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Glad you got the car Doug. I know it was a long, agonizing process especially with the fools in OT piling on. I have to ask, and be honest, are the doors as messed up as I thought they were or was it poor pictures. Also, the right rocker....what's going on with that?
When you say you hope the seller makes it right, what exactly are you expecting? The car REALLY does look good at your place. I sure hope it all works out and you get enjoy that car.
The rocker has had some repair, as you pointed out, but the area overall is acceptable.
The door situation is very interesting. Both weather strippings appear to be original (including that sloppy glue job). Both skins look the same. But the driver's door sits relatively flush midway (sticks out maybe 1.5 pennies) while the passenger door bows out to where there is a noticeable gap midway (pics below).
At first my mechanic suspected it was hit but verified the factory rivets were still on the window regulator (and original glass all the way around). So we both figured it was GM build quality from slapping together 54,000 of these in 1979.
Right now my mechanic and body shop are preparing estimates and I'll send those to the seller (in addition to pics). My goal is to have him pay for the repairs he should have disclosed.
And it's worth noting there's been some paint work, maybe to be expected over 40 years, but there are no obnoxious areas where you can see any type of major fiberglass work (sanding,etc.).
As you may recall, it was advertised as a "5 foot" survivor.
Last edited by UniqueDoug; 01-10-2019 at 11:22 AM.
I watched the video I don't see that the seller was trying to hide the poor fit of the door to the quarter panel. I could see clearly the fit of all the panels of the car in the video and looks the same as your picture. I think you bought a nice car, and if it is all original it will have some flaws. It is worth a try though if you paid top dollar for the car.
I told you that car has frame damage and try and get your money back. Remember I was going to send you a PM and tell you about that frame? That car was hit hard on the right rocker......can you tell us what it looks like underneath that area? The doors were re-skinned at some point and I think it was over rusted shells. BTW....the weather stripping is not factory. A six year old attached the stripping, not the factory.
What's the selling dealer willing to do? I don't want to go to OT and wade through all the BS those ***** post.
Last edited by Prostreeter1; 01-13-2019 at 07:51 AM.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Originally Posted by F22
Loved the video. My gut feeling, check the fluids and that car will easily do it. It's got that instinctive 'vibe' of being a good little girl. I saw that in, mine in a Craigslist ad and I knew, that she'd be a rowdy ride. She didnt' disappoint and in all likelyhood, yours won't either. Watching the guy drive it, he was soft pedalling that thing. You could smell it, you could tell, that little bitch, was begging for more. That's how mine is, I'll tell you this, there's nothing, no, nothing, like driving a 60's-70's factory four speed car. Do they have a hydraulic clutch? Hell No! They got a Z-Bar linkage that the ball of your left foot is directly connected to the pressure plate of the clutch. You're not judging the 'feel' of how the car is moving. You/re feeling the clutch, grab the friggin' flywheel It is a direct mechanical connection. Nothing like it. And is it some little girl shifter like in a modern car? Nuh-huh. You put your whole arm into the shift, like a MAN! Every shift means something. And no computer telling how to start up the engine. Nope. Pump the pedal three times, hold the carb blades open a crack and crank it. Just as a side note, be prepared to love it, work on it, deal with it, because you've got to dedicated to have one of these, count on it. Welcome!
That's about the best description ever of driving one of these cars
Doug, have fun with it. Lots of C3 experts (not me ) in this section that are more than willing to share their expertise and advice.
I told you that car has frame damage and try and get your money back. Remember I was going to send you a PM and tell you about that frame? That car was hit hard on the right rocker......can you tell us what it looks like underneath that area? The doors were re-skinned at some point and I think it was over rusted shells. BTW....the weather stripping is not factory. A six year old attached the stripping, not the factory.
What's the selling dealer willing to do? I don't want to go to OT and wade through all the BS those ***** post.
I told you that car has frame damage and try and get your money back. Remember I was going to send you a PM and tell you about that frame? That car was hit hard on the right rocker......can you tell us what it looks like underneath that area?
