Technical How bad is it to fix rust like this?

Looking at a local car from northwest. It's a 1958 Chevy. Supposedly floors are perfect, but has these photos of some of what I'd classify as decently bad rust. Whole car is totally original paint, and has some rust flecks of some sort over the whole body. Obviously there's always more hidden, too.

Looks like both front fenders, both rear quarters, and both headlight top areas, in addition to a spot by the trunk need patches.

How difficult is it to patch something like this? I know nothing about welding really, but have friends that are good welders. Luckily all these panels are made new.

 

You're going to get a lot of different answers here.

IMHO, it's a lot of work to do it right.

 

the fender and door rust would be pretty simple.

when you get into wheelwells you have to figure the inner fenders are rusted as well. and who knows what else.

all that rust started on the inside, so you can only see what has rusted through.

you need a good sheet metal welder. my neighbor built X-ray equipment from heavy steel, when he tried to weld some sheetmetal he failed.

 

Easy for me here in the relatively dry South, I'd give it a "good leaving alone" and find something else.
Especially if you will be relying on others for the welding portion.
I would also be skeptical about the floor condition. Just my personal opinion.

 

How much are you in love with this particular car? I see lots of work, fixable, yes, but lots of $$$ and time. You might be better off to start with a more rust free car from the mid or southwest.

 

That’s pretty bad even for a PNW car but your results may vary. I’ve seen a lot of good ones here and many worse than that.
That to me is a leverite as in leave her right where you found it.

 

Everything behind the rust you see will either need to be replaced or repaired as well .

the floors might look mint until you start looking in the corners etc .

one nice thing is it’s a popular car do panels and patches are available.


Depending on the generosity of others could wear thin once the extent of the welding is found out .

welding in a floor or trunk patch is far easier then body panels .

floors and trucks don’t need perfect welds snd can be hidden with seam sealer and carpet .


Lots of work there , figure out the price you’re paying , the price of parts , labour , tools etc .


Then triple it at least .


It’s definitely doable , do you have a spot to do the work ?

Buy a welder and some sheet metal tools snd get going !


It’s only a car , nothing will die if you fail at your first patch , might have to do it over once or twice but you’ll finger it out .

 

Your ALWAYS ahead with rust free parts, unless you have skills in hammer forming sheet metal the patch over the head lamps and wheel opening will be more than difficult.

 

Are familiar with the Titanic? What you can see of an iceberg is not as dangerous or deadly as what you cannot see. Same goes for that rust, that is the surface, what lies beneath would send me on another course.

 

Thank you all for your quick answers. Not in love at all with the car, it's a four door sedan, not even a hard top. I like the looks of the 58s, and it is a bel air. Not really a good color combo IMO, white top and looks like blue green bottom.

All your replies further back my thoughts on passing on it, from what little I know about body work this would be a decently tough job to make it right. Just wanted a second opinion

Thanks for all of your help! I appreciate it.

 

Think of the wheel arch edges and how you'd go about making that patch. You have a 90 degree bend along the curve of the radius, with a compound curve along the body line above it. A lot of work to make that piece even with decent tooling, and then body work on top of it.

If this car is a 4 door sedan, it's a hard pass from me. I don't care how cheap it is.

 

Yep, plain old 4 door bel air sedan. Not an imapal or hard top. Forgot to mention, odometer rolled over at least once too... So definitely got to be worn out.

 

Tip of the Iceberg ^

 

Anything is fixable, it just depends on your ability and time.

I learn a long time ago to buy the best body/car you can afford, sometimes that is not in the cards so you have to repair sheet metal, If you buy the car I would suggest you do some sandblasting , if rest is there it will show up, better to take care of it now than latter. HRP

 

My experience has been “ the rust you see is only a 1/4 , to if your lucky, a 1/3 of what you will have to deal with when you open things up”.

 

One thing I learned a long time ago was that, at least for the body parts that unbolt, paying the price for a good solid fender or door is more economical than spending endless hours repairing their rotten counterparts.

 

if it's cheap enough, it might be fun to get it and drive it around as is. Not every car deserves or needs to be restored, you know.

 

Make patterns, make new parts, fit new parts, weld, hammer dolly, metal finish.

I forgot to mention the tools and skills part.
Learning is fun

or price panels then add $75-150 per hour (depending on location)

 

This is true. No one sees issues at 50mph when you pass by


One thought though, not related to Jim’s reply, is what it might take to make it mechanically sound.

 

Being from northeast PA, that rust is minimal. Especially if the floors are anywhere near the same condition as that. We also have to deal with frame rust on those cars. I probably not buy any patch panels for those repairs. If the panels for above the headlights are really close, I might buy them. If they are like the panels they sold in the 60-70's for that repair I would make my own.

 

Better to find a decent body car with no drivetrain than to take on a rusted project like that. It will be a lot easier time-wise and money-wise.

They do see the bits that fall off..........

 

Lol. Didn’t think that far ahead!

 

Post full shots it the car

 

It also depends on how much time and patience you have to do the job yourself.
I think it was @gimpyshotrods that said something like "It's only metal. It is not smarter than you."

But, for a four door in that condition, you would not want to paying much more than scrap value to buy it. There will be lots of skills to learn and work to do.

 

"Run Forest, run!"

 

Judging from what we're seeing, I would also be concerned about the condition of the frame.

 

That just reminded me of something that a body-man friend of mine told me once.
It's not the rust you can see that is concerning, it's what you can't see that will be the major problem.
Things rust from the inside. And if you don't get it all, it will surely come back to haunt you.

 

really? I never see them when I'm driving through little towns all over the country.

 

If this was the car you always wanted, then I would fix it. You said that you don't weld and are not crazy about the car. You answered your own question.