Decisions, Decisions, Decisions... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Crazy_Nate · #16 07-03-2008, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willy2004

On the highway the rear is a bit 'squirrel-ey' when I go over a bump. Especially when going around a corner.

About 10 years ago, I was driving a running parts car home and the car fishtailed a bit like u might be describing. While driving on the side streets, the car completely locked up, it was really foolish to be driving the car in retrospect.

Looking at your car, that cracking by the rear jack point looks really bad. Could the car be unstable on a lift if the frame is rusted? If so, I would not sink any more $$$ into that car. Personally I'd like to get a snapshot of it from underneath while it's in the air, provided there is no worry about the car dropping on me.

Sorry if my labeling system is a little difficult to decipher...the front jack points are the nasty ones...the rears are the good looking ones.

I can look around underneath some more...however, I remember an indy specifically warning me about the passenger floor pan.

A lot of these places may look sorta ok from the outside, but I think I'm gonna have to tap on the undercoating and listen for the rust crunching...

vstech · #17 07-03-2008, 09:59 AM

ooooh, that sure is a lot of bondo on that car. the rust is pretty bad. I would really start looking for a replacement... like in my yard!
hmm. I have a nice rust free 85 300D that needs a motor...

LUVMBDiesels · #18 07-03-2008, 10:05 AM

That car looks like my first one a 1963 Corvair convertible I fell in love with. I could never keep up with the rust and eventually it had to become somebody's parts car.

My friend had a Datsun 280Z that he spent big $$ on getting the engine done. As they were putting the enginne back into the car, it broke in two -- The car not the engine-- you have to bee careful with unit body cars and rust.

hdexpert · #19 07-03-2008, 11:02 AM

Nate,

My 81 300SD's front jacking points were just as bad as yours so I took it to a local welder friend. He cut out all the rust and welded in new panels for $100 each!!! Something to think about for your car.

Crazy_Nate · #20 07-03-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

That car looks like my first one a 1963 Corvair convertible I fell in love with. I could never keep up with the rust and eventually it had to become somebody's parts car.

My friend had a Datsun 280Z that he spent big $$ on getting the engine done. As they were putting the enginne back into the car, it broke in two -- The car not the engine-- you have to bee careful with unit body cars and rust.

My dad had one of those (Datsun)...5 speed manual. That was a fun car...but long gone.

Yeah...it looks like this might turn into somebody's parts car...

I'm tempted to weld up brackets and put new shocks in...but it just seems like it'd be postponing the inevitable. I have access to an old school welder (not sure I'd want to use it...it looks like an electrical motor teamed up with a generator)...and possibly a MIG welder.

So...what's a parts car going for nowadays? Brand new tires (5), less than 2k miles on them (I've put less than that on the car for the 7 months I've had it). Relatively new exhaust (never seen winter roads). Pretty good interior, some small tears on the mbtex. Transmission shifts great, engine has lots of blowby. No A/C, was told it needed a charge...haven't bothered. I don't think I'd like to tear it apart, my school would probably not like it if I tried that.

John, stop tempting me

I think it's slightly out of my range of capability at the moment, however, when I'm out of grad school (one more year)...I may look into doing something like that when I'm in a better place (not living in a dorm...have a real job, etc). I appreciate the offers, though.

View Poll Results: Is this rust terminal?
Keep it! I've fixed worse...	2	20.00%
Retirement time	8	80.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll