the cage/roll bar that you'll need to keep on racing it. Fix the rusty spots while you've got everything out anyway.

 

[montes24]

if the rust is bothering you then ya feel free to do what you want on it but its an 18 year old car its still percieved as being old so i guess the rust is acceptable in a way

 

[mindset]

i had to drop everypart from under the car and sandblast paint and undercoat, luckily the car had a good undercoat so the chassis stayed rust free. but the gas tank heat sheilds driveshaft...everypart that bolts on was replaced if needed or sandblasted. took the better part of an entire summer to do. i wouldnt buy a car just to do this, but it looked good on ebay wasnt until 700 miles later i found out about the rust.

now that i look back on all the work i and a buddy did, im proud i didn't turn around and sell it. i did everything myself except the actual bodywork

Interesting. As much as I would love to go down to Florida and pick up a rust free DSM, I'd rather save another one of these cars. I forget everyday how old my car is and I think I'll work on restoring it.
Thanks again