How far is to far gone?

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Brandon6849

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I have a 1973 Dart Swinger that i had since i was 16 (now 30). After about two years of having it i got hit in it. The wreck bent the frame on the driver side and buckled out the quarter and messed the rear valence. But were it has set for so long the floor pans are gone and needs trunk extentions and other small body work needs. But i'm just wondering How Far Gone Is To Far Gone? And i was wondering if any body on here has rebuilt a car that has been pretty rusty too?
 
I think this is about skill, ability, and finances. Anything is "savable." Looking at this from the outside in. It would cost far more than the value of the car to repair. You might be better off finding a like car and using the parts from this car to complete it. Those years are pretty obtainable for a fair price.
 
being a 73 its already too far gone. go find a real clean one for under $7,000 and you will be thousands ahead.
 
to pull a car thats bent but not rusty isn't bad, but you get a bent up rusty car and you have a nightmare, nothing pulls properly, and when you get done all you have is more work for rust repair,

post pictures so we can see but it sounds like its too far gone
 
unless you really hate yourself go find a rust free car and sell or use parts off your smashed one
 
There were limiter production 73 Swingers that would be worthy.
 
If the car means something to you, by all means get to work on it. It may cost you more than it's worth but in the end you'll have your old car back.
 
Like breakstuff said. It all depends on what the car means to you. I havent built a car yet that didnt cost more to build then the car was worth. Thats the price you pay to build them right.
 
I have done extensive rust repair on my 1971 Challenger. I had to replace the floors, quarters, trunk floor, trunk extensions, dutchman panel, rain gutters, and front inner fender wells. I have a ton of money into it and in todays market, the car is not worth what I have into it, but it is a car that I have wanted since I was 16 (40 now). It has taken me 7 years to get it to the point it is now, but in the end I will have a cool car set up how I want and I will give it to my son when he is old enough to appreciate it. So think about what the car means to you, because sometimes you can't put a price on something like this.
 
I think the point is that he has an attachment to the car and that is why he is asking here. I understand we rarely end with a car worth what we have in it, but how many times the cars worth do we bury ourselves. I try to assess this every time, but then again I can do all the work. I am not paying labor.
Perhaps more information is needed? Are we talking a 340 4-spd triple black car w/factory sun roof? Or a /6 column shifter gold on gold? Are you motivated to maybe spend 30k or more on a 5-10k car?
 
Yes i am attached i work all summer to buy that car in highschool. And then i got rear ended in it. Then i lost interest in it because i didn't know how to fix it and didn't have the money to. Now i have the knowledge to do some of this stuff myself. Like putting in most of the body panels. When i got the car it had a create motor i had the transmisson rebuilt and i have a few spare parts for it. I just hate to let it go if it can be fixed. Any way i'm going to have a muscle car i just don't know which one or what kind.
 
Brandon6849 said:
I have a 1973 Dart Swinger that i had since i was 16 (now 30). After about two years of having it i got hit in it. The wreck bent the frame on the driver side and buckled out the quarter and messed the rear valence. But were it has set for so long the floor pans are gone and needs trunk extentions and other small body work needs. But i'm just wondering How Far Gone Is To Far Gone? And i was wondering if any body on here has rebuilt a car that has been pretty rusty too?
Click to expand...

Its up to you to tell if your car is to far gone.
 
How about doing as much as you can for free and then deciding? Things like stripping the car down and removing the interior will have to be done anyway, so why not start there! Bag and tag everything in case you get to the point where you decide if its worth your time/effort and you won't be out anything but your time! If you decide to keep going you'll already be ahead, and if you decide it's too far go e you still be ahead. You can then decide if you'd like another body in better condition to rebuild, or find a car you really want and sell some of the parts to earn $$$ to spend on that!

Either way, you'll be in a position to accurately assess what you have, what it needs and if you are up to the task at hand!! Geof
 
You have already made up your mind.
It isn't too far gone in your eyes, so get to work fixing it no matter the cost and the work involved!
Memories and attachment go a long way, a lot of people don't admit this to themselves.
I would love to see pics though!
 
Dartnut is right it was your first car.
Remember all the things you done in it?
Tear into it and see how bad it actually is.

Floor boards rusted thru, or just surface rust?
Use an off site web site to post pictures.
 
I will end up needing driver and passenger side floor boards. trunk extention divers side and driver quarter. I have the picture just don't know how to post on this tread.
 
Go advanced will allow you access to the paper clip attachment toolbar to add pics to a post! Geof
 
IMO if there's rust perforation on a chassis structural member, the car is too far gone for me to bring back. Maybe the same opinion of rusty, bent structural members. People who are better equipped in skills, shop, and tools are able to work miracles.

If the car is important enough to you do what you can and farm the rest out to professionals. Realize that the decision to invest more in a car than it will ever be worth is an emotional decision, not a rational one. Good luck.
 
Don`t be too scared of rust as it can be cleaned/sandblasted, removed and replaced - it`s just metal! If I still had my first car I would save it no matter what, you can`t replace the memories. Depending on how hard and where it was hit you may need a pull at a frame shop to make sure everything is straight and new parts will fit correctly.
 
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