Save it or Junk it (1 Viewer)

[letstryagain]

After months of research and years of wanting to buy a LC. I found a great looking 100 series(2001) with 175k miles for $9400 in the mid west with a clean title, clean interiors and 9/10 body(It looked beautiful).
Unfortunately I am in California and couldn't travel to see the car due to Covid.
I did get it inspected at a local mechanic chain and was told the car looked in great shape apart for some under body rust, needing all brake pads, rotors, wheel bearings, valve cover gasket and stabilizer links.(estimate of $2k). And based on what i was finding around me, i couldn't find an LC with those miles under $16k-$17k. So, i went ahead and bought the car.
But after receiving the car, i got it looked at by a local mechanic and his inspection came back really bad. Mainly to do with the rust and issues caused by the rust(front control arms, ball joints, bushings, all shocks and struts). All in all an estimate of about $5-$7k not including saving the under body from the rust.

My knowledge in cars is minimal but i was looking forward to building it with the help of an LC and to turn this into an Overlander. But is this a lost cause?

Pros
Engine is in a great condition- Timing belt was done 40k miles(5 years) ago, CLD, transmission work great, interior is a 7/10 with no rips, couple of dents on the body, all electrics work.

Pictures here!!

LC - Google Drive

drive.google.com

 

[tshandonay]

by midwest standards that looks really good

 

[ramangain]

I'd be concerned with 084537. 091056, and 091141. I'd also invest in B'laster, the company that makes PB B'laster, to try and recoup some of the money you'll spending on their product.

 

[213374U]

I'm going to venture a guess that the difference between mechanic response is location of the mechanics. In the rust belt it may look pristine while in Texas it may look thrashed.

Even at $6K you'd be getting it to a solid place for $15.4K all in, not bad for a well-sorted LC and still less than what you were finding where you are. As I read someone else here put it, "All of these are $15K vehicles.... you either buy one that needs nothing for $15K or you buy one for $9K that needs $6K in repairs and maintenance".

 

[LXKevin]

get more estimates - if 5-7k only includes stock suspension refurb the mechanic is giving a high price because he does not want the work. It's way more rusty than ideal but it's not a salvage yard candidate.

 

[Bisho]

The issue you will run into is when you want to sell it (besides, of course, the "joy" of working on rusty parts). If you are still in a dry climate, it will be a harder sell.

 

[letstryagain]

I'd be concerned with 084537. 091056, and 091141. I'd also invest in B'laster, the company that makes PB B'laster, to try and recoup some of the money you'll spending on their product.

I'm sorry, I do not know what those numbers mean. Complete novice here regarding cars.
hahaha, get rust fixed or invest in B'laster, that's the tricky question

 

[Bisho]

I'm sorry, I do not know what those numbers mean. Complete novice here regarding cars.
hahaha, get rust fixed or invest in B'laster, that's the tricky question

Those are the numbers of your pictures!

 

[tshandonay]

I'm going to be brutally honest...but this shouldn't come as a surprise. You stated that you're a car novice... If you're not going to do some work on this yourself its going to be expensive to do the necessary repairs and whatever it needs down the road. These rigs are easy to work on in my opinion....take a dive and buy some tools. Everything you need to know is in this forum.

 

[ramangain]

Those are the numbers of your pictures!

The Sudoku Grand Master reveals himself

 

[ClassyJalopy]

So take this from someone firmly implanted in the middle of rust belt - this truck is not in a basket case. I'd say you did slightly over pay for the condition but not by a whole lot.

Your local mechanic probably doesn't see many rusty undercarriages and is probably quoting $5 to $7K to scare you away. He just doesn't want to work on it. Buy some Fluid Film or Cosmoline spray online, put on some clothes you won't mind disposing off and spray everything under the truck liberally. It will almost instantly make the under carriage a lot more presentable.

I didn't see any pictures of the actual body, how rusty is it? If it is not too bad, this truck can definitely last you a lifetime without regular maintenance.

