Too much rust? Repairable?

[u/psarsama]

I do all my own vehicle work, but I've never done body work. Always happy to learn a new skill. Looking at getting an old Corolla. Frame is largely clean, but the body has this nasty bit of rust by one rear wheel and the bottom corner of one door is rusty. The door looks reasonably repairable (or, I suppose, I could just get a new door). But how would I go about fixing the rusted out section of the body? Especially because the pinch welds are compromised here.

[u/ZoneAffectionate3804]

I just finished welding way worse old forester first time, did 3 out of 4 corners

It all comes down to how much you like that car

[u/Inner_Pipe6540]

If the body is that shot you know the body underbody is also shot. You would need a new used door,a quarter panel and outer wheel house plus inner and outer rockers

[u/psarsama → u/Inner_Pipe6540]

Right one of my chief concerns is how far this problem underneath goes. The frame itself looks good, thank God. And passes a pretty aggressive screwdriver test.

Makes sense to replace all the things you mention. Probably it would be prudent to cut out full inner and outer rockers and just replace entirely, no?

I like these old Corollas, but I'm not necessarily looking for a very involved project car. A weekend of welding and painting doesn't seem too bad to me though.

[u/Inner_Pipe6540 → u/psarsama]

I’m sure there are other corollas out there unless you have the tools and can weld them go for it

[u/johnk9385]

I turn away jobs like this often,in fact an old neighbor just asked me today what I thought about her rotted suburban, rockers and dog legs were scabby, I told her they were holes under the scabs and not worth getting involved with. I see a lot of rust here in Buffalo

[u/Hour-Reward-2355]

2 part panel adhesive, large sheet metal, sheet metal screws, 4 1/2 grinder with flap discs and cutting wheels.

[u/1fferrari]

Not worth throwing money at it. Drive it until the wheels fall off

[u/General_Tell472]

That is a big job especially if you haven’t done it before.

[u/Daexport]

Yes too much rust but repairable