Rusted project

[Uncletruck]

It truly would have to be something you enjoy doing. G bodies are certainly not rare or scarse, and a full up restoration even if doing it yourself can easily go over the cost of simply finding one in excellent condition to begin with, which are all over. There are some cars that might be worth years of toil to fully restore, I just don't think A/G's are at that point quite yet.

What I look for is a sound frame and body first, as these structures are the most important. Then the powertrain and mechanicals come next, followed by glass and interior trim. Paint comes last, as finding one with original paint in excellent condition is difficult- you should have to expect to do at least a repaint.

It's still not the world's biggest challenge to find an old grandma or grandpa with a very cherry A/G of somesort that they will sell you for $1000-3000.

-Mark-

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

My Cutlass turned into a ground up resto and I wish it had not. I had already done a swap in it and the interior was good, so I was going to do a quickie paint job in white and be done with it.It had a cracked windshield and some rust in the roof and trunk weatherstrip channel that I knew about.It turned out to be much worse than that. I wound up taking out all of the interior and glass to properly cut out the rust and weld in the patches, 15 in all! 2 gallons of epoxy primer, 3 gallons of filler, 2 doors, a hood, a trunk lid, header panel, back bumper, both bumper covers, windshield, back glass, quarter windows, etc. Not cheap. Plus, the cost of paint-twice ( it peeled the first time after a year or 2 and I am in the process of redoing it again), and you get an idea of just how pricey it can get. Oh, and don't forget the "little" things like trim clips, weatherstripping, trim pieces, etc. I have spent several hundred dollars on that stuff alone.My recent paint purchase cost me $720 for Diamont base/clear.

 

[kdolloff]

It depends on how much work you can/want to do. Body work is probly the most time consuming part of working on cars. Cutting out rust is a pretty extensive repair imo. If you you can weld and want a car thats "Built Not Bought", i say go for it. You could just leave it all rusted out/ugly and throw a built 455 in it and have a sleeper.

 

[83cut350chev]

i have a bunch of parts from an 86 442 that im trying to sell (i need money for the 83!) i have quarter panels and fenders which are all in decent shape, i also have t-tops in good shape if u need them, door panels, ALL the interior plastic pieces,front clip, rear clip? if thats what its called....2 tailights,bumper supports...i have almost a whole car except engine trans and rear

let me know! this goes for anyone needing parts!

 

[dougwoods7]

You have a pretty good parts list. I need a drivers side door
with power windows. I have a 1984 cutlass with tops I am trying to re do. I't is rusted pretty bad. In the sail panels. Work with me please. Thanks.