Rust

[007Cruiser]

Re: Rust

Don't forget that the top is a HUGE structural member of the body. If it's not solid and secure, you're looking at a major safety issue as well.

[Lindy]

Re: Rust

Ouch, I think you ought to convert it to a rag top. Seriously...why not look for a better one via e-bay? It's just not worth working with something that is gone, imo.

--Lindy

[justjon]

Re: Rust

Bye, Bye, Birdie .. see e-bay

[Steve Legel]

Re: Rust

I've done such a project on the 1970 Challenger. It is time consuming and labor instensive to fabricate and weld in the sheet metal. The rust will extend under the trim and around the windshield. If you are not experienced, the learning curve and eqiupment becomes part of your cost. Sheet metal can be bought in sheets from an autobody and paint supply shop. Check your yellow pages for a welding shop.
Before you do anything more, get the car up on a hoist and look underneath. You might have even bigger issues on other parts of the car. Roof swapping requires fair amount of expertise (and cost) and probably will require interior disasssembly.

Your project is not for the feignt of heart or thin of wallet.

You can email me for my phone number and we can talk.

Interstingly, projects like yours are subject of an upcoming article I am preparing for my column in ITC.

[blue731]

Re: Rust

Hate to pile on, but yeah - ain't no chemical going to help that roof, or those pillars. It's a goner. It really sucks to find a nice car, dig into it, and find such a glaring issue. It would be worthwhile to take it to an autobody shop and get a second opinion, but it's gonna cost big time for the work to be done

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Rust

While I guess it wouldn't hurt to take it to a body shop to see what would cost to have the roof taken care of.....what I really question is why are you restoring this car? Since you acquired it a year ago, I have to assume it's not something that has been in your family for the last 30+ years and has any sentimental value. The reason I say this is that I see some clean 1977-1979 Thunderbirds on eBay regularly. Many have low mileage and often are less than $6,000.

Having owned and restored a number of classic vehicles in the past 11 years, I haven't been able to do a good "driver quality" restoration for less than $8,000 in recent years. The last car I restored I spent $11,000 to put it back into shape.

Why diddle around fixing one of these up when you can find a good clean Thunderbird from this era that you can enjoy and get instant gratification from on day 1.

[bronzebird]

Re: Rust

Chris:

I agree that you probably need to abandon work on the '78 you have.

A quick search located a one owner '79 model in Illinois for less than six grand that is a one owner with less than 50,000 miles on it.

go here...

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/fi...ationId=179567

Bronzebird

[Leroy]

Re: Rust

After looking at your pictures, I would look for another 78 with less rust and canabilize your 78 to build one decent car. How much time and money do you want to put in a car like this? Will the end result be worth all the time and money? I had older Corvettes and one day it hit me, I'm spending all my time buying and looking for parts and working on a car I'm affraid to drive because I don't want to screw it up. Now I have my TBird and don't work on it, It's under warranty and If I have a problem I'll take it in. Leroy

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[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Rust

CHRIS, AFTER GETTING ALL THIS ADVICE, AND I AGREE YOU SHOULD FIND A BETTER CAR TO WORK ON, WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS. RON