Freaked Out By Roof Rust
Absolutely, but starting somewhere shouldn't be removing the roof and both quarters, especially for a beginner.
And... I don't see GTS on the fenders.
$2000 Solid West Coast body + $1200 shipping = Saving thousands of dollars and a huge amount of time.
You will also have a better car in the end.
Very true.....yet so many balk at the idea. Building one of these in going to cost some $$ no matter which way you go. I like going the least aggravating route. My friend/body guy would not even take something like this on. But he is in AZ, where finding a good candidate for a builder is pretty simple.
Ask yourself this, lets say you were to find a relatively rust free car for $2500 that took $1300 to get it to you. And lets just say that you were capable of doing the work for yourself.....but have a life outside these cars. As Steve mentioned you will need a donor roof and a set of donor rails. So that equals 2 parts cars you will need to use for donors. Factor in the time it will take to remove it all, swap it over etc. That $3800 for a cleaner car is starting to look pretty damn attractive to me. Couple that with if the roof is that bad you can almost bet on the car needing major rust repairs in other areas there really is not much to think about.
Good luck in which ever way you choose to go. Personally, I would have never bought a car in that shape. In today's world of the internet it is to easy to find a car in decent shape. Sure it will cost a bit of funds to get it you but body work aint cheap. If the car has sentimental value to you that is another topic, but if it is just a car you picked up out of the paper. Will you be out the purchase money? Perhaps....but why throw good money after bad. This would be like suing someone that has nothing that can be taken...
The reality of building a car, for most of us at least is it is going to cost a boat load of money. You have a car, that unless you possess the skills to do do the metal work yourself, you will be into for a more money than what it will cost to just find another car. If you can, get together with the fellow from PA that has done/is capable of fixing it and see what he says. Some of the other folks are right, it is only metal work. Do you have the tools to do it? If not, you will need a mig machine with a bottle + the skill to use it.
Damn...I am rambling or what? GOOD LUCK
