Looking at a 71 tomorrow. Need help on where to look for rust
10-21-2017, 01:06 PM
#1
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Looking at a 71 tomorrow. Need help on where to look for rust
I found a black 1971 coup I am going to look at tomorrow on mpls CL $15k. Talked to the guy selling and it sound promising. I can give the car a good once over without help but I have red that there are hidden rust areas. Any help and advice welcomed. It's a couple hr ride so I would like to get as much info as possible out of my trip. Ps, pb, warmed up 350 no body damage. Hasn't been driven much in years. Paint good driver quality
Not a lot to see in the add but here it is
https://stcloud.craigslist.org/cto/d...353948074.html
Thx
Not a lot to see in the add but here it is
https://stcloud.craigslist.org/cto/d...353948074.html
Thx
10-21-2017, 02:31 PM
#2
Racer
See if owner will let you pull the kick panels on the driver and passenger side interior. Also give the rear suspension area a good look. Check the frame rails where rocker covers on the sides are.
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Chuckers dream (10-21-2017)
10-21-2017, 02:37 PM
#3
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St. Jude Donor '05
cant grab a project for that keep us posted!
10-21-2017, 02:38 PM
#4
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Hi cd,
I'd begin by looking through the sides of the windshield for signs of rust or repair on the part of the a-pillar that can be seen.
Ask to have the wiper door opened and the wipers stopped so you can look at the cowl at the bottom of the windshield and especially on each side where the cowl disappears under the ends of the fenders.
I'd then open the doors and look at the hinge pillars. The area between the top of the hinge pillar and a-pillar that can be seen was very sloppily done…. but be looking for rust or rust stains… not how neat the area is.
I'd then kneel on the ground and get my upper body and head in each side's footwell and look up behind the dash for any sign of rust on the portion of the cowl that can be seen. You have the best chance looking on the passenger's side because there less there to block your view.
I'd shine my flashlight beam through the kick panel vents to try to see any part of the hinge pillar that may be visible….again looking for rust or rusty stains.
I'd then try to get a look at the bottom of the core- support…sometimes there's rust along the bottom edge.
Then back to the rear wheel area to look at the trailing arm pockets, the ends of the main frame rails, and the area of the frame that begins the kick-up over the rear half shafts.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I hope he did a MUCH better job on the engine than he did on the exhaust tips!
I'd begin by looking through the sides of the windshield for signs of rust or repair on the part of the a-pillar that can be seen.
Ask to have the wiper door opened and the wipers stopped so you can look at the cowl at the bottom of the windshield and especially on each side where the cowl disappears under the ends of the fenders.
I'd then open the doors and look at the hinge pillars. The area between the top of the hinge pillar and a-pillar that can be seen was very sloppily done…. but be looking for rust or rust stains… not how neat the area is.
I'd then kneel on the ground and get my upper body and head in each side's footwell and look up behind the dash for any sign of rust on the portion of the cowl that can be seen. You have the best chance looking on the passenger's side because there less there to block your view.
I'd shine my flashlight beam through the kick panel vents to try to see any part of the hinge pillar that may be visible….again looking for rust or rusty stains.
I'd then try to get a look at the bottom of the core- support…sometimes there's rust along the bottom edge.
Then back to the rear wheel area to look at the trailing arm pockets, the ends of the main frame rails, and the area of the frame that begins the kick-up over the rear half shafts.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I hope he did a MUCH better job on the engine than he did on the exhaust tips!
Last edited by Alan 71; 10-21-2017 at 02:41 PM.
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10-21-2017, 03:17 PM
#5
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Hi cd,
I'd begin by looking through the sides of the windshield for signs of rust or repair on the part of the a-pillar that can be seen.
Ask to have the wiper door opened and the wipers stopped so you can look at the cowl at the bottom of the windshield and especially on each side where the cowl disappears under the ends of the fenders.
I'd then open the doors and look at the hinge pillars. The area between the top of the hinge pillar and a-pillar that can be seen was very sloppily done…. but be looking for rust or rust stains… not how neat the area is.
I'd then kneel on the ground and get my upper body and head in each side's footwell and look up behind the dash for any sign of rust on the portion of the cowl that can be seen. You have the best chance looking on the passenger's side because there less there to block your view.
I'd shine my flashlight beam through the kick panel vents to try to see any part of the hinge pillar that may be visible….again looking for rust or rusty stains.
I'd then try to get a look at the bottom of the core- support…sometimes there's rust along the bottom edge.
Then back to the rear wheel area to look at the trailing arm pockets, the ends of the main frame rails, and the area of the frame that begins the kick-up over the rear half shafts.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I hope he did a MUCH better job on the engine than he did on the exhaust tips!
I'd begin by looking through the sides of the windshield for signs of rust or repair on the part of the a-pillar that can be seen.
Ask to have the wiper door opened and the wipers stopped so you can look at the cowl at the bottom of the windshield and especially on each side where the cowl disappears under the ends of the fenders.
I'd then open the doors and look at the hinge pillars. The area between the top of the hinge pillar and a-pillar that can be seen was very sloppily done…. but be looking for rust or rust stains… not how neat the area is.
I'd then kneel on the ground and get my upper body and head in each side's footwell and look up behind the dash for any sign of rust on the portion of the cowl that can be seen. You have the best chance looking on the passenger's side because there less there to block your view.
I'd shine my flashlight beam through the kick panel vents to try to see any part of the hinge pillar that may be visible….again looking for rust or rusty stains.
I'd then try to get a look at the bottom of the core- support…sometimes there's rust along the bottom edge.
Then back to the rear wheel area to look at the trailing arm pockets, the ends of the main frame rails, and the area of the frame that begins the kick-up over the rear half shafts.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I hope he did a MUCH better job on the engine than he did on the exhaust tips!
10-21-2017, 04:04 PM
#7
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Hi Cd,
If it's not rusty….MAYBE more like a $5000 car?
Looks like at least the front fenders have had flairs added?
Regards,
Alan
"Paint good driver quality"
Someone just driving by won't realize how bad it is?
If it's not rusty….MAYBE more like a $5000 car?
Looks like at least the front fenders have had flairs added?
Regards,
Alan
"Paint good driver quality"
Someone just driving by won't realize how bad it is?
Last edited by Alan 71; 10-21-2017 at 04:20 PM.
10-21-2017, 04:28 PM
#9
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Hi D,
"warmed up 350"
???
Regards,
Alan
Looks like something has been living under the dash?
"warmed up 350"
???
Regards,
Alan
Looks like something has been living under the dash?
Last edited by Alan 71; 10-21-2017 at 04:29 PM.
10-21-2017, 04:35 PM
#10
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You know the color has been changed, right?
Wonder why?
Wonder why?
10-21-2017, 06:00 PM
#11
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I figured it had been painted when I saw the red interior I have only seen that in red cars but thanks for the conformation
I could care less if the color has been changed. It's the first black one I have seen under$20k. My big concern is it looks like salt on the gas peddle. Could mean he drove it in the winter
my color preference is
1. Black
2. Red
3. Green
4. Yellow
I could care less if the color has been changed. It's the first black one I have seen under$20k. My big concern is it looks like salt on the gas peddle. Could mean he drove it in the winter
my color preference is 1. Black
2. Red
3. Green
4. Yellow
10-21-2017, 06:55 PM
#12
Racer
Hey Alan I am with you on the front flairs. The picture of the rear, the fenders look awful big also to me or is it just me?
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Chuckers dream (10-21-2017)
10-21-2017, 07:35 PM
#14
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Thx for the heads up on the fender fairs that put this on out. I want the body to be original. Not picky about the ending but the body that need to be caorect 
10-21-2017, 07:55 PM
#15
And, if a seller does not let you, I'd leave!
Make him/her pull the kick panels.
Never wrench on another persons car. IMHO.
I recently bought my first Corvette.
My advice; read everything on this forum you can, especially what is written by Alan 71 !!!
10-21-2017, 08:18 PM
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I figured it had been painted when I saw the red interior I have only seen that in red cars but thanks for the conformation
I could care less if the color has been changed. It's the first black one I have seen under$20k. My big concern is it looks like salt on the gas peddle. Could mean he drove it in the winter my color preference is
1. Black
2. Red
3. Green
4. Yellow
I could care less if the color has been changed. It's the first black one I have seen under$20k. My big concern is it looks like salt on the gas peddle. Could mean he drove it in the winter
my color preference is 1. Black
2. Red
3. Green
4. Yellow
I think you should familiarize yourself with the location of the trim tag and get a Black Book so you can check them. Again, it’s fine that you don’t care, but use the information anyway.
10-21-2017, 08:32 PM
#17
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Fender flairs put me out of the running on this one! But all this info wil come in handy going forward
10-21-2017, 10:46 PM
#18
Nam Labrat
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EDIT: Take your time.....the right one is out there.
Last edited by doorgunner; 10-21-2017 at 10:48 PM.
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Chuckers dream (10-22-2017)
10-22-2017, 07:27 AM
#19
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You should know that any Corvette (except in the rarest of instances) after 1969 that’s black has had a color change. They did not offer black after 1969 again until 1977. It’s good that you don’t care, but you should still use the knowledge that cars that are painted black after ‘69 are the wrong color and this could be to your advantage when determining value.
I think you should familiarize yourself with the location of the trim tag and get a Black Book so you can check them. Again, it’s fine that you don’t care, but use the information anyway.
I think you should familiarize yourself with the location of the trim tag and get a Black Book so you can check them. Again, it’s fine that you don’t care, but use the information anyway.
I did not know that black was not offered after 1969. Maybe that is why I find so few of them. Thx.
10-22-2017, 09:05 PM
#20
Melting Slicks
