stuman1974

I just bought a used 92 Camaro RS a few days ago. Needs a work in a few areas which I knew about, but when I took it to a shop today to look at for fixing a brake line and lower ball joints, they showed me their concern about the undercarriage of the car being pretty rusty. Now, this is the 3rd place I took it to to look at and neither of the first 2 mentioned it at all. Is this 3rd place being conservative? Or am I screwed?

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (15)

it doesnt look good, but i dont see many holes.

I would not have bought it if i saw that personally.

not sure what the last pic is. The rear? looks like its pretty beat.

if its only on the underside, and has not rotted out the floors up front under the driverside and passengised foot wells, you can POR it and go. I would pull the carpet and see what the floor looks like from the inside.

3rd place has a concern for your safety. I say its a good shop. forget the other 2

stuman1974

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the 3rd pic is under the back bumper edge. I have more pics, but can only post 3 at a time. Definitely feeling more and more like I screwed up on my first Camaro purchase

eseibel67

Sorry to break the bad news, but if your rear panel is rotted away to nothing, there will be other areas that have problems too. You will be temped to fix it, but I wouldn't. Fighting rust is uphill all the way.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

I think your screwed!!!that's a lot of rust for a 92,was that in a flood near a beach.

midnightfirews6

iTrader: (1)

Are the subframes, firewall, or pinch rails rusted? I don't see any perforation so as long as those areas are still solid, like 86 T/A said I would POR15 it and go. If any of the areas I mentioned look rusty and weakened or if there are obvious signs it's been wrecked or the chassis is warped I'd part it out and get another. Rust is an uphill battle but if the car's structurally sound it can definitely be lived with and if you have the talent or the cash you can repair it.

Also if you do keep it and fix it, definitely get inner and outer subframe connectors and POR 15 EVERYTHING. These cars were thin and flexy from the factory and if it's rusted you want to do all you can to stiffen it back up and make sure it doesn't rust more. After that you could drive it until you get the chance to repair it- and do it right. Bondo sucks, doing it right is always worth the time and money

haps

iTrader: (4)

Why would you be screwed? Get it fixed, it isn't that bad.

stuman1974

Thanks for all of the comments so far everyone. Man, I'm just concerned about some of the key areas especially along the sides (under the doors). Here's a few more photos from underneath. Thanks.

jhainer

alot of it looks to be surface rust take a wire brush on a drill to it and see where you end up. or sand blast it and see where your at with all teh rust on there you really can't tell until it is cleaned up. comming from Michian i have seen worse and now living in Ga i have seen better. spendd alittle time cleaning it up and see where you come out it could suprise you and only be surface. the rear tho needs to be replaced it's gone but it should be easy it looks to be the bumper

Adrenaline1

iTrader: (1)

Most of that is surface rust as some have mentioned and in reality isnt bad at all. However, that third pic is pretty bad. Again, like others have said theres probably more if its that bad in the back. I highly suggest looking over the car and taking car of it before it gets worse. Its kind of up to you whether or not its worth putting the money into.

Aaron91RS

iTrader: (2)

That rear bumper unbolts. Mine was like that 10 years ago. Replaced it and it didn't do it since.

As for the rest I again had worse 10 years ago but it really hasn't changed much in that time.

That's just surface rust and could easily be sand blasted off and covered. However, even doing nothing if that car was kept garaged and didn't get wet in 10 years you still couldn't put your feet through the floor boards.

Now if you are planning 10+ years then maybe worry more about it. Or if it's going to get wet a lot.

83RecaroTA

I am all for trying to save it but don't be stupid, If you find structural damage just move on. Even if the car feels solid if it is rotted in the wrong places it will not be safe in the event of an accident. I would bring the car to a body shop you trust and see what they have to say about it. Even if it can be fixed you will probably find it more cost effective to get a better car to start with.

Tbh from what I can see in the pictures those rotted lines scare me more then the body.

phasevariance

I would get all those lines replaced asap. That's scary

tlandoe

Seriously, I knew a guy who thought he could fix the rust on his 1971 camaro. The floor pans were perforated pretty badly, but it was definitely structural (into the wheel wells and all over where the rear suspension bolts to the body). He ended up putting a 454 in that car and the first trip to the drag strip and he popped all his welds out and ripped the rear leaf springs out from the body. Granted, the weld job was not the best, but the rotten rust that he thought he could convert and then POR15 over simply couldn't handle it.

I know for a fact that a lot of rust problems, maybe even yours, can be fixed so long as none of the cancer is into the frame or any significant mounting area, but if there is rust in such places, I'd walk away.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

That looks like it was in a flood,did you buy it private or a used car lot?

patricklav

iTrader: (7)

Fix that car up. Its not quick and easy but you can clean up that undercarriage by wirebrushing, cleaning, and then painting with POR15 if its surface rust.

stuman1974

The car is in northern Illinois area, but supposedly stored in the winters while averaging about 5000-6000 miles per year. RWD in the winter here would be a killer anyway. Private party sale.

That POR15 does look interesting. Think that really may help in some areas?

eseibel67

Ya right. That car has seen plenty of winter. Maybe the seller was sying that it wasn't driven last winter. I've seen plenty of cars both ways that actually either have or have not been winter driven. The difference huge.

dodgekiller

you should see my car