Really so you saw the front suspension area cracks in the seller's pictures? Because he didn't have close ups of that area.
The frame near that right rocker area is straight and unmolested (inspected by two mechanics).
...The doors were re-skinned at some point and I think it was over rusted shells.
Shells look fine inside, passenger door area that you say was hit hard still has factory rivets on the window regulator and factory glass all the way around.
...BTW....the weather stripping is not factory. A six year old attached the stripping, not the factory...
How do you know? They made 54,000+ in 1979 so I could see this coming from the factory. What else do you look for on a reskin?
...What's the selling dealer willing to do? I don't want to go to OT and wade through all the BS those ***** post.
On Monday he'll be getting an email detailing the request for relief on the (4) items he did not disclose.
No way that door came like that. These cars werent perfect but not that bad. Regulator can survive that
Think the seller even knew it was hit, is he actually liable for the door? Perhaps a body guy can tune that up to make it look right, is still a nice driver worth putting some time into.
Really so you saw the front suspension area cracks in the seller's pictures? Because he didn't have close ups of that area.
I've seen this car (pretty sure its the same one) a few years ago. PA craigslist if I recall correctly.
The frame near that right rocker area is straight and unmolested (inspected by two mechanics).
Shells look fine inside, passenger door area that you say was hit hard still has factory rivets on the window regulator and factory glass all the way around.
How do you know? They made 54,000+ in 1979 so I could see this coming from the factory. What else do you look for on a reskin?
Don't have time to go through your pictures however the skins are separating from the shells.
On Monday he'll be getting an email detailing the request for relief on the (4) items he did not disclose.
No way that door came like that. These cars werent perfect but not that bad. Regulator can survive that
Think the seller even knew it was hit, is he actually liable for the door? Perhaps a body guy can tune that up to make it look right, is still a nice driver worth putting some time into.
I saw the door fitment in the pics so no he's not liable.
So just to be clear on this theory; the passenger door and rocker were hit hard enough to cause major damage (to frame and door) but the door glass is original and the internals were unaffected? And then when they fixed the door they made the weather stripping and messy glue match the driver's side? Doesn't add up.
If GM can send a brand new SS out with a door gap double the other side I have no doubt that production line could f-k up fitments from 40 years ago.
Thank you sir, given my condition I feel I'm doing pretty good.
By the way, you never did update your thread, did you end up buying that clapped out Escape with the bum transmission and hail damage?
It went to auction last October and my plan was to bid on it. It sold for $5850.00 and a locale dealer has it on his lot for $13,990.....LOL. Don't know if he fixed the hail or trans issues.
I ended up buying a 44k mile 2010 Edge limited with panoramic roof for 7500.00 at auction.
Did you notice my comment when I quoted your post that I saw your car for sale on Craigslist a few years ago? I'm 98% certain its your car.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Just took a pic of my door for comparison (79 L82 4 speed also). Hard to believe it came from the factory like that but even if it has been worked, I still say you got a good deal on it.
I think you can put some money in it and still be OK.
Just took a pic of my door for comparison (79 L82 4 speed also). Hard to believe it came from the factory like that but even if it has been worked, I still say you got a good deal on it.
I think you can put some money in it and still be OK.
Essentially the only way it could be flush top and bottom and off that much in the middle is if it was a defective door mold causing it to bow in the middle (because the gaps all nearly all correct in the other areas). The driver's door bows too but about half as much.
It's actually kinda fun to do the forensic part of it; for instance let's assume the door got hit hard enough for a replacement to become necessary (thus the "aftermarket" door with the poor design). Well if this were the case why did the repair facility do the driver's side weatherstripping at the same time? Because both sides have the sloppy glue around identically aged weather strippings.
With 54,000+ vehicles they are going to have mold variations. Maybe once again I was one of the lucky ones to get a 1/1000 defect on another GM product.
And thanks for your comments, and that picture, always good to hear from the C3 faithful. I love this C3 but don't think I'll be a member of the "club" for long.
01-10-2019, 11:17 AM
) in this section that are more than willing to share their expertise and advice.