Now, my favorite spiel about how maintaining these trucks is kinda expensive proposition. Most 100 series trucks at this point have a lot of deferred maintenance: all front and rear control arms are typically original and in need of replacement. If you are willing to buy some tools and watch some youtube videos and read up here - you can do 90% of the repairs yourself - saving major $$$ in the process.
If you need to take the truck in to a shop for every little repair, you will easily double your investment in no time!

 

[letstryagain]

get more estimates - if 5-7k only includes stock suspension refurb the mechanic is giving a high price because he does not want the work. It's way more rusty than ideal but it's not a salvage yard candidate.

Yeah I'm having another mechanic look at it the day after. And yes it did look like he was trying to scare me into going somewhere else. He didn't give an complete breakdown for that reason i suppose.

 

[letstryagain]

The issue you will run into is when you want to sell it (besides, of course, the "joy" of working on rusty parts). If you are still in a dry climate, it will be a harder sell.

Interesting that you brought it up. My main motive to buy this car was to move to Illinois sometime this year and make a road trip out of it. But I also love the LCs and would like to keep it if i can. Wondering how much life this frame has in it.

 

[ramangain]

Interesting that you brought it up. My main motive to buy this car was to move to Illinois sometime this year and make a road trip out of it. But I also love the LCs and would like to keep it if i can. Wondering how much life this frame has in it.

When you get to Illinois just coordinate with @ClassyJalopy to patch up the rusty areas. He has posted his work and proven he's good at it. Who knows, the soft spot in his heart for rusty Hundys leads me to believe he may even enjoy it!

 

[ClassyJalopy]

When you get to Illinois just coordinate with @ClassyJalopy to patch up the rusty areas. He has posted his work and proven he's good at it. Who knows, the soft spot in his heart for rusty Hundys leads me to believe he may even enjoy it!

It's a disease! But my next cruiser should be an import from the west coast - I don't want to be known as that dude in WI who spends all of his money on rusty cruisers!

 

[letstryagain]

So take this from someone firmly implanted in the middle of rust belt - this truck is not in a basket case. I'd say you did slightly over pay for the condition but not by a whole lot.

Your local mechanic probably doesn't see many rusty undercarriages and is probably quoting $5 to $7K to scare you away. He just doesn't want to work on it. Buy some Fluid Film or Cosmoline spray online, put on some clothes you won't mind disposing off and spray everything under the truck liberally. It will almost instantly make the under carriage a lot more presentable.

I didn't see any pictures of the actual body, how rusty is it? If it is not too bad, this truck can definitely last you a lifetime without regular maintenance.

Now, my favorite spiel about how maintaining these trucks is kinda expensive proposition. Most 100 series trucks at this point have a lot of deferred maintenance: all front and rear control arms are typically original and in need of replacement. If you are willing to buy some tools and watch some youtube videos and read up here - you can do 90% of the repairs yourself - saving major $$$ in the process.
If you need to take the truck in to a shop for every little repair, you will easily double your investment in no time!

Thanks for the suggestions. The body has a couple of dings but nothing bad at all, very little bubbling right behind the front driver side wheel well and some rust on the inside of the liftgate.

paint is in great shape.

 

[ramangain]

It's a disease! But my next cruiser should be an import from the west coast - I don't want to be known as that dude in WI who spends all of his money on rusty cruisers!

You know what the say about promotions .... first you need to find and train your successor!

 

[letstryagain]

Those are the numbers of your pictures!

HAHAHA!! Though he was talking about some engine codes!

 

[letstryagain]

When you get to Illinois just coordinate with @ClassyJalopy to patch up the rusty areas. He has posted his work and proven he's good at it. Who knows, the soft spot in his heart for rusty Hundys leads me to believe he may even enjoy it!

I'm loving this community already!! Seriously thanks for all the suggestions guys.

 

[ramangain]

If you end up in Illinois, get the rust sorted in the warm months then you have options for survival/longevity.

1. Underdcarriage treatment as mentioned
2. Monthly/unlimited car wash service that includes undercarriage spraying, at least in the salty months
3. Get a winter beater and park the Hundy during the salty months. A Porsche 911 Carrera 4S would be an acceptable winter beater IMHO