East Coast Cruiser, Buy or no?

[Jhebrew]

Would you guys steer clear of an east coast cruiser? The dealer hasn't sent me pictures yet but he said the under carriage was rusted. The mileage is low and the price is right but the rust belt thing has me concerned.

Also, is there a known source for replacement seats or a reputable place to have them re done? Looks like the seats may have some stain and if Im going to use them as a bartering tool I figure I better know what I'm looking at.

Thanks, hopefully this stuff hasn't been covered a hundred times, I'm kind of new.

 

[m3fan]

This comes up all the time. Based on what I've seen I think it would take about 25-30 years of salt exposure to actually structurally compromise a Land Cruiser frame. I've spent at least 12 hours underneath my 05 LC, with 10 years in the rust belt, scaling rust off the frame with a needle scaler and coating everything with CorrosionX spray. I have never come across anything other than light surface rust anywhere on the frame or underside of the body. 100% cosmetic, and only if you're actually laying under the car looking at it.

People on the board love to make a big deal about it, particularly those who just happen to live in the south or travelled for their car because time and budget allowed. Good for them. I've done the same for other cars and felt great about it too so I get it. Once those cars are up here, they are going to rust as well. Even if driven on dry roads in the winter, the salt dust itself gets everywhere. There is no avoiding it.

Aside from this board, nobody cares about surface rust on the undercarriage. Insurance underwriters don't care, lenders, valuations and KBB don't care, and the average consumer doesn't care. Drive the car, enjoy it for what it is, and worry about something else!

I'd say the LC100 body fairs decently against rust. Common (again surface rust) areas include the upper tailgate, lower tailgate, rear wheel wells, rockers, windshield edge, and rear body drops. If addressed early this stuff can be easily mitigated. I looked at 5 rust-belt LCs in my search and the amount, location, and severity of body rust varied WILDLY, but nothing crazy for the age of the car.

 

[spaber05]

I live in Boston and while salt is a real killer here, it can be handled fairly well with regular washes and some form of rust proofing, you just need to be diligent. Pictures are going to make or break this call, I will reserve judgement until you've got several detailed pictures of the underside up here. However, be prepared for differing opinions. TX, CA, FL and other warmer-state residents will say any rust is a "run away" situation while those of us that live with it may be inclined to give a thumbs up as long as it doesn't look too serious.

As for the seats, do some searching around. There are plenty of CO based cruiser-heads that I'm sure would have some answers for you, perhaps they'll chime in here.

Just post up the pictures when you get them and I'm sure you'll get plenty of people to chime in.

 

[JACA]

jhebrew,

m3fan made some valid points. Rust is mostly a cosmetic issue, rarely structural. However, wrenching on your truck, for routine maintenance or replacement/mods, is much more challenging/frustrating when the nuts, bolts, and replaceable parts are seized up with rust. Yes, PB Blaster is great stuff, but why mess with it if you don't have to?

Having said all that, if you're willing to consider buying a truck from the East Coast (I assume you mean DC to Maine corridor), why not just look for one in the South, where most of them (if native to the South) have little or no rust? I just bought a 2000 LX in Atlanta GA, where it spent its whole life, and there's not a single spot of rust anywhere. There are plenty of LC/LXs available in the South, that I don't understand why anyone would go out of their way to buy one from the Rust Belt States, if they were going to travel or buy long-distance anyway.

 

[RND1]

Aside from this board, nobody cares about surface rust on the undercarriage.

Haha so true. Another MUD member posted: "What do you guys do - drive around all day looking at your undercarriage?" The whole adage "don't buy an East coast rig" is overblown. Do your due diligence and always get a PPI, but you can find some really nice mall cruisers that live in heated garages here.

The warn seats may be a bigger concern as they may be an indication of how the prior owner(s) took care of it. Since I live in the Salt Belt, I'd buy a well maintained, immaculate body and interior LC with a typically rusty undercarriage over a ratty, poorly maintained, clean undercarriage LC any day. But if you live where vehicles don't rust, then I wouldn't travel to buy one that's rusty.

