New Project - Have I made a big mistake?!

[ozgeorge]

So this came up for sale near me (cheap) and I made an impulse purchase. 

71 1602 with almost all the bits. 

but she's in a state! will this surface rust clean up with a media blast? obviously the rail an some other bad areas will need to be cut out and MIGd. 

my vision is a tarmac rally car to enter in some of the classic rallies like this Total car pictured (does anyone know anything about that car?)

tips and advice very welcome!

 

g

 

 

 

 

[CoastalCrush]

Has awesome patina. I’d leave all that surface rust ?

[popovm]

I believe  @thehackmechanic  says vintage car purchases are crimes of opportunity and passion. (My apologies to him for butchering that quote) Congrats on both accounts.
 

The rust on the hood looks like surface rust and yes, media blasting can take that off. 
 

Like you said, that frame rail needs to be replaced. All of this is doable. It all comes down to how much you want to invest. If the car is complete, and you truly got a deal, then it’s probably worth it! Even moreso if you can do the work yourself. 

[ozgeorge]

Thanks @popovm

it is complete but a lot of the bits are in bad condition. i think the only things actually missing are radiator?? and a couple of trim pieces. I have a couple of spare M10 engines hanging round. 

 

The interior will be race interior- pretty bare, roll cage, dash and race seats so a lot of savings there- not chasing a full interior resto and i'll be able to sell the stock seats and bits. 

 

I can do most of the work myself but will outsource the panel repairs. 

 

I paid $4200 australian which is US$3200.

 

g

[oz_tom]

Great to save another one mate! Look forward to seeing it come together.

 

The flares on the 'Total car' look like Zender box flares, but there are other options too like Alpina 'pig cheeks'. I feel like any flared car always looks better with a front lip... my fave in that space is probably an Alpina lip, but check out Kooglewerks lip too!

[zeedub567]

2 hours ago, ozgeorge said:

So this came up for sale near me (cheap) and I made an impulse purchase. 

71 1602 with almost all the bits. 

but she's in a state! will this surface rust clean up with a media blast? obviously the rail an some other bad areas will need to be cut out and MIGd. 

my vision is a tarmac rally car to enter in some of the classic rallies like this Total car pictured (does anyone know anything about that car?)

tips and advice very welcome!

 

g

 

 

 

 

Thats a cool patina, sandblasting is a great option and quick way to strip paint. Its also very messy. Id take out the engine and set it aside tape up everything

Edited January 25, 2021 by zeedub567

[irdave]

It's going to be a bit of work.

[esty]

CAUTION WILL ROGERS....take care sandblasting large flat panels...the heat will warp them, causing OIL CANNING

 

[TobyB]

Hoods and trunks actually get a little- known condition called 

OIL BARRELLING- it's like the 55 gallon drum of oilcanning...

 

I think you got a perfect candidate for what you want to do-

it needs some structural work, and you're not gonna feel

bad painting it any which way you want.

 

(gets up on his industrial- height soapbox)

Find who you want to race with, get the car rules 

they use, and read them 4 times.  Then find their 

message boards, (yes, those still exist) facebutt channels,

twitter squirts, slapchat instaphantograms, whatever, and

dig back through the last year or two of discussion.

That'll give you an idea of what you can and cannot

do, what you can and cannot get away with, and it

won't expose you as a 'potential victim' for everyone

to tell what to do.  Sometimes this is important.

Sometimes it doesn't matter at all.  But either way,

you'll show up with a car that 'looks right' so it won't

get dug into too far.  AND you'll know where all the 'grey areas' are.

I built my second car, and I always say, "yes, of COURSE I'm cheating,

but I don't think you'll find all of it"

On the first car, I never knew exactly where all the

cheating was happening.

 

Carry on!  Oh, and sell the pretty parts you're not going to use.

Driving at speed always beats them up pretty badly.

 

t

doesn't cheat all THAT much.  

[Shawn Piper]

Dealing with the rust is a lot of work.  As others said, media blasting can be used on some parts, but the exterior will need to be hand sanded to manage heat warping (that was done on my car).  

 

 

Here are some areas to check for rust... my car had all of these typical spots.  
 

- Pedal box and area around pedal box (foam covering retains water)
- Drain plugs in floor (seam sealer fails)

- Door corners and rear quarter panel (because water drains through this area)

- Rear fenders

- Under front fenders (hard to see without cutting them off)

- Front apron

- Spare tire area

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hans]

As esty says, I wouldn't be sandblasting bigger panels. I'd find another hood. But there be rust in there, and you better have a strong emotional attachment to the car.  Better find a spit stand to get at the bottom.

Edited January 27, 2021 by Hans

[Mike A]

On 1/25/2021 at 8:33 AM, irdave said:

It's going to be a bit of work.

I looked up Webster’s definition of “bit”. It’s a noun meaning ton

Edited January 27, 2021 by Mike A

[Mark92131]

You have made a huge mistake, sell me those grills ?

 

Mark92131

 

Beside the frame rail, it doesn't look too bad, most of the surface rust can be sanded and treated.

[ozgeorge]

11 hours ago, Mark92131 said:

You have made a huge mistake, sell me those grills ?

 

Mark92131

 

Beside the frame rail, it doesn't look too bad, most of the surface rust can be sanded and treated.

The grills will most likely be for sale at some point

[DrA76]

No you did not made a mistake. 

I have saved many cars worse than yours.

I am restoring one now. 

Had to replace most panels. 

You can use dustless blast. Not sure if you have it in Australia. Used it before on 67 mustang fastback.