I'm got an Ohio rust bucket that I'm going to work on for the next few weeks. Can anyone tell me what the bottom pipe holes are for? They seem to rust out first on all the 123s I've seen. Can they be plugged up or do they somehow draw water away from the rest of the chassis?

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They are usually capped so I am sure they can be plugged, and I believe they are jack holes.

Those are the jack holes, they always seem to rust first. I would be afraid to drive that car! What would happen if someone hit it?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

all your structure is gone.
You can get a much better one for under $800.00

I saw three on ebay last week, highest bid was $750.00

Good body + your car = very nice car.

You need to check the front sub frame also.

Look at the red circled area, rap on it with a hammer, if it crumbles you need to repair that area ASAP, it is a major structural support for front steering suspension.

Follow the blue line down the sub frame, rapping with a hammer, if this is collapsing, give it up, the repair will take hundreds of hours.

I will keep my eyes open for a free body for you, if you are willing to come get it.

Have a great day.

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The circled areas are major structural damage.

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Thanks for the replies. I'll double check the areas you've circled whunter. I believe them to be solid. Most of the underbody and frame is solid. It's got a couple of corners that are really rough. It's also rusted through on the rear passenger floor board at the rocker.

I realize now I paid too much. I paid $1000 with 140k actual but that whole "Tip of the Iceburg" metaphor is playing out.

What do you recommend? My plan is to seal the areas with Eastland Rust Encapsulator and then bondo-glass them full.

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rturtle,

Since Bondo adds no structural strength, the only way to properly fix rust is to cut away the rust back to solid metal (if there is any) and weld in new metal. . If you can't do this yourself, the cost will quickly exceed the cost of a car with a good body.

Sorry, but your car is not economically repairable. Buy another car with a good body and use the one you have for parts. This will cost you less overall.

Or you could just patch it up and run it for a while, being careful that the structural parts don't fail and when that happens, use it for a parts car.

P E H

i would never repair that..... not in a million years

these cars go for petty cash..... you can find a great one for less than 3,000$

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Audi TT

A car weakened by rust is very dangerous in a collision. You are playing with life and limb to drive a rusty car. These people are giving you heartfelt good advice. If you insist on driving a rusty car make sure that all of your affairs are in order and your insurance is paid-up.

Honestly, there are structurally sound cars available for under $1000. It would take a tremendous amount of misguided energy to cross that gap.

I didn't even bother to go look at a $1500 CD with a bad engine, still thinking about it though.

Under $1000.00.
Here is an example.

1979 240d for $100.00?

I once bought a rusty Mercedes from Ohio, and my sister bought a rusty Mercedes from Ohio. NEVER again. Other than the rust the cars were good cars for the time we owned them, but trying to repair something like that would break the bank. As others here have said, there are just too many good rust-free cars around trading at ridiculously low prices.

And rturtle don't worry that you spent too much $$$$ on that rustbucket, I paid too much for my first Mercedes.

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TXBill



Former owner of a few diesel MB cars
1998 Lexus ES 300 In Chicago We Trust

Here is another one for under $1000.00
You need to look at this thread $500.00
W123 300D for $500

Fin tails
FREE 1963 190 Diesel plus parts car

I don't think I would take the time to repair that either...........unless it was a old VW

I swear, those cars were made to have their floors replaced...

I wonder what came of that car? Hopefully he didn't get hurt! With 140k on it the engine and drive train are probably very strong. Putting those in a nice southern rust free body, along with a nice not dried out northern interior and then you have something.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200