We recently got another Max that I'm doing a Lil routine maintenance to. It has 207k. Needs a vss, brakes and the normal valve cover gaskets, tb cleaned etc but my biggest concern is this rust area on the quarter panel. Will this be an expensive fix & is it worth fixing?

 

The mechanical work doesn't seem too bad if you do your own work.

The body work depends on some factors.

Do you live in an area where rust is common?

Do most of the older cars look like that?
How long do you want to drive the car.
How many miles do you want to drive it.
How much pride do you have in your car.

Mostly personal factors.

I'd consider it a transportation device.

Fix what it needs to pass inspections.

Keep it up mechanicly, while fighting rust somewhat.

Not worth throwing a lot of money at.

Opinions differ. Everyone has one.

 

Yep - Opinions are like A-holes - everyone has one !

But, I agree with you. It depends on what you plan to do with the car, and how much you want to spend. Personally, when a car of mine starts to show any rust, I ditch it. Rust is like cancer - it just keeps spreading, and it is very hard to cure. Otherwise, you have a great looking car.

 

Depends I mean I fixed my quarter panel damage I had, but I live in a area where no snow exists and it only had 130k at the time, plan to keep it for 7years, the paint was in really good condition like yours. So I went ahead and fixed it up. To me it was worth it cause now the car looks like new.

But since u live in a area where rust is, it depends on you. Does it bother u? Or just want it to fix it to look good for x amount of years? It sucks that it's on the quarter panel.. I think personally, If you don't mind spending the $, go ahead. I was the same way too, I wanted my car to look good and I didn't care how much I spent really, it was worth it in the end to me. But again I live in an area where no snow exists.. But you do, so think twice about that.

Ps I would clean those headlights, it does make a difference. Overall the car is in great shape.

 

Yes, that rust will be expensive to fix. I wouldn't worry about it at this point; it's pretty far gone.

Keep the maintenance/repairs up and just enjoy it as is.

 

I bet your control arms look like hell. Out of curiosity, Why are you concerned with the rear quarter panel? You should be concerned with the Radiator support

 

Instead of repairing it, mod it a little, $25 clear signals change the cars appearance for so little, little things to make it more appealing to u? I think that would be better.

 

That rust is bad and from my experience living in the states of Kansas, New Jersey and Missouri it will be worse underneath. I'm fortunate in that I park in a garage at night, and I have access to a lift so I can do a visual inspection of the underside of my cars at least every 3 or 4 months.

If that were my car I would view it as an opportunity to take an auto body repair and welding class and learn how to fix it. Because those areas are prone to rust out on lots of cars I pay special attention to them when I wash my vehicles and ensure that I don't let snow or dirt sit there in the winter time.

I wash my cars every week and I get my undercarriage cleaned in the winter time, if the roads were salted or sanded. Rust is not a friend of mine, I believe in wire brushes and undercoating.

 

Thanks guys... I'm very particular about my cars and if it doesn't cost much I will fix it. Overall I've done the valve covers, plugs,pcv valve, oil change, coolant flush, starter, coil packs, air filter and brakes all around! For 270k she drives awesome. I don't want to flush the trans because it shifts smooth but what else should I do? I might be a new alternator on it and just add my special touches etc...

 

You could drop some of the old fluid out, measure, then replace with new fluid the same amount through the dipstick. This method is absolutely gentle on your old and delicate tranny, but very inefficient as well. You have to do it several times after you drive it each time so that the new fluids gets mixed with old that doesn't drain from the torque converter. You get the idea, I hope. I did this to my buddies tranny and he loved his car afterwards. Downshifts were feather light and awesome

 

Why? That would be like putting lip stick on a pig.