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4th Gen rust - how bad is this?

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Old 11-10-2007, 09:53 PM
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Procrastination Racing
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Default 4th Gen rust - how bad is this?

I've been looking for a fourth generation Camaro for a couple of months now. Several have had one issue or another.
I've run across what is a reasonable mileage '98 Camaro coupe (62,000 miles) and basically very clean, however, it is
from Ohio and has rust.

On the older ones, rust is a problem, I know.

On a Corvette, I would know exactly how much is bad or good or too much. But on Camaros, I have to ask you,
how bad is this?

Right side rear rail


Left rear rail


Trunk and muffler - muffler has a couple of holes rusted in it.




Left front of door



Left front of door towards engine and transmission






Passenger side of floor



Trunk and muffler - you can see the holes in the muffler


Lousy picture of front suspension, but you can see the rust on the spoiler bolts.



Sometimes I hate these auto focus cameras. Front suspension rust.



Oxidation on the aluminum of the engine and rust on the spring mounts. It doesn't show well, but the bolts were pretty rusted.
The metal seems solid though.




Same on this side. The spring mount bolts are pretty rusted and the metal is pitted and flaked some, but tapping on it feels solid, like the rust occurred from salt/snow/water getting on the top and not eating from below.



Now if this was a Florida car, I would run instantly. But it came from Ohio, so I know that this is much more common to those cars.
But likewise, I'm not used to seeing this much rust on any around here and not sure just how much is too much.

The car is a '98 t-top, V6, 62k, real clean but for this, and priced about $4800 right now. The purpose is a driver, daily commute,
and so on. It isn't a collectible and probably will be gone in a couple of years. Based on that, what do you think of the rust?

Thanks.
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Old 11-11-2007, 06:09 AM
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danziger
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Damn! That has more rust than my 1990 LeSabre beater-vehicle! I'd pass and keep looking. You can find some really nice drivers for $5K if you look around.
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Old 11-11-2007, 03:16 PM
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Red99SS
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I'd let that one go.
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Old 11-11-2007, 08:28 PM
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Mojave
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Ditto. Way too many 4th gens, especially V6's, to deal with that much rust.
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Old 11-11-2007, 11:33 PM
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Corvette69w427
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keep looking! www.autotrader.com is your friend
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Old 11-13-2007, 06:02 AM
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leadfoot4
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Not to be a sarcastic SOB, but I can't help myself....That's exactly why I DON'T drive my '96 Z-28 in the winter....
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Old 11-14-2007, 09:37 AM
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Rebel w Cawz 2 B
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Noticed your in FLA. That one may have spent some time near the beach (salt spray environ). I'd pass.
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Old 11-14-2007, 08:47 PM
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Good Lord that car has rust? The car is from Ohio and you're in Ocala, land of rust free cars, something isn't right here. lol

Check out my '99 Camaro Z28 here.
http://www.exoticperformanceplus.com...Car.php?car=12
You want to start with something like this, that hasn't followed every Midwest salt truck they could find. Bob
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Old 11-16-2007, 12:18 AM
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Procrastination Racing
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Auction car. It was on craigslist and I didn't see it being a dealer. Turns out it is on a little lot north of Gainesville
in the middle of nowhere. Apparently, it came from Ohio and ended on the auction down here. Maybe a snowbird,
maybe a retiree, who knows. But it sure has rust. For reference, it was a '98 t-top V6 priced at $5495 and down to $4800.

Still chasing, I found another. This one is $5500.







Basically a lot cleaner, but it does have some interesting rust under the hood. Also, gas mileage is only 12-14.
Pipes are black but I can't get the computer to show any codes at all, even the 12.




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Old 11-16-2007, 04:39 AM
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This one looks like a coastline car, where the morning dew is full of salt. I'd keep looking. Bob
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