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How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2002 9:35 am
by Vekku
Quote: Originally posted by Dave D on 26 August 2002
Well, my hunt for an XB is now well & truly underway & I have full financial backing from management (the wife) so I've been out looking. I know unless I buy a fully restored (read expensive) XB I'm going to have to cut some rust out, so I'm fully prepared to do that. However my question is how much is too much or more importantly what areas can be saved & what areas cannot??.
I have 2 XB fairmonts that I plan to go look at in the next week, one is fully optioned GT replica with electric windows, power steering, fact sunroof, air con & the long range 110L tank. BUT the owner tells me it has rust in the Bulkhead (I'm assuming that's what I'd call the engine firewall), both of the door sills & in the channel that the rubber seal sits on in the boot.
Are these 3 areas replaceable or not??
The other doesn't have any of the fancy options but only has rust in the guards & the lower rear quarter I'm told.
Any advice on what can be salvaged would be most appreciated.
Dave.[/font]
This is little off topic, but is rust real problem in Australia? I think the clime is much better for the cars, than in Finland.
We have real cold winters, frost can be sometimes 30 degree (celsius) and then when it get warmer, roads become slippery. In Finland cities use salt, when roads are slippery.
Salt is cars worst enemy, it speeds up car rusting. If you dont protect your car for rusting and wash it often in winters, it rusts easily, specially older cars. Many who has american cars of expensive sport cars, dont drive them winter, because of rusting problem. Also we have lots of know and ice in winters, you don't want to drive e.g muscle car, you simpy don't have enough grip, even you have stud tires in your car. "Normal" cars we have stud tires in winter, its only way to have grip on ice.
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 12:20 am
by Wrinkles
Dave D... just curious - you seem to have gone quiet on the whole search for a coupe thing... does that mean you've succeeded, given up hope, or still looking?
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 12:42 am
by Dave_H
Vekku
What happens to the salt in summer? do you people wash it off all the roads?
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 3:03 am
by Dave D
Wrinkles,
I've been a bit busy at the moment, I had good intentions of posting an update over the weekend but just never got around to it & have been flat out at work too. So here goes update as of 18/09/02:
Yes, I am now the proud owner of an XB. You may remember I said last week that I was off to Adelaide for work for a few days. Well I was talking to Brad in Adelaide & he offered to take me around to see the coupes for sale there, so I accepted his offer & off we went, he had just bought his XB a few weeks before. His was real nice, the body was very good with NO rust to be seen. Thanks again Brad for all you help in this, Brad also picked up the car for me & droped it to TNT for it's trip over.
It's a 1975 model, which is the exact one I wanted as I think it's cool having a car that's the exact same age as me. It was restored back in '95/'96 & was made up to look a bit like a GT replica, so it has a lot the GT exterior bits & the interior has also been refitted in black. The out side is a deep red colour & the body is in good shape, there is a little rust in the roof gutters but I have a mate who owns a panel shop & he doesn't seem too worried about fixing it up. The rest of the panels have all been replaced & are rust free. Unfortunately it only has the 302 motor in it & it's an auto but what the hell I was always going to rebuild what ever engine I got anyway so I don't care. It's done 202K original Kilometres on the V8, & it runs through a set of extractors to a twin 2.5" exhaust that exits just past each rear wheel, it's had some chrome bits thrown in for show. The engine does need some work though, I have a mechanic mate popping over on the weekend so we can try & get the dam thing to start & idle when cold. At this stage I'm guessing the Holly (it has a 4 barrel) is way out of whack (probably needs different jets??, don't know have never owned a non EFI car before), the timing is off & most likely the thermostat is stuffed. Once it's warm it runs fine, no major rattles or knocks, except it's burning way to much fuel at the moment.
It also has a set of alloys there 15"x7" fronts & 15"x10" at the rear go here to have a look at them (http://www.tperformance.com/street_rod_ ... convo_pro/). The auto has a B&M quick shiftier fitted to it & I guess I can live with it until I'm ready to do the Interceptor. Although it did take me a while to figure out how to get it into reverse or park, I knew you had to life the shifter up but no one told me that you couldn't do that when it was in Netural.
Now I just need to start making an Interceptor project plan, I'm thinking that I'll look to get all the bits I need over the next 1 to 2 years & then take the XB off the road strip it back to a shell & build the Interceptor from the ground up. I'm open to advice on how to curb project costs if anyone out there has found any.
I don't have any digi pics yet but will scan some in when I get some & add it to the Replica stats website.
Dave.
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 8:14 am
by Vekku
Quote: Originally posted by Dave_H on 17 September 2002
Vekku
What happens to the salt in summer? do you people wash it off all the roads?
Spring when snow melts and it rains, salt flows in the highway to ground In the cities cityemployees clean the streets sand ja salt away with "brushtractor" it takes sand ja salt off.
Salt is the problem because, salt can go to ground water. Nowdays areas where are ground water, dont use salt.
Salt is used places where is lots of traffic, big towns and crossings. Nowdays salt is used more thriftily than before. I thinks its better to stop salting, but it may cause too much accidents, ice can be very slippery, if you drive in it 80 km/h.
Of course its fun to drive in winter, especially if you have rear driven car
Back slides easily.
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 12:38 pm
by Brad
No problem Dave, glad I could be of help
Brad
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2002 5:55 pm
by Mad Max 2050
Hey Dave
I know exactly how you feel
My falcon is a '76, same age as me
Funny to think ourselves and our cars were coming off the production lines at the same time!
Good luck with the project.
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2002 1:51 am
by Mitch
Hi everybody.
Just bought a '75 John Goss XB here in the US and could use some advice on locating parts, etc. Also just bought my first computer, so bear with my illiteracy... I wanna build an Interceptor replica and could use advice from others that have been down this road. That's all for now.
Thanks!
John
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2002 2:09 am
by Wrinkles
Mitch - if you turn a Goss Coupe into an interceptor replica, I will personally travel to the states, rip off your left arm and hit you with the wet end!
...do you realise how few John Goss specials are around these days??
How much rust is TOO much?
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2002 2:22 am
by Mitch
Well, we're off to a flying start now, aren't we... Anyway, here in the US we have to take what we can get, and as this somewhat ratty John Goss Special has been sitting around in Seattle for months now, I figured I'd get it. I had reservations myself about possibly ruining a signifigant car, but nothing else is available to me. Don't worry, I don't plan on doing anything undoable if someone wanted to restore it to original condition. If you have a decent '73 Black XB with a 351 and FMX I'd be happy to trade...
Hoping not to upset anyone else,
Mitch