Sad ... I think Chase is beyond salvation - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BodhiBenz1987 · #1 08-06-2009, 04:32 PM

I never thought I'd say this, but I think my 78 240D in beyond salvation. I never would have imagined when I bought it that it would be this bad, but even then I liked to think I could tackle the problems and save it anyway. I don't care if it's cost-effective or crazy. That said, I think it's reached the point where I just can't do anything. The rust is end-stage. I'm almost done the work on the front of the fenders and I think they are going to look awesome with a topcoat ... but then I moved on to tackle some of the rot on the rocker panels and the car just crumbles apart in my hands. Underneath the car seems (seems) solid, but once you get out toward the rockers it's a nightmare ... there isn't even anything to work with. I can't even tell if the floorpans are OK ... they look solid and feel solid, but I don't see how they can be given the condition of the rocker that butts up aside them. There's rot on the doors, there's rot in the trunk, all the seals obviously are bad, the carpets are rotted. From what I can see, the frame and structural elements look OK, but what do I know? I really don't want to give up on the car, and I'm not afraid of hard work or learning. But I don't even know where to begin, and don't have any confidence that I can fix any of this. My dad thinks I can do it if I want to, that almost anything can be fixed as long as you don't mind losing money. I'd like to think he's right, but I don't even have a garage or shelter to put this car in, so I can't very well strip it down to seriously address the rust. I don't have the heart to part this car out, or sell it to someone who will, right now, so I'm just going to finish up my fenders and leave it for a while. Maybe I can wedge it into my parents' garage so it won't get worse. I know I was a fool to buy this car, and it didn't turn out like I'd hoped, but even in just seven months of owning it I've become very attached to it. It's a friend.
So ... I guess I just wanted to vent; it's not really like there's any advice to give. I'm really sad about it, and none of my friends would even begin to understand.
Sad pictures:
Under rear of fender:

Rocker under rear door:

Floorboard (the brown stuff is dirt except that one tiny crack near the plastic guard at right/bottom:

Inside the rear, you can see through to the driveway on the edge:

rrgrassi · #2 08-06-2009, 04:37 PM

Your Dad is right. You can do it. If it was me, I would not attempt it though, as I am not very good at body work. If I had a welder and knew how to use it, then I would attempt it.

pawoSD · #3 08-06-2009, 04:46 PM

In MI that is just surface rust! I'd fix it.

Brian Carlton · #4 08-06-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

My dad thinks I can do it if I want to, that almost anything can be fixed as long as you don't mind losing money.

Of course your Dad is correct.

But, why would you want to spend a small fortune on an old 240 that you just purchased and have no attachment towards?

Furthermore, your capabilities are limited due to your lack of suitable workspace.

Finally, to have a professional due the bodywork is absolutely cost prohibitive based upon any reasonably economic decision.

My advice is to cut your losses and, if you really want a 240D, find a better example. You'll spend $3K getting this one to a condition that matches another rust free 240D...........for the same money.

cscmc1 · #5 08-06-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

My advice is to cut your losses and, if you really want a 240D, find a better example. You'll spend $3K getting this one to a condition that matches another rust free 240D...........for the same money.

I'd have to concur, sadly. If you have the space, you could keep Chase and he could live on as a donor car! At least save some little piece to install in your next W123 so you've got a little piece of Chase.

Caseyjones955 · #6 08-06-2009, 05:43 PM

Drive it until you are sick of driving it or until something major goes wrong, then part it out. I hate rust, it is really a PITA to cut out panels and replace them. Collision damage is one thing, rust is just nasty unforgiving stuff. It takes a great deal of experience to repair rust like that correctly, along with a rust free donor car usually.

Think of all the work, frustration and money-consider the value of the car VS. simply driving the snott out of it until you find a screaming deal on a better one. Maybe another solid shell with a blown motor/trans and swap out your motor/trans/interior. You should be able to part that car out fairly nicely and allow its spirit to live on through the act of helping others keep their cars in better repair (and monitary gain to if you want to look at it like that hehe)

chetwesley · #7 08-06-2009, 06:09 PM

For what it's worth, in Wisconsin I had a car with equally bad rockers on my 300SD and the floors were totally solid. I think it is because the rubber coating around the jackpoints peels/chips away and the metal corrodes easily when left open to the elements. The floor pans stay coated pretty well, from my experience anyway.

