Need rust advice

**idrivejunk** · 03-30-2014

Originally Posted by gtpeddie

Im a body guy to and work in a restoration shop and when I see that I dont laugh cause then you gotta grind all that **** out and then you know the whole car is half assed and probably has a bunch of bad body work hidden underneath all over, its just like opening a can of worms. Plus no one is ever gonna fix that rust the right way because to repair that right it would cost more then the car is worth, Im sure you know...

Oh I do. The good thing is that lots of classics are getting fixed more properly these days, as their value increases. A lot of the work done now is just fixing bad old repairs. The way to keep from getting burned is to charge by how long it takes to do, instead of guessing then being held to an original price quote. Let the customer choose options and pay as they go, I say. There has to be sentiment involved in those cases, because the car's value is easily exceeded. People pay to have the work done right so they know what they will be driving and souping up!

**Speedy1973** · 03-30-2014

Originally Posted by itzharrison

Do the GA and the GP 2 doors always rust there? I wanted to hide it because its really a beautiful car other than that.. I want to get a good amount of change for it.

Im still kinda thinking about cutting the rust out, bondo, undercoat, and paint it.. I can't afford to have the buyer notice it because its really the only thing wrong and its such a small and useless area..

My 2 gp's were sedans, same with the one i have now. And as far as i've seen, they rust out pretty well identically. GA's dont seem to rust as quick as GP's do tho, but it's the same areas. Rockers, Rear rails, Strut towers

Honestly, if you do that, and you "halfass" it so to speak. i think a buyer's gonna notice a shady coverup job before they would care about the rust in the first place.

If your gonan fix it, you fix it right the first time. Don't polish a turd.
Personally i would just leave it the hell alone, and sell the car as is.

**idrivejunk** · 03-30-2014

Originally Posted by itzharrison

what would you recommend?

If you would like to "kill" the remaining visible rust after cleanup, look into a quality one-step rust converter. If you must fill a 1/4" or larger rust hole with putty, at least use a fiberglass reinforced filler. I have three GPs, two 99 and one 02, neither of them have rust in the door jamb.

**itzharrison** · 03-30-2014

Oh jeeze now I dont know what to do ... Lol you guys all contradict each other

**idrivejunk** · 03-30-2014

I think we all agree you should hit it with some spray paint! Just do a neat job and make it where chunks aren't falling out anymore. As far as typical rust spots go, well GPs and GAs are different cars and each individual car leads a different life as far as corrosion is concerned.

**gtpeddie** · 03-30-2014

Originally Posted by idrivejunk

If you would like to "kill" the remaining visible rust after cleanup, look into a quality one-step rust converter. If you must fill a 1/4" or larger rust hole with putty, at least use a fiberglass reinforced filler. I have three GPs, two 99 and one 02, neither of them have rust in the door jamb.

Originally Posted by itzharrison

what would you recommend?

What he said, BUT we dont recommend doing it and your gonna screw the next guy, but do what you gotta do...

I also have had no rust in any of my GP coupes and I had 3 a 97, 98, and 02

**REDCRAPGP** · 03-30-2014

Seems almost dishonest to just bondo over it to attempt to cover it up. I know your trying to get top dollar for it but I think you need to be reasonable in your asking price because of the rust. I would rather pay a lower price and see the visible rust that way I know what I'm getting myself into..Then to pay top dollar and later discover your ****ty cover up. Ever heard of Karma? Yea don't be surprised if it comes back to bite you in the ass.

**itzharrison** · 03-30-2014

Gotcha spray paint. But you guys say no to covering it up at all? theres going to be a noticeable indentation.

**itzharrison** · 03-30-2014

What do you guys think about this car? It has quite a few miles, has a virginia title so either little to no rust. I also talked the dealer down to 5K

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ctd/4393877997.html

**gtpeddie** · 03-30-2014

Originally Posted by REDCOMPG

Seems almost dishonest to just bondo over it to attempt to cover it up. I know your trying to get top dollar for it but I think you need to be reasonable in your asking price because of the rust. I would rather pay a lower price and see the visible rust that way I know what I'm getting myself into..Then to pay top dollar and later discover your ****ty cover up. Ever heard of Karma? Yea don't be surprised if it comes back to bite you in the ass.

+1

Originally Posted by itzharrison

What do you guys think about this car? It has quite a few miles, has a virginia title so either little to no rust. I also talked the dealer down to 5K

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ctd/4393877997.html

Seems like a good deal I like the Bonne GXP wheels

**idrivejunk** · 03-30-2014

Originally Posted by itzharrison

Gotcha spray paint. But you guys say no to covering it up at all? theres going to be a noticeable indentation.

"If you would like to "kill" the remaining visible rust after cleanup, look into a quality one-step rust converter. If you must fill a 1/4" or larger rust hole with putty, at least use a fiberglass reinforced filler."

Thats what I said about that. Bondo over converted rust is not as bad as bondo over brown rust pits. If you think it will add value, go as far as you want with it but like the others said, all the stuff we're discussing is not a proper repair. If you decide to fix it right, that starts with taking the rocker molding off. It kind of looks like theres a chunk of metal missing so find a welder, a cutoff tool, and some clean scrap metal... and let the adventure begin!

**idrivejunk** · 03-30-2014

Originally Posted by itzharrison

What do you guys think about this car? It has quite a few miles, has a virginia title so either little to no rust. I also talked the dealer down to 5K

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ctd/4393877997.html

If that car is truly as the ad says, thats probably a fair price. I don't know much about 2004 and ups.

**itzharrison** · 03-30-2014

yeah the GXP wheels are rare now and they have a high demand they look great! but you guys dont think the 172K miles is a big deal? If I cough 5K up front I couldn't afford a repair if something does go wrong, and I really couldn't afford a new tranny or engine... These cars are meant to run, these aren't Grandmas bingo car. Someone could of ran this thing hard and with 172K miles the end could be near..

**gtpeddie** · 03-30-2014

Well yea the end can be near but you dont know, there's plenty of 3800's still kickin with well over 200k, the engine will last as long as you keep up with the maintenance. there's no telling for sure on how long it will last, your pretty much taking that chance with any used car you buy for 5k, and these cars aint really meant to run. Its a FWD auto v6 not a v8 rwd manual, I see plenty of oldies in the GTPs

**itzharrison** · 03-30-2014

you think i should pull the trigger on it? my Grand am only has 131K :/

I want something faster and something I can customize. I couldn't really do much with the little 3.4 V6

**Speedy1973** · 03-31-2014

That 04 you posted. Thats a pile of money for that car tbh

I'm looking at an 07 Special Edition, with 73k on it, a few more options, for like not quite a grand more than the price of that one. I'm in Canada tho, so idk how pricing would change because of that.

Don't get me wrong, the one you linked, IS a nice car. I personally just find it's overpriced, for the miles/options on it. I would keep looking. There's Thousands of them out there.

**itzharrison** · 04-01-2014

I know its overpriced its a dealer. but its a dealer thats somewhat close to me. and for some reason I love the color and the gxp wheels

**REDCRAPGP** · 04-01-2014

GXP rims add no value to me.. Sure they're nice but nice isn't going to go to far when your talking about a car with 175k...

Sounds like u already made your decision so buy it and stop asking every single person for their opinions since your totally overlooking it 99% of the time.