when inspecting a 68-72....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 134
Likes: 6
From: Buffalo NY
when inspecting a 68-72....
Where are the tell tale signs of whether or not a car is in good condition? If someone would explain it to me like the novice that I am, it would be helpful. Such as what place on the underside of the frame is going to show corrosion first? Are there common areas where you can see stress marks from a car being beat on? etc, etc,etc.... Any constructive advice would be appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 19
From: Canboro Ontario
Always check the birdcage, most likely to rust near the bottom by the door frame area front and back. Check all the safety issues brake, steering suspension etc. Look for problems on electrical for bubba patching etc. Look at how the body parts fit and how the car sits. Listen to the engine, feel how it drives and steers and stops. Look for obvious leaks, try to get as much info from the PO. These are just a few, others will chime in with more.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
This comes up often, and usually have the same answer. Join your local NCRS chapter for $35 bucks, and pay a knowledgable C3 member a fee, to look at the cars with you. The fee will be pennies compared to what some potential problem repairs could cost.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 134
Likes: 6
From: Buffalo NY
It's a good tip and something I would deffinetly do if I found a car that I was very interested in. However, I don't want to waste a guys time(and my money) every time I come across a car I would potentially be interested in. I figured this question has been asked before. Has the forum ever considered a sticky for this topic? Perhaps there already is one and I'm wasting everyones time with a typical new guy question?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 769
Likes: 36
From: Goose Creek SC
It's a good tip and something I would deffinetly do if I found a car that I was very interested in. However, I don't want to waste a guys time(and my money) every time I come across a car I would potentially be interested in. I figured this question has been asked before. Has the forum ever considered a sticky for this topic? Perhaps there already is one and I'm wasting everyones time with a typical new guy question?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 1
From: Northeast Ohio
Make sure you check around the windshield especially where the VIN tag is located. There can be rust behind the trim and it can eat clear through which allows more water down the front post of the birdcage and wreak havoc. If you see rust up there, be very afraid of what could be down below.
See above post also.
See above post also.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
It's a good tip and something I would deffinetly do if I found a car that I was very interested in. However, I don't want to waste a guys time(and my money) every time I come across a car I would potentially be interested in. I figured this question has been asked before. Has the forum ever considered a sticky for this topic? Perhaps there already is one and I'm wasting everyones time with a typical new guy question?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
As Oldsarge said hidden rust is your biggest enemy on a C3. As you find cars to look at take plenty of photos and post them here. We all love to look and inspect for things out of place. I cannot say it enough learn to recognize the signs of hidden rust. Do a search here on "Birdcage Rust".
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,274
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi GV,
I think having a knowledgable person look at cars with you is the best idea. I do understand your point about cost and time.
If you find and pay someone to look at the first car with you, perhaps you'll learn enough to look at some more cars on your own. Then, when you find one that may be 'it', you can ask him to look at that one with you before you make a decision.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I think having a knowledgable person look at cars with you is the best idea. I do understand your point about cost and time.
If you find and pay someone to look at the first car with you, perhaps you'll learn enough to look at some more cars on your own. Then, when you find one that may be 'it', you can ask him to look at that one with you before you make a decision.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 134
Likes: 6
From: Buffalo NY
I'm not discounting your idea, in fact I think it is a very good one. I should have been clearer in noting that I am a freak and will probably end up looking at a significant # of cars before I buy one. I don't have the cash to buy one now because of some home improvements I did last summer. I'm hoping to acquire one within a year or so. With all the local cruze nights, car shows etc I'm hoping to learn as much as possible with guidance from some of the people on this site. When I do get serious about a car, I'll definetly come armed with an expert to give me the yay or nay. Thanks for the tips guys.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
"hire an expert to inspect the car" is good advice, but it's not really answering the question, "How should I look at a car? What should I look for?" which is an important question even if you are also hiring an expert.
I think it is important to get the car up on a lift. You really can't see much underneath otherwise, and it is amazing what you can see when the car is on a lift. I would be wary of rattlecan restoration, ie fresh black paint sprayed all over the bottom to make it look "nice" but also hiding all kinds of rust and corrosion. Many sellers will not appreciate you jabbing a screwdriver up into the frame, but that's a good way to identify soft rusty spots.
My mechanic pointed out a frame repair to me that indicated a front end hit at some point in the car's life. It was a decent repair, not an "issue", just something he was pointing out to me.
I think it is important to get the car up on a lift. You really can't see much underneath otherwise, and it is amazing what you can see when the car is on a lift. I would be wary of rattlecan restoration, ie fresh black paint sprayed all over the bottom to make it look "nice" but also hiding all kinds of rust and corrosion. Many sellers will not appreciate you jabbing a screwdriver up into the frame, but that's a good way to identify soft rusty spots.
My mechanic pointed out a frame repair to me that indicated a front end hit at some point in the car's life. It was a decent repair, not an "issue", just something he was pointing out to me.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
See if you can find a copy. It may be out of print, but some of the vendors may still have copies in stock. Someone mentioned they were able to download a copy for a Kindle.
If you want to spend a little and get specific, purchase these two:
This one is pretty good for general information.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Aug 14, 2011 at 09:42 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 134
Likes: 6
From: Buffalo NY
See if you can find a copy. It may be out of print, but some of the vendors may still have copies in stock. Someone mentioned they were able to download a copy for a Kindle.
If you want to spend a little and get specific, purchase these two:
This one is pretty good for general information.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 291
From: Ocala FL
Rust. Two places that are critical are the frame and the birdcage. In the frame, it typically shows the worse under the rear half of the doors and inward.
In the birdcage, you usually have leaks around the base of the windshield frame and at the base of the birdcage by the kick panels.
left rear corner
right rear corner
left rear frame corner
right rear frame corner
The frame you can tell if it is visibly rusted away and if not, if it rings like a bell when you tap it (not hit it) with a metal object like a small screwdriver, a metal punch, a wrench, etc. Rusted severely will have less ring or even thud instead.
Sometimes you can see the rust through the door pillars but usually you need to remove the kick panels to see. You can sometimes see under the dash at the bottom of the windshield frame for leaks or rust evidence. A small digit camera can be invaluable for looking where you can't.
Hiring someone who really knows these cars is really very good advice and money well spent.
In the birdcage, you usually have leaks around the base of the windshield frame and at the base of the birdcage by the kick panels.
left rear corner right rear corner left rear frame corner right rear frame cornerThe frame you can tell if it is visibly rusted away and if not, if it rings like a bell when you tap it (not hit it) with a metal object like a small screwdriver, a metal punch, a wrench, etc. Rusted severely will have less ring or even thud instead.
Sometimes you can see the rust through the door pillars but usually you need to remove the kick panels to see. You can sometimes see under the dash at the bottom of the windshield frame for leaks or rust evidence. A small digit camera can be invaluable for looking where you can't.
Hiring someone who really knows these cars is really very good advice and money well spent.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 581
Likes: 0
From: Southeast WI
Another suggestion is to look at the fiberglass underneath the front and rear bumpers. Check for signs that the fiberglass has been repaired or reinforced, which might indicated the car has been in a collision sometimes in its history. I didn't find this out on my car until after I purchased it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran