What to do...what to do..

[onlytrueromeo]

Buying another MX3 has been on my list for awhile. I wasn't completely happy with the way my last one turned out, and once I discovered that there was lots of rust/rot and frame damage in the back I decided she had to go. Car still drives fine, but its an imperfectframe/body and I want to transfer everything to a new one, that I will get painted first.

There is a $300 SE that has had a poor life for sale in my area. I went to look at the car today. Body looks pretty good, although its painted terribly with what looks like star stickers and stuff underneath it and rainbow paint glitter or something.....

Engine is blown, but looks like the car shifts OK (I would want to do a tranny rebuilt anyway)

Car is slammed on DZ's or something, with 3 decent tires and 1 bald one on ugly aftermarket rims.

SE door panels in good condition, sunroof works, almost all rubber seals look to be in good shape.

Hatch closes perfectly, and it even stays open, unlike mine which I need to slam even after many adjustment attempts (if I make it so it closes easily, doesnt seal)

Don't know about axles, etc, it was dark and hard to see.

Now for the rust:

Didn't look there was any rust on the main body of the car. Bubbled rust around windshield under paint, but felt solid. I'm not experienced enough with this type of thing (I know there are some guys on here that are) to know if it's easily fixed. (windshield cracked anyway and it was installed by a dumba55 so it needs to be redone)

Wheel wells looked OK

Doors were rusted on bottom, but mine currently are not.

and the bad spots: Passenger side/ driver side fender to door sill area were rusted through. On the passenger side there is a 5" hole. (The place where all the junk collects, where the mudguards go) Completely rotted through, don't know if this is an easy fix.

Pinch weld/seam on the car has been abused and is bent/rusted along most of the car.


Since the car needs so much exterior welding, I don't know if it's worth it as another project car. I don't want to buy something that I'm going to be very disappointed in. However, since the car is so cheap, I was wondering if you thought I could make a little extra cash by picking it up and parting it out cheap. I'm not looking to make a killing, but if I could double my money on the whole car I'd be more than happy. All suspension pieces look to be in tact. Engine is blown, but block should be OK, don't know about internals. VC's were not cracked. I also need new rear tires right now. I have snows up front, but I need 2 tires to get me through the last month of winter. This car would allow me to use the cheap tires that have tread until the warmer weather when I can buy some summer tires.

I'm not really ready to buy a project car yet. My girlfriend and I decided it would be best financially if we waited until May to start looking into this stuff, but if I can make some money on the car or if it turns out to be a good deal for a project base then I will jump on it.

Pics will be up tomorrow, I'm too tired to put them up now.


Advice?

[onlytrueromeo]

I should also mention that my timeline is nearly unlimited as we have 2 working cars right now so my project car would go slowly so it is done right.

[Ryan]

My advice: Rust = no fun.

I'd pass on that one, man. Or if its cheap, buy it for the leather, and then part/scrap it.

[onlytrueromeo]

leather is in bad shape, so not worth too much. The only rust "holes" are on the bottom of the car, but yeah I didn't like my last experience with rust.

[Daninski]

That pinch seam, if it's the one that goes from one side to the other in line with the front of the doors kinda then pass on the car. If you got into an accident the car would buckle at that seam and you'd be one dead dog. Welding metal over the seam would work but that's a big job and upside down to boot (hot burning metal falling on your delicate a*s). You could also drill and screw a scab patch along the seam but that's a pain as well. If a mechanic sees the seam is bad he may not safety the car. MO

[onlytrueromeo]

By pinch seam I mean the one that goes from front to back, where the stock jack is supposed to jack from (I normally use a big jack w/ a 4ft long 2x4)