In Wisconsin people would say to me that my car looked pretty nice for being 25 years old. I was conscious of the rust, but no one else really cared. There were MUCH worse looking cars on the road

If you don't want to fix it, I would just drive it until it becomes unsafe and enjoy it for the time being.

LUVMBDiesels · #8 08-06-2009, 06:11 PM

POR-15 it, fiberglass the crap out of it and use him as the winter beater car until he breaks in two.

rs899 · #9 08-06-2009, 07:17 PM

Looks pretty bad to me, but are these just a few examples or is this pretty much all of it? There are still lots and lots of decent southern cars going for a song. The engine, gearbox and euro bits on Chase are worth saving and you can attach them to any W123 you can find.

Rick

kingdoc1 · #10 08-06-2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

My advice is to cut your losses and, if you really want a 240D, find a better example. You'll spend $3K getting this one to a condition that matches another rust free 240D...........for the same money.

Find a car in the Southeast that just needs an engine or tranny--then use chase as a donor car. You will be very happy with a southern, rust-free body and they are not hard to find.

JEBalles · #11 08-06-2009, 06:05 PM

Hmm? What rust? Look at my thread under body work http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=255103. I'm archiving all my body work. That being said, however, I have a garage space, lots of property, and plenty of time on my hands (although no money). Looks like your jack point is alright (mine wasn't), and if it's not to expansive (although it looks like it is), you could maybe just get away with fiberglass patches (consult some forum experts first). Start by tearing up all the floorpan insulation and cleaning off the rust with a knotted wire brush on an angle grinder. It is possible to fix, but it would probably be balls in your situation. Where are you on the east coast?

tbomachines · #12 08-06-2009, 10:52 PM

Oh man I should take a picture of the left side of my trunk...looks a lot like the jack point on Chase. Anyway, I would use it as a learning opportunity. If you went to learn how to do body work and practice with it, this is a good excuse to do so. Not really cost effective, but you'll know what to do if you come across it again.

JEBalles · #13 08-06-2009, 10:55 PM

I didn't have any trouble getting my fenders off. Mike D tells me that, with my rust, mine won't hold up in an accident, so you may want to consider that when making your decision. You will never know the extent of the rust until you remove all the undercoating/insulation. Looks like you may have as must floorpan rust as me from that third picture.

BodhiBenz1987 · #14 08-06-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JEBalles

I didn't have any trouble getting my fenders off. Mike D tells me that, with my rust, mine won't hold up in an accident, so you may want to consider that when making your decision. You will never know the extent of the rust until you remove all the undercoating/insulation. Looks like you may have as must floorpan rust as me from that third picture.

How do you get the sound-deadening stuff off the floorpans? It seems like a really hard plastic ... I'm guessing there's probably rust underneath it but I don't know how to get it off.

nickofoxford · #15 08-06-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

How do you get the sound-deadening stuff off the floorpans? It seems like a really hard plastic ... I'm guessing there's probably rust underneath it but I don't know how to get it off.

If it has a crack in it somewhere, get yourself a flathead screwdriver and just pry away at it. You're right it's some sort of hard plastic, but it is just stuck on with like an adhesive.

She has hope man, don't give up because you think you can't fix it. If you know you want to do it, then you know you can learn it. You'll really appreciate a car that you put a lot of work into. Body work is not hard in any way, doing body work right is what you need to worry about.

You don't have it that bad, check out some of the rust on my 240D "Betsy"
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/iNick01/Mercedes%20240D/100_0670.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/iNick01/Mercedes%20240D/100_0688.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/iNick01/Mercedes%20240D/100_0689.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m258/iNick01/Mercedes%20240D/100_0697.jpg