Worth saving?

[kuso]

My neighbor came over the other day asking if i was interested in her 240sx convertible. Its a 1991, original owner, 140,000kms (86,000miles), rusty. Its been sitting for a long time, its really dirty, but i would like to bring it back to life if possible. What do you guys think? Not sure what kind of price to offer and if its even worth the money to get rid of the rust. I can do minor rust repair but nothing to this extent. From what I saw the frame rails were good, and the floor is decent with the exception of one hole.

Sorry for the crappy iphone pics.

[enkei2k]

it's totally worth it. do it. slap on a kit while you're at it.

[DJ Silent]

I wouldn't touch it a 10 foot stick. However I live in an area where rust isn't tolerated since cars for the most part don't rust here. Is he giving it to you?

[ILoveMyRHS13]

Did the car live in the ocean?

[repda916]

buy it and part it out. Let me buy the top:)

[ThatGuy]

Make sure your tetanus is up to date before you work on that thing. It looks like he washed it with salt.

Good luck.

[tricky_ab]

Did the car live in the ocean?


That was the first thing that I was thinking when I had seen the picture...I don't know if you'll be able to bring that poor car back...

[kuso]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/dchild/IMG_0285.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/dchild/IMG_0286.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v495/dchild/IMG_0287.jpg

[SC_S13]

Going to take a lot of patience/cutting/re-welding if you do take that on. there's NO way you can cut corners on that thing.

[kuso]

posted some more pics. Well I live up in Canada. The car started its life in the east, then was in Cali for a few years, then winnipeg (midwest). Rust is pretty common here but If i were to buy this in rust free condition, what would i be paying? If i got it for $500 and put $1500 into, it might be a start. Really not sure what to do with this thing. Its a female owner who says its been very well maintained mechanically but the body was another story.

[Ben G]

offer him 200 bucks and take it see how far the rust goes down then either part it out or save it

[omgRWDgoodness!]

The owner is female, why is everyone referring to her as him/he/his?

[Taniguchi_Is_#1]

i know rust is common up north, but that shit haggard. if you don't get it for less than 200, i would say forget it. it's not even worth the scrap metal money.

[kuso]

The black stuff is all just dirt since its been sitting under a tree for a long time. The paint underneath is decent. The top is toast, some type of fungi has made it its home.

[clark]

this looks like a job for:
http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Pimp-My-Ride-ps13.jpg

[dhsil80]

I would pick it up and and really look at the rust damage if it becomes or looks like too much you can always part it out

[SC_S13]

you should buy it for a couple bills and tear it apart, carpets, panels, everything, inside a clean garage or something. If you can afford to keep the project up for a little bit, it'll be worth it.

[kuso]

you should buy it for a couple bills and tear it apart, carpets, panels, everything, inside a clean garage or something. If you can afford to keep the project up for a little bit, it'll be worth it.

Ya, a full restoration is what it needs, however still being a student I'm not sure if I can commit the time and energy needed. Some of the work would have to be contracted out to a body shop. I can do mechanical stuff, but I havent ventured too far into body work.

[kuso]

i've always considered the convertibles to be relatively rare. Even though alot of you are opting to junk it. Would you say the same thing in 5 or 10 years when these become impossible to find? I think this is my approach to my neighbors offer. If only she took care of the body lol

[blackrms13]

i thought verts were only built from 92-94...

[SidewaysNJ]

Its not worth the headache and time to restore it. I've seen several verts and in much better condition...i also own one.... you can buy a nice vert from $1500-$3000. Rust repair is a pain and it very common to come back. Its the worst thing to see when you just got a fresh paint job and a couple years down the road the paint starts bubbling from rust.
Get the car for like $200 and part it out if you want to just make some money out the deal. For the amount of time and money you spend repairing that thing you would pick up a nicer vert and actually be able to start driving it.

[Slidin240Wayz]

spend 2000 on one from the south instead of this heap.

[ryguy]

I got my convertible for 3500, and it is in mint condition. Unless you can get the rust repaired and paint done for under that, I would just part it out. Keep in mind that just a new top is going to be at least 500 bucks. How a car can get that rusty is beyond me. It must never have been washed during the winter.

