How much rust is too much?

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Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald

Hey! Where'd the mountians go?!?!?
10 Year
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
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124
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Back in COMO
Ok, I know I have a rust bucket, but I was looking forward to restoring it to the point of being able to take it out on the trips and abusing it a bit (so it doesn’t have to look pretty). But, my girls will ride in it, so it has to be safe, which brings me to the question, “How much rust is too much?”


I have rust everywhere:


http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5272/underthehood.jpg


http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1599/rockerrust.jpg


http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/211/rearwheelwell.jpg


http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/4251/rearroof.jpg


But I planned on taking my time, ordering a lot of parts from Bob along with giving me a chance to hone my metal working skills. I wasn’t too worried until I took screwdriver and started some exploratory surgery on the passenger side A pillar.



This is what I found:


http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/5258/pillara.jpg


Is this baby too far gone, or is this simply another area I need to cut out the bad and replace with some good steel? Keep in mind this is the auto I learned to drive in, got my first speeding ticket in (70mph+) and was literately brought home from the hospital in. Nurture My Pig.


Sorry for the long windedness, but I feel I’m at a crossroads with this this old girl.


Thanks for any constructive advice,
-Travis
 
Travis, it all depends on your commitment to the vehicle and your skill level. You can always (well not always.) find a donor PIG for the body but you are going to be in basically the same situation. Does she run good, frame solid drivetrain good? Those are the things you need to decide and how much $ and time you are willing to put in. The PIG has a lot of family history. And if you did re-build it think of the Grin on your face and all your family. You should post more pics. If you decide to keep her I will work with you.

Thanks Bob.
 
It's a bit out of your way, but I think I'm going to have a body less fenders but including the radiator support w/in the next month or so. I have not seen it in the flesh, but it looks to be in much much better condition then what you are looking at. I should be able to let it go fairly cheap, if it helps your project.....
 
PabloCruise said:
If you have (or committed to learning) metal skills, and this is the Pig you were brought home from the hospital in, then let 'er rip!!!
Click to expand...

I spent many years of my life in woodworking shops, but fell in love working with metal a few years back (as a hobby, not vocation).

bobm said:
Travis, it all depends on your commitment to the vehicle and your skill level. You can always (well not always.) find a donor PIG for the body but you are going to be in basically the same situation. Does she run good, frame solid drivetrain good? Those are the things you need to decide and how much $ and time you are willing to put in. The PIG has a lot of family history. And if you did re-build it think of the Grin on your face and all your family. You should post more pics. If you decide to keep her I will work with you.

Thanks Bob.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bob, I probably will give it a go and I'll be sure to get in touch when it's time. Again, I appreciate the offer.

LAMBCRUSHER said:
It's a bit out of your way, but I think I'm going to have a body less fenders but including the radiator support w/in the next month or so. I have not seen it in the flesh, but it looks to be in much much better condition then what you are looking at. I should be able to let it go fairly cheap, if it helps your project.....
Click to expand...

Absolutely! Let me know when and where. Of all of the rusty parts, that is the one part I'm thinking is way beyond repair. You should of seen the rust rain down from that area when I was dismantling it. Probably took a year or two off my life :).
 
yeah, I figure my pig-up truck project prolly cost me at least three. Time too get a plasma cutter:doh:
 
I'm out in california, but I'd imagine the shipping will cost alot more than I would be looking to get for the body. Mudship does work.
 
I would buy a bender and alot of tube
 
Fitzgerald said:
Mudship???

My sister and her family are in the LA area and come out quite a bit. Maybe I can talk them into throwing into the back of their Tundra.
Click to expand...


yeah, guys drive their rigs cross country and sometimes carry parts and rigs around for us. It freakin AWESOME. and I'm not sure, but if that thing fits in the bed of a tundra, I think we're gunna need pics!

bogus one said:
I would buy a bender and alot of tube
Click to expand...
talk:flipoff2:
 
Travis, here's another opinion, get the new parts, that you need, from Bob and do that part, on your own. Then farm, the rest of the rust repair, out. It might cost some more, but you will have the truck, everybody loves. Three generations, don't get better than that.
 
seriously, that thing looks to be in some bad shape. Patching new stuff to old is just that, patches. You mention concern for the family, which is valid. Hell, I worry all the time about how my pig would fare in a flop or worse.
If you want to "run it", tube it, and take away any doubts
 
bogus one said:
seriously, that thing looks to be in some bad shape. Patching new stuff to old is just that, patches. You mention concern for the family, which is valid. ****, I worry all the time about how my pig would fare in a flop or worse.
If you want to "run it", tube it, and take away any doubts
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is my main concern. I've just purchased a UZJ100, which I plan to use for camping, skiing trips, etc., so that frees up the FJ55 for a little more serious wheelin'. Patching then going with a cage makes sense. Think that'll be my plan.

Thanks!
 
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