how much of a problem is this rust patch...

[nipo]

I'm looking at a 95 se. After some talking his lowest is $2,900. Of course my friend who i would normally ask these questions is out of town for a few days. So i'll ask you guys. The car runs and drives great, 2 owner clean title and history. Only problem besides the rust spot is the antenna doesn't go up. the motor goes on so i'm sure its not a huge deal. Heres a picture of it let me know if you guys think this is a problem, what it would take to fix it. Thanks i appreciate it.



View album of the car here.
http://imgur.com/a/WO7Eh/C0UH4

[laxands13]

just from that picture, it doesnt look too bad. but make sure you know what the frame rails look like and are clean, wheel wells, and spare tire well. might just be getting started though

[nipo]

I added a link to the OP showing 8 other pics of the car. I've had 2 95's before and 94 vert and a 91 so i'm decently familiar with looking for rush. I did check the rear wheel wells and the trunk and there was nothing

[AZhitman]

I'm gonna disagree, and say that if it's that bad in the rockers, it;s gotta be someplace else (unless it sat for a year next to a sprinkler and got soaked every day)...

Look up inside the front strut towers and where the front fender meets the rocker panel.

As far as that spot, once you start cutting it out, you'll find more in the structure behind it. Problem is, there's a seam there... which means there's a lot of the unibody frame structure behind it.

[S13_love]

Heres a picture of it let me know if you guys think this is a problem, what it would take to fix it. Thanks i appreciate it.

Well, it will be a problem in the future if it's not taken care of. Although that picture isn't the best...I think it's safe to assume that area on the rocker panel will need to cut out and have a patch panel welded in.

[nipo]

I guess the end question for me is, can a decent body shop take care of this problem for like $500?

[S13_love]

Depends on the shop and what they charge...just remember, you get what you pay for.

Imho go to a good, reputable shop and get an estimate just so you have an idea on the cost.

[nipo]

Thanks for the replies. I got in touch with my friend who's out of town and one of his friends is going to go with me to take a look at it. I'll feel much better with his opinion. I appreciate the quick responses.

[AZhitman]

I'd skip the shop - Find someone on Craigslist who does side work.

Make sure he's welding in new metal and not gobbing in a wad of Bondo.

[zenkistic]

I'm looking at a 95 se. After some talking his lowest is $2,900. Of course my friend who i would normally ask these questions is out of town for a few days. So i'll ask you guys. The car runs and drives great, 2 owner clean title and history. Only problem besides the rust spot is the antenna doesn't go up. the motor goes on so i'm sure its not a huge deal. Heres a picture of it let me know if you guys think this is a problem, what it would take to fix it. Thanks i appreciate it.

I just fixed that exact same spot -but on the other side. It was exactly like yours.
If you have snow and salt where you are, in 1 year it will eat through all the way -if it hasn't done it already. That's what happened with me. When I got it 2 years ago I could barely see the bubbles -I actually didn't notice them in the beginning .

So, I found a mexican who just opened his own body shop. He cut and welded and primered there and at 3 more places: behind each wheel (where splash guards are mounted) and at one strut tower -battery side. These are the typical places for rust (along with the spare wheel) and my s14 was no exception. He did all these for $300 and he did an amazing job. I did the painting myself in order to save the extra 200 that he wanted, but he had done such a good job that painting was easy -with a little orange peel of course.

[AZhitman]

You should drop another $50 on him as a tip, or at least send him a ton of business - that's CHEAP.