WARNING: Thread contains disturbing content (+ 56k unfriendly)

[shtewps]

**OPERATION: RESTORE THE $H*T OUT OF MY BABY**

I really dont have any questions here particularly, however some general feedback is my goal.

If you can, keep the flaming to yourselves, I've tried to prevent further rusting as much as I possibly could, but ALOT was hidden when I purchased the car. Anyways thats neither here nor there as I am fully restoring the body next week.

Im just going to show you guys my bad spots, the work performed, and how much is it costing me. Positive comments and suggestions are welcome!

So here we go..



Rear passenger QP



Same QP



Trunk (obviously)



More trunk..



Driver side QP



Same QP



Bumper.. I would love to have an excuse for this one. However I do have advice.. if you dont need to drive on a donut. DONT!
and oh yes, there is still a bumper signal in there! lol



Windshield.





So work to be done ? Im having all my rust cut out, with new metal welded in of course. My new bumper will be installed also, along with the support being bent back up. My QP, trunk and bumper, and driver fender will be fully painted white diamond pearl. Long story short.. NO rust anymore.. the proper way.

See the sad thing is, if I only had $500 more I could get a full body paint job. But I can settle for this, givin my current situation (another story).

For the parts.. Im having a front bumper and headlight being shipped ($655 CAD) and the labour and paint will run me $1500.

Grant total: $2155 (haha I guess that is obvious also)

Im not too sure how many people out there have had rust repair (as there arent many folks on here from the north) but like I said, all comments are welcome!

EDIT: Im also getting my skirts painted!!! woot

Cheers.

[Pinyix]

Thats a very decent price for all that work. How are they dealing with the paint if you're not doing the whole body, just paint and blend to the panels they're welding new parts to? I'll be tackling this in the distant future so I'm very interested to see the work you get done for that amount. Good luck!

[shtewps]

Originally Posted by Pinyix

Thats a very decent price for all that work. How are they dealing with the paint if you're not doing the whole body, just paint and blend to the panels they're welding new parts to? I'll be tackling this in the distant future so I'm very interested to see the work you get done for that amount. Good luck!

Thanks pinyix, appreciated. And yes, they will be doing exactly that for the most part. Although the trunk and driver fender will be fully painted.

[JZ_]

At least youre doing it the right way. Great investment. For the record... Only a dumbass would have something negative to say about your situation. It would be like talking down on a cancer patient. But then again there are some here that would...... Good luck!!!

[Ting]

why not buy one from rust free area. Legend are so cheap now sadly...

You are going to have very hard time with all mechanical parts. It will be pain in the @$$ to remove all those bolts...

[shtewps]

Originally Posted by Sick Coupe

At least youre doing it the right way. Great investment. For the record... Only a dumbass would have something negative to say about your situation. It would be like talking down on a cancer patient. But then again there are some here that would...... Good luck!!!

Well said.. thanks for the motivation also!

Originally Posted by Ting

why not buy one from rust free area. Legend are so cheap now sadly...

You are going to have very hard time with all mechanical parts. It will be pain in the @$$ to remove all those bolts...

So you suggest I buy another legend somewhere in the USA, and drive there to pick it up or have it shipped? Also, why would I have problems with mechanical parts ? Its a body repair.. even at that.. im not doing any of the work, the body shop is.

Further, I've failed to mention that my engine has only 80,000km on it. Which is another reason im investing into the body.

[Ting]

Rust can be places that you don't see. Rust can grow inside out if they don't do it right. What about in frame?

You can shop the car in Canada too. It doesn't have to be from US. I have seen many many clean Legend in Canada.

It's PITA to change, muffler, O2 sensor. Rust going to be in the brake system, suspensions. Prepare to brake all those rusted bolts, and change. You will need a lot of muscle too.

[AustinForester]

Damn, the graffic warning was def necessary! its legends like yours that make me glad to live in Texas! no rust what so ever!

But im glad your not giving up on it, and getting it fixed, its gonna be some hard work tho, ive always hear rust is a beesch b/c you think you get all of it, then you go a year or 2 and more rust shows up, its like cancer, car cancer, which is sad. I say, if you get it finished and then you get more rust, then it might be time to start looking for a new legend. Cant wait for after pics!

