Is anybody else fixing a car that shouldn't be fixed?

[Adam]

Just curious. I'm already mostly done my floors and the right front frame rail, and the rockers.

By the time I'm done, there will be either patches (or the part replaced) in: floors, trunk floor, front and rear frame rails, tranny crossmember, inner fenders, rad support, upper and lower cowl, firewall, and the door posts. At what point do I say enough is enough? Obviously it's too late now because I already have far too much money and time invested in this pile, but it's getting very frustrating and I feel like I'll never have it back on the road.

ALSO, in the case of a car this rusty....does anybody have any tips about how to make the repairs last? I'd be very unimpressed if, after all this work, the whole thing starts bubbling everywhere after like 2 years.

Niel Young was right---rust never sleeps.

I'll post pictures of the carnage later.
Adam

[That One Guy]

keep it clean and dry

[rjsjea]

keep it clean and dry

Agree......also use a weld through primer inside rockers and the like, or get primer in all crannies to coat the inside of replaced bare metal. 

[Jim_Lusk]

There was certainly a time when Jeff's Dart would not have been fixed. Banged up in all four corners, minor rust in the quarters. Rust-through in the spare tire well. A rod through the 318 block, bad upholstery, etc. Its saving grace was that the top went down. Consider just 15 years earlier I had passed on another 67 convertible with no rust, but no straight body panels, either. The price that I wasn't EVEN TEMPTED to pay was $500. OH, and it was also a factory four speed car....... and it was running.

[jamesdart]

yeah the 67 i have, i never should have gotten this far into it.  but i have it, its got a title, and i would really hate to see it go to the scrapyard. i cut off the entire front clip and replaced it because of rust and other structural damage. its only a 2 dr sedan, not like its a high option car or something.

[satellite65]

As far as the E.P.A. and the Fed's are concerned, we are ALL fixing cars that shouldn't be fixed. Don't even give it a second thought - you're doing a good thing.

[dangerdawg]

i think i can, i think i can,........................... just save it. you'll feel better when it's done.

[illfish]

I think you go the extra mile if: 1. The car is an emotional attachment. 2.  The car will be worth alot when done (#'s car, etc).  Other than that, I always look for the most solid body I can find.  The drivetrain can always be changed easier.

[Spook50]

I don't think so, but my old man tells me I am every time I spend money on my Duster. He'd shit a brick if he knew how much I plan on spending on the bodywork and on building the 383...

Then again, he was a Ford guy 

[PureGTS]

  According to my wife    most of my projects should never have been taken up: (I wonder why???  )

[metalicpea]

yes.....when i got my car i had found out on it that it had 3 quaters on one side and 2 on the other side....4 rocker pannels on both sides and also was t boned at one point...well...it has one rocker and one quater per side...and it also has regained the inner rockers and drop offs.......if i known then what i know now....

[Adam]

The car holds a certain sentimental value because it was my first.........and I am getting somewhere. It's just annoying because I have to tackle a new spot every time I turn around. It feels like it'll never be done....and I want to be  this year.

[75Dart440]

The way I see it, we are performing the ultimate form of recycling:  We are re-building and re-using autos that would ordinarily end up consuming even more energy to grind up, melt down, separate components, etc. just to turn it all into a new turd sucking, cookie cutter, low performance, 5-star crash rated, over-priced POS.

This energy savings translates into more fossile fuel in our 

[MyCreation68]

my 68 isn't what anyone would call an "easy" project. my fiance's family shakes their head when I talk about it because it's very rusty but to me it's worth it. all it takes if for me to look at the car and I can't wait.

[68dodge]

They are all worth fixing. Keeps me out of trouble, I am always out in the garage doing something. Plus I enjoy building them.

[craigscars]

Man if it wasnt for these cars we would not need this web site.keep at it its not just you.

[PureGTS]

They are all worth fixing. Keeps me out of trouble, I am always out in the garage doing something. Plus I enjoy building them.

   I don't smoke, drink, do drugs (although some would swear I do  ), chase women (I caught one and that ended that career choice), other than my children, so I have to have a release for all this pent up energy. As mentioned before; she always knows where to find me...     or  or  . I have very few vices, but the ones I have  , I've mastered! 

[scott]

If anything....
Saving a Mopar is a worth while deed ,even if it is a pain to repair and take some time to get it done.
I personally hate rice burners. 

What ever you do while repairing your tin ,don't overlay good tin over rust.

I see this done often because of laziness .

It wont take long for the cancer underneath to eat through.
Kill that cancer dead and treat it good or cut it out.
I like using POR 15 and then going over the area with primer , sealer & then paint.
The good part about saving  rotted cars is that you get more and more experience at getting it done faster and doing a nicer job.

If it's something you want it is always worthwhile no matter how much effort...The good cars are becoming scarce....

[440valiant]

my 69 cuda should have been in the garbage

so far all this needs replacing:
-all floor pans
-front frame rails
-rear frame rails
-new fenders
-new quarters
-new trunk metal

and a WHOLE bunch of other stuff