After purchase disapointment

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joes68340s

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I know this has happened to others but I just cant help myself. I have been out of work with a carreer ending back injury. left my job after 23 years. I wanted to hit my bucket list early as I am not sure how much longer I will be able to walk. I bought a Duster drag car nothing to crazy just 340 runs mid 11s. I wanted to get into the 10s before I coudnt drive anymore. However I am in the process of removing the ttis that I am not crazy about, and while under the car I saw for the first time how poorly the roll bar and subframe connectors were welded in. Looked like someone stick welded them in. Burn through and crappy welds all over. This was done more than 25 years ago. Im sort of a perfectionest as I was an aircraft mechanic for a major carrier for 23 years. So I am faced with cutting out most of the rollbar, subframe connectors and replacing the front floor pans. Or Just put it all back together and sell it. I can also just stick it in the corner and work on it in my spare time. Maybe it will get done. All I can say is I did it to myself, I let the moment get the best of me.
 
if it was me.... i would just grind down the welds and then run a clean pass over top. If you get carried away and rip it all apart your defeating the purpose of what your trying to accomplish. You could also just let it go and run it and have fun.
 
if it was me.... i would just grind down the welds and then run a clean pass over top. If you get carried away and rip it all apart your defeating the purpose of what your trying to accomplish. You could also just let it go and run it and have fun.



Only issue with that is if he needs to have it certified. It could work if there is no evidence of grinding I suppose.
 
Only issue with that is if he needs to have it certified. It could work if there is no evidence of grinding I suppose.

Thus is true, don't remember at what point a cert is needed. I know when I took mine down the NHRA guy said that it did not to be certed but I had it done anyway.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do with it. I know it would be tough but any chance of putting the perfectionist aside? A neighbor was an aerospace machinist and he was the same way. It ended up costing him the numbers matching motor in a project he had going.....he just could not be happy with the machine work that was done by one of the best shops in the area....
 
Try not to beat yourself up about it. It happens mainly when you believe others are as honest and open as you are about things. put it aside until you figure out what you really want to do with this car and go from there.
 
that would bug me as well...but dont get discouraged. if you are able and have the means, then repair it little by little.
 
The frame connectors on my fish were done by a bad welder too. No big deal, even with the stroker the car is fine.
 
As long as the cage was not done with fence post and a stick welder to fill in the 3/4" gaps....
 
I bought a Duster drag car nothing to crazy just 340 runs mid 11s. I wanted to get into the 10s before I coudnt drive anymore.


to me this is the key to the entire question.. you don't know long ya have, so sell the thing i say.
 
Unless your going to go faster than 9.99 that is when you need to get the cage certified. Don't grind any welds on the roll bar that is big no-no. Run it the way it is and have fun or cut the bar out and get a kit from S&W and weld it in yourself. Just use DOM mild steel and you can mig weld it in.
 
to me this is the key to the entire question.. you don't know long ya have, so sell the thing i say.


If that was the case, I'd say just run it!! Run it like each race is your last, and have fun! Fix it little by little if you absolutely cannot stand it...


- CK
 
Thanks all, The worst is the door bars at the floor and floor plate. Also the subframe. Some welds look okay some look like a bad stick weld. Looks like 2 different people welded. Luckly the Bars and hoop look ok.
 
Yep, I have been burned as well. I once bought a car with sheet metal tacked over the rotted frame rails. I was to busy seeing the big block 4 speed convertible, not looking at the bondo in the quarters and rotten frame. I too am an aircraft mechanic (rotary wing) with 25 years in the industry. I feel your pain.

Honestly though, in the big picture, your car has been like that for 25 years, apparently with no problems. Go racing and have fun. Don't loose sleep over it, get out their and put a grin on your face. If it really bothers you and you don't want to try to take care of it yourself hire a good mobile welder to come over and fix up the nasty looking welds, then you will feel better about it and your valuable time is still yours. My opinion is do not take the car apart or you may never get out there and have the fun racing that you want. Nothing in life is perfect, but you do have the car to right now go racing.

:burnout:
 

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Yup. Sell it and look for another, or fix what you absolutely must and have fun.

I'm kinda in the same boat. I'll never have much money, and my arthritis is quickly becoming a huge problem. Perfection for me is out of the question. "It's a driver."
 
Ya, Im swapping headers and putting it back together. Most of the ugly is under the car. it has been raced a long time. Signs of past ladder bars and other things. I can clean up some of it and just leave it alone. To be honest Ive seen alot worse.
 
Gotta remember 25 years ago there was not the sources of welding there is today, somebody justed used what they had an old stick welder , and gotter done.
 
Thats true this is my second vintage drag car and the quality was about the same now that you mention it.
 
If I didn't have a MIG with gas I wouldn't be able two "weld" at all anymore, LOL. Haven't used the ol' AC/ DC stick in YEARS
 
When buying a car a person has to ask for dozens and dozens of pictures to see what they are getting into or have some one inspect the car for them at that location.Yes you are a very good tech,no question about that,problem is,that any one can buy a car and fix it to their taste,weather you have 10 bucks in the bank or a million,and then re-sell that car,that might not be to your taste.It,s rare that a buyer gets a car that is 110% of what they want,but for the minor amount of effort to re-do this to you.You have to know that you are higher on the mechanical skills then some others,and 25 years ago,mig welders where not around that much,and people could not afford them like today.If the car is good and clean,and all you need is a few week ends of some good hard work and a few beers,it,s a done deal,move on,mrmopartech 450 424 0445
 
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