[shtewps]

Originally Posted by AustinLegend420

if you get it finished and then you get more rust, then it might be time to start looking for a new legend. Cant wait for after pics!

God forbid (crosses fingers), he said I wouldnt see rust for another 2-3 years, and if that was the case, It wont be close to half the job im doing right now to fix. The rust is being completely removed, so theoretically it should be rust free when I get it back, provided its a good job. Even if i do see a little come back in a couple years, If all goes as planned, I would have invested a hell of alot more to just buy a new legend. I Would probably just have it sanded down.

Ive also made the decision to not drive it through any more winters.

[AustinForester]

Originally Posted by shtewps

God forbid (crosses fingers), he said I wouldnt see rust for another 2-3 years, and if that was the case, It wont be close to half the job im doing right now to fix. The rust is being completely removed, so theoretically it should be rust free when I get it back, provided its a good job. Even if i do see a little come back in a couple years, If all goes as planned, I would have invested a hell of alot more to just buy a new legend. I Would probably just have it sanded down.

Ive also made the decision to not drive it through any more winters.

Good job!!!!

[dansan]

I'm a transplant from Chicago to southern California. I took the 1986 Legend I purchased new in Chicago with me. It had rust in the usual places for that vehicle, but it didn't get any worse. Shortly after moving here, I bought a clean bodied 1990LS. Sadly, both of my 1st gen Legends are gone but I have a clean 95 I purchased from an original owner in Los Angeles.

To your point, it sounds like the bodywork price you quote is very cheap. From what I've seen in the past, that much restoration costs a lot more, but congrats if you are getting a quality job for the # you cited.

My concern is that only the visible rust would be removed and its a good possibility its lurking somewhere else. Another option for you might be to locate a rust free sunbelt car. It could take quite a while for it to show rust in a road salt environment whereas, something might show up on your present car right after you thought everything was treated.

[BCKA8]

My Impala has less rust than that monstrosity, however you will be cleaning it up and that my friend deserves some great recognition.

GOOD FOR YOU!!! Save that Legend, it needs it.

I geuss I should mention that my car originally being from Quebec has a very small tast of what you are showing there. Thank God it came to the west coast befor that happend.

[shtewps]

sunbelt car ?

[Alperovich]

wow that is a lot of rust. its a lot of work $1500 is pretty good for the labor. new metal is good too.

ting, yes rust is bad, and it can get bad. but its not hard to clean up. There is a few different methods of doing it and it can be not that bad to clean up. But is it also true you will find rust on alot of other parts. exhaust, fuel lines, brake lines. But its not the end of the world. and defiantly not a absute to having to get a new car. The shop was probably taken how much rust is hiding in account when they gave him the estimate, they deal with rust all the time.

I'm sure he has been deciding between moving on and getting a new car or fixing his up. I've gone thru it before with my legend and also choose to fix it. (mainly b/c it was a 6spd). But i had my quater panels fiberglassed. it wont rust for sure.

GL! try and save up some more $$ and get the full paint job, maybe try working something out with the bodyshop.

[shtewps]

Originally Posted by Alperovich

wow that is a lot of rust. its a lot of work $1500 is pretty good for the labor. new metal is good too.

ting, yes rust is bad, and it can get bad. but its not hard to clean up. There is a few different methods of doing it and it can be not that bad to clean up. But is it also true you will find rust on alot of other parts. exhaust, fuel lines, brake lines. But its not the end of the world. and defiantly not a absute to having to get a new car. The shop was probably taken how much rust is hiding in account when they gave him the estimate, they deal with rust all the time.

I'm sure he has been deciding between moving on and getting a new car or fixing his up. I've gone thru it before with my legend and also choose to fix it. (mainly b/c it was a 6spd). But i had my quater panels fiberglassed. it wont rust for sure.

GL! try and save up some more $$ and get the full paint job, maybe try working something out with the bodyshop.

Thanks so much.. your post really makes me feel more confident with my decision to keep my car. Yes, you also caught me red handed, I would be lying if I said I wasnt considering purchasing somehting else (I was about 90% sure to ditch the ledge, then I received some insightful advice from a good friend and you just cant replace this car). It just isnt worth it.

Anyhow, im on a tight schedule and im leaving the city in 6 weeks. (this work will symbolize a great accomlishment for me here) I just dont know if I can cut it for a full body. Youre right tho, I will speak to them about it.