So my project is starting to slow down, mainly because of budget issues and so many conflicting answers floating about the interwebs and shops I call for help. The elements I need to do now are related and seem to have to happen quickly in relation to one another. To top it all off, they aren't cheap.
I've stripped the car to the point of needing to be on a rotisserie/cart soon. I've only left the components on that are needed to keep the wheels on since I don't have a car cart/dolly.
I'm at a point where I'm not really sure what to do now, mainly because of budget and timing of the next steps.
I have enough to get the car media blasted so I know for sure what I'm working with regarding rust but not enough to do what I thought would be the next steps, which seem to have to happen quickly after media blasting.
I was quoted $700 for media blasting, but after that I know I need to get the metal primed but the quotes I'm getting for that are upwards of $3000. That is something that I
A. don't have right now
B. I know for sure I need at least repair work and maybe replacement on one front frame rails, one rear frame rail, and the floor pan in the front is pretty bad
So if I media blast, I need to prime relatively quickly, but do I prime then repair, or repair then prime? I'm in Denver, which is super dry and the car will be garaged so I'm assuming I have time before I actually have to prime.
I guess I'm at the point where do I just pause the project until I can do the media blasting, priming, and repairing the rust at the same time? I imagine that will be pushing $6000-$8000 looking at shop hours which will take me years to save up for. I could do the pan work but not sure about the frame work.
So does media blasting sound like a waste to do at this point if I can't do the repairs and prime all at once? I can't be the only one who doesn't have deep pockets and has to do little chunks at a time.
Lastly, what is the best way to know if something could be patched/repaired rather than replacing the entire element? I'm mainly worried about the frame rail issues, they seem okay except in certain areas.
Front frame rails look decent except for this one area on the right side, right in front of where the frame rail goes under the pan area.
Rear frame rails look good except for the very back portion, maybe the last 8 inches or so where the leaf springs bolt in. The left side is bad, the right side doesn't look as bad.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I've had the car since 1999 so if I have to wait another few years to save up all the money at once to do the blasting/repair/prime so be it, but I'd like to be able to keep working on the car slowly like I have been rather than stopping for probably two more years to save that kind of money.
I've stripped the car to the point of needing to be on a rotisserie/cart soon. I've only left the components on that are needed to keep the wheels on since I don't have a car cart/dolly.
I'm at a point where I'm not really sure what to do now, mainly because of budget and timing of the next steps.
I have enough to get the car media blasted so I know for sure what I'm working with regarding rust but not enough to do what I thought would be the next steps, which seem to have to happen quickly after media blasting.
I was quoted $700 for media blasting, but after that I know I need to get the metal primed but the quotes I'm getting for that are upwards of $3000. That is something that I
A. don't have right now
B. I know for sure I need at least repair work and maybe replacement on one front frame rails, one rear frame rail, and the floor pan in the front is pretty bad
So if I media blast, I need to prime relatively quickly, but do I prime then repair, or repair then prime? I'm in Denver, which is super dry and the car will be garaged so I'm assuming I have time before I actually have to prime.
I guess I'm at the point where do I just pause the project until I can do the media blasting, priming, and repairing the rust at the same time? I imagine that will be pushing $6000-$8000 looking at shop hours which will take me years to save up for. I could do the pan work but not sure about the frame work.
So does media blasting sound like a waste to do at this point if I can't do the repairs and prime all at once? I can't be the only one who doesn't have deep pockets and has to do little chunks at a time.
Lastly, what is the best way to know if something could be patched/repaired rather than replacing the entire element? I'm mainly worried about the frame rail issues, they seem okay except in certain areas.
Front frame rails look decent except for this one area on the right side, right in front of where the frame rail goes under the pan area.
Rear frame rails look good except for the very back portion, maybe the last 8 inches or so where the leaf springs bolt in. The left side is bad, the right side doesn't look as bad.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. I've had the car since 1999 so if I have to wait another few years to save up all the money at once to do the blasting/repair/prime so be it, but I'd like to be able to keep working on the car slowly like I have been rather than stopping for probably two more years to save that kind of money.