Frame rust found in long distance pre-purchase inspection

[Duggie]

Hello all,

I've paid for a long distance pre-purchase inspection on a 64 Dart \6 ( candidate #2 ) and one pic shows some frame rust I'm concerned about. I'm expecting to find SOME rust here and there, and am competent at turning wrenches. I'm clueless when it comes to body and frame though.

Is where the front frame rail meets the unibody a weak point in these cars for rusting out? does this pic make you want take your hard earned hobby budget and run? If you wanted more information from the seller about this, how would you convey that, and what's a reasonable reply?

There is some surface oxidation on the starter, and master cylinder and a patch of light rust forming on the firewall around the same area. The pre-purchase inspection on this car compared to the inspection on the first candidate, seams very amateurish and poorly documented, but that's another story...

Thanks in advance for your input. I'm looking forward to years of satisfying garage time fussing over the right car!

 

[Alaskan_TA]

Rust is swelling the cowl seams and at the inner fender too.

If you start chasing rust on this one, it appears that you may have a long journey ahead.

I'd be looking for a car with a better body.

 

[72bluNblu]

That section is actually not known for being a big rust area for the front rails, so if there's that amount of rust there I would expect to find more rust in the front rail. Especially where they're more prone to damage, like the area between the upper control arms mounts and below the battery.

On a long distance buy I would be very concerned about ANY rust found during an inspection. If there's any amount of rust you can bet on there being more, and if some of that rust has caused significant damage in one place you can expect it has in other places as well. If you can't see the car in person I would set my threshold pretty low, unless you have a lot of trust and confidence in your inspector.

Early-A's are pretty reasonably priced for the muscle car market, I would be looking for a better candidate. Especially if you haven't done significant rust repair before.

 

[Duggie]

I am definitely a newbie at long distance searches, and with the Corona virus, I'm not putting my 66 yo butt on a plane anytime soon. The sellers are selective in the pics they post, and I've proved with this car that inspections can be a crap shoot.

I really do need a solid base to start from though, and shinny 64s are 30-50% more in asking price than I'd like to spend for a starter hobby car. I'd rather not, but maybe I need to keep saving my pennies and buy one of those nicely painted 64s listed by showroom dealers...

 

[diymirage]

keep an eye on our for sale section...you might just find what your looking for

 

[Dartsun]

I wouldn’t want that car shipped with the rust there. I see your in Tacoma Wa, I’d be patient I imagine there is 64 Darts closer to you in pretty good shape. My 65 Dart was bought out of Seattle lived most its life in Washington and while it does have some rust it’s not that bad for sure. Good luck on your search

 

[SLOPAR72]

You paid for the service to help you "get" away. Good job on going this route.....

Now Run Forest, run.....

JW

 

[Car Nut]

I'd walk away. Tell the seller the truth, too much rust.

 

[Duggie]

You paid for the service to help you "get" away. Good job on going this route.....

Now Run Forest, run.....

JW

HA! That's funny! Inspection services are like a box of chocolates, that's for sure. Had a guy in CO that was excellent on car #1. Car #2 inspection in MD was very poorly done. I told the little woman that if we can't lay eyes on the next candidate, we need to ask someone on this forum if they would trade a couple hundred bucks for a good look over.

I will communicate my findings to the owner, but I have a feeling I won't be telling him anything he doesn't know. I get the feeling he is a flipper.

Looks like the search continues...

 

[69FBCuda]

Knock him down for the price of the rust repair and add it to your list

 

[Duggie]

If I knew welding and body technique, I'd know where to look and what to offer. I'm afraid I'm a babe in the woods. A somewhat wrinkled and homely babe, but a babe none the less!

 

[72bluNblu]

Knock him down for the price of the rust repair and add it to your list

That's a dangerous game to play, especially on a car you can't see in person. Even inspecting a car in person my general rule is to assume there's twice as much rust as I can see. If he hasn't done significant rust repair that's a recipe to get in way over his head.

If I knew welding and body technique, I'd know where to look and what to offer. I'm afraid I'm a babe in the woods. A somewhat wrinkled and homely babe, but a babe none the less!

Exactly. Saving some money up front is nice, but not if you have to start your project by replacing frame rails that aren't remanufactured.

 

[Dartnut]

If I knew welding and body technique, I'd know where to look and what to offer. I'm afraid I'm a babe in the woods. A somewhat wrinkled and homely babe, but a babe none the less!

Then if you are in doubt now, don't buy it.
Your gut feeling is usually the right one I have found over the years.
One thing comes to mind is why is the person so deceitful about posting pictures at any angle you want?
That's a big red flag there.
Honestly, look for a car that is closer and within reasonable driving distance from you that you can look at from all angles in person, there's quite a few out there if you look.
You might be surprised on what is out there if you really look under all of the rocks so to speak.
Your state in general and parts of Oregon have a lot of nearly rust free cars to choose from.
And as a bonus, it is a buyers market right now the way things are going at this time with the economy and when more people will get back to work, if that's not too crass.........
BTW, where is the car you are looking at that's so far away that you can't travel to go see it?

This advice is coming from a guy that has been ripped off before more than a few times by people that lie about a car's condition and trust them on their word (and a few friends of mine as well)...........

I would never buy anything sight unseen anymore.

 

[Dartnut]

That's a dangerous game to play, especially on a car you can't see in person. Even inspecting a car in person my general rule is to assume there's twice as much rust as I can see. If he hasn't done significant rust repair that's a recipe to get in way over his head.



Exactly. Saving some money up front is nice, but not if you have to start your project by replacing frame rails that aren't remanufactured.

Great post!
Tells it like it is..........

 

[moparhunter]

Run , don’t ignore the inspection there’s more hiding.

 

[Duggie]

Run , don’t ignore the inspection there’s more hiding.

Yep, I've run. The "inspection" ended up being one lucky pick of where the corner of the pic showed where the frame rail met the firewall. I asked the inspection company why the convertible top was not cycled, didn't pick up the floor mats to look at the rug, no pic with the trunk and hood closed, etc and got lots of excuses. They did offer to go back out for more money...