 

[n55luvr]

I have a mildly rusty rig (lived in northern Ohio) and I keep a jar on my workbench just for all the bolts I snap when working on the LC. I think I've broken over a dozen bolts at this point.

With that being said, it's all part of the game. Even the broken bolts are gratifying when you properly fix/replace them.

My biggest concern about rust is from a body panel perspective. I think under carriage rust is one thing and easily worked around but rusty doors, tail gate, wind shield corners, etc can become more of a nuisance especially if you value a clean looking rig.

 

[Jhebrew]

jhebrew,

m3fan made some valid points. Rust is mostly a cosmetic issue, rarely structural. However, wrenching on your truck, for routine maintenance or replacement/mods, is much more challenging/frustrating when the nuts, bolts, and replaceable parts are seized up with rust. Yes, PB Blaster is great stuff, but why mess with it if you don't have to?

Having said all that, if you're willing to consider buying a truck from the East Coast (I assume you mean DC to Maine corridor), why not just look for one in the South, where most of them (if native to the South) have little or no rust? I just bought a 2000 LX in Atlanta GA, where it spent its whole life, and there's not a single spot of rust anywhere. There are plenty of LC/LXs available in the South, that I don't understand why anyone would go out of their way to buy one from the Rust Belt States, if they were going to travel or buy long-distance anyway.

Good information, thank you. I have been looking primarily for a rust free cruiser but a new one just popped up in my area that almost looks too good to be true so I might at least entertain it. Its a 2000 with 69K and they are asking 13K. According to the carafe it lived its life in Massachusetts. The dealer said it has some under carriage rust but has yet to send any photos. I plan to drive it for a long time so I would prefer to avoid the frustration of rusted bolts, but I also kind of figure it can't be that bad if its only got 69K. Guess we will see.

Thanks for the inout fellas, I'm new to cruisers and it helps a lot.

 

[Julian Stead]

I suppose is comes down to cost, My cruiser has been rust treated and under sealed, what I found is it isn't the structure that deteriorates it's the components that bolt to it. Not an issue,you just replace them, the only reason they had rusted so bad is because they haven't been changed since new.

So rust can be a good thing, it's a quick visual inspect to say its time to replace, you don't need to check the bushes, the rust is the indicator when to change control arms..just keep the truck washed, the underside is most important. Also keep a tin of rust kill and touch up brush to hand, don't let stone chips or or scratches stay exposed for long. A dab of epoxy based primer rust kill I use, then some touch up Color.

I buy new bolts with ever part I buy and spray with rustoleum after there torqued up. I use a clear high temp wax for new underbody parts as well.

 

[bctlex]

Good information, thank you. I have been looking primarily for a rust free cruiser but a new one just popped up in my area that almost looks too good to be true so I might at least entertain it. Its a 2000 with 69K and they are asking 13K. According to the carafe it lived its life in Massachusetts. The dealer said it has some under carriage rust but has yet to send any photos. I plan to drive it for a long time so I would prefer to avoid the frustration of rusted bolts, but I also kind of figure it can't be that bad if its only got 69K. Guess we will see.

Thanks for the inout fellas, I'm new to cruisers and it helps a lot.

Wow thats a pretty good price assuming the rust isnt too bad, and everything else is in good shape.

 

[jemsec]

As said before, rust never get's better.

 

[Julian Stead]

As said before, rust never get's better.

No but you can change rusty parts for non rusty parts. When you live in a country that has always had rust issues, you stop OCDing over it. If it does ever get to the point that the chassis needs work then that's when the welders get to earn money. If people can keep land Rovers running for 30/40 years we have nothing to worry about.

 

[2000 LC]

After 16 years in PA there is still only surface rust on the undercarriage of mine.

I think everybody has covered most potential issues already but I would like to stress a point n55luvr made. The windshield corners, a pillars, and top of the windshield between the glass and sunroof are vulnerable points in my experience. Especially if the windshield has been replaced. I know of a few trucks, mine included, that needed some work in that area. Usually if it is an issue you will see bubbling rusty spots right around the seal of the windshield.

Also the A/C drip spot under the passenger front area is inconveniently placed and can lead to a pretty nice spot of rust where it drips on the metal there.

Other than that just get one and cruise