[SidewaysNJ]

Its a female owner who says its been very well maintained mechanically but the body was another story.

Also, some how i highly doubt that...i wonder what maintenance means to her.

[ZX88]

tell her youll take it off her hands and save them the headach of bringing it to the junk yard. that car is not worth much i wouldnt pay more than 200 for it. get it if you really want to.

[negrosx13]

WOW thats lot of work and money to spend to replace rusty panel,etc,etc,etc,etc...lol

[RastaS13]

Too much rust bro. I guaranteee underneath the fender there is a shit load of rust. this thing must have sat in the sprinklers all day

[JRas]

pass on it.. not worth the headache

[dmragecm]

i wouldnt take it if it was free

[driftsilvias13]

Take it if its free and part it out. I wouldnt pay anything for that car.

[Souljahzs13]

Dude... Buy a big bag of zipties ftw and you're set! No but really, thats too much work. That thing has too much cancer, it could be even worst under that. I would only buy it for less than 100 and salvage what you can for a part out to make some money

[KrazyS13]

Just like what everybody has already said..... Dont waist your time on that thing unless you get it for free and want to make a buck parting it out. It's seriously not worth it.

[flip3d]

if you get it for free, sell me the fender extensions :P

[Sileighty_85]

depends on other area's of rust

if its just those spots in the pics, I'd take it but only for cheap

if its really bad 2 word

Missile Car

[adam s]

however still being a student I'm not sure if I can commit the time and energy needed.

Don't do it.

[ryguy]

if you get it for free, sell me the fender extensions :P

Sell me the top pin receiver things.

[JEDIs13]

IMO if the car runs decent and you can get it for no more than 250 then get it. you can get that 250 back if not more for the motor alone. then part out the rest of that bad boy and put some money in your pocket

[ranger240]

educate her on timing chain tensioners and what bad stuff can happen if they arnt done.. which theres an 90% chance she hasnt. use that to bargin that shit down as low as possible...

if you do get the car.. the first thing you should do is cut out any rust bubbles/holes and hit that shit with Rust Converter... also wire wheel the bloody hell out of it.. check out that other white rhd silvia build.. that guys fighting rust too.. and the other hawaii resto

whatever you do dont let a small rust hole (or in your case giant rust hole) grow any bigger. in a year my rear quarter bubble doubled in size, even while garaged never seeing rain


oh and +1 for checkin the strut tower areas.. grid down the undercoating too, also w wire wheel.. thers gotta be shit lurking in there



may god have mercy on your soul

[ranger240]

p.s. anyone who can neglect a cars body as much as that cannot be trusted when they say they maintained it well mechanically.

[Mista Lee]

Get it and sell me the speaker panels.
/done

[BlueKpS13]

Run to the hillllsssss!!!! Run for your liiife!!!!!!!

[drift_limo]

missile car?

[soreballz]

Meh, I've seen worse.
Quick! somebody post a pic of Charlie321's a-pillars! ahahaha


If they're willing to let it go for less than 200, take it and either fix it, part it out, or make it a missile car.

[S14_Kouki]

Lmfao a missile car, shit man its a 240 in about 3 years there will been non left, if u can fix it yourself as a long time project go for it thats 1 s13 that u can save from being in a junkyard

[gmember240]

i agree with everyone. forget it

[carnagexxxx]

Although the car looks like hell, I think the biggest issue that you should be thinking about is how extremely rare these cars are. Most of the posts on your query have been from people who are trying to snake parts from you by parting it out.

Be honest with yourself though. Will you devote time to fix it up, source parts, maybe even learn to weld? It is a hell of a lot of work but like a few have mentioned, these cars are a dying breed in un modified states. That's why I want to keep my coupe basically stock and fix it up...they aren't too common either (unmodded).

If you are ambitious and want to do it, don't let people on here discourage you.

[Iron_Zenki]

Did the car live in the ocean?
:Owned: haha
Get it if your willing to put down money $$$$$$

[onesloka]

i would get it and fix it up if i had the chance.