Checking over used cars

[r_chez_08]

Hi,
As some of you may know, I am looking to buy my first car.
I really like the 3 door mk1 golf/ rabbits like in my dp.

Being into fabrication, repair and restoring, I would like to get an MOT failure or rolling shell. I have found someone selling 3 rolling shells locally, but I would like some honest advice-

Firstly, what should I be checking for on a rolling shells as the cars are around 30-40 years old! Obviously I need to check rust and paint, but what else? (I don't want a rust bucket like bluethunder )

Secondly, for those who 'know' me, do you think I will be capable of fixing it up? Obviously I am doing it mainly for the learning experience rather than price, but I want to end up with a reasonably reliable drivable car at the end. I can start learning anywhere after my 17th birthday in April, but I have about 10 weeks until I am back at school now, so I will have quite a bit of time. ('study' leave is great!!!)

Thanks
Rob

 

[bighead]

I always heard they are nightmare to work on? Not bad quality Just weird stuff. A friend at work has one and talks about stuff all the time. Stuff like remove the front end to get to parts. Wierd brakes and stuff like that. Besides him I know nothing about these cars so take that with some salt.

Looks for any damage like dents,folding or crinkles....... Rust at spot welds or welds. Look for any paint that is cracking or peeling from stress.

Thats all I can think off of the top of my head.

If all 3 are at the same location and one looks bent. Take some fast measurments from the other two? IDK friend, good luck though.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

(I don't want a rust bucket like bluethunder )
Rob

LOL.... yeah and people in school know me as the kid with the death trap truck

its too late now but i wish i got something with less rust... i would go rebuild my engine ANY DAY over reconstructing the frame

make sure the suspension is smooth and nothing is cracked, im sure you could make a good judgement on whats going to be usable or whats going to have to be ripped apart like my truck...

fun stuff

EDIT: how cheap are VW parts? here, parts for my F150 are about the cheapest of any vehicle, there were so many made

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad86/bluethunder3320/photo-1772.jpg

 

[bighead]

LOL.... yeah and people in school know me as the kid with the death trap truck

its too late now but i wish i got something with less rust... i would go rebuild my engine ANY DAY over reconstructing the frame

make sure the suspension is smooth and nothing is cracked, im sure you could make a good judgement on whats going to be usable or whats going to have to be ripped apart like my truck...

fun stuff

EDIT: how cheap are VW parts? here, parts for my F150 are about the cheapest of any vehicle, there were so many made

http://i924.photobucket.com/albums/ad86/bluethunder3320/photo-1772.jpg

Some POR15 and it will be fine.

If you makes you feel better I drove jolopies for my first 5 years driving. Hoopties bigtime....

When I got pick and pull I see 20 to 30 little rangers just like mine. It really is nice for parts wise.

 

[r_chez_08]

I think parts are average/ expensive due to availability and high quality. Dunno about difficulty of repairing, but I would probably strip most of it down if it was a rolling chassis.
I hear that VW's are generally great quality.

I hope they are cood condition, waiting for the bloke to get back to me. Here is the listing for a golf caddy truck he is selling. Hope they are better than that!!!

Wow blue, that really is rusty! I am happy patching small areas and maybe welding/ replacing small sections, but I would rather have something with good paint work because resprays are really hard to DIY and cost around £1000 cheapest!

I hope I can get a good shell almost complete without engine under £500. I don't want to spend much over £1000 for a first car. I have around £700 saved so far in my money jar. (wow that rhymes!)

 

[jamyers]

Y'all are 7 months behind.

 

[r_chez_08]

Thanks guys, bit late tho!
I have a nice 1984 1.3 petrol golf (rabbit) now, haven't found it hard to work on. Paid too much lol, but not over the odds.
Not a bit of rust (apart from a few surface bits) on her anywhere, paint is original, a little stone chipped, but solid. 85k on the chassis, 95k on the engine. A few bits of bodge here and there, but slowly fixing them. Installing a period stereo and redoing the gearbox selector linkages atm. Shes the reason I havent been round here much lately, my buggy feels a little neglected I bet!
Do love cars tho, despite the fact my driving is terrible! Haha. I'll post some pics up here if anyone is interested.
Cheers
Rob

 

[Nodroz]

I'll post some pics up here if anyone is interested.
Cheers
Rob

Ofcourse we are! Go get your camera!
Haha

 

[r_chez_08]

Ofcourse we are! Go get your camera!
Haha

Haha, I have some pics, but its getting late here, so ill put them up tomorrow. The car is dirty atm though, have to wait until easter for a t cut, posh shampoo wash and a wax and polish. Can't wait to see how well the paint comes up!

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Dontcha just hate it when a spammer/troll/other waste of space comes along and lights a fire in an otherwise dormant thread?

 

[landuse]

Dontcha just hate it when a spammer/troll/other waste of space comes along and lights a fire in an otherwise dormant thread?

I agree. He had posted links to some online car site which i removed. He got a nice pm from me, but as usual, no reply. Hes from the Philipines as well.

 

[r_chez_08]

There was spam? Haha didn't realise that! Yeah its a pita, thanks as always mods for being as efficient as you are.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

We do our best to keep this place as cool as possible. As usual, we mods would like to kick the thank-you's uphill to Robert. Without him, this place would suck!

 

[toystory2]

You said it dad! Oh yeah,thanks Robert.

 

[souperman000]

Kaptain Krunch was the source of the spam?

Crap, now we are all being spammers.

 

[OzFab]

We do our best to keep this place as cool as possible. As usual, we mods would like to kick the thank-you's uphill to Robert. Without him, this place would suck!

Correction: Without Robert, this place wouldn't exist!

 

[Kaptain Krunch]

Kaptain Krunch was the source of the spam?

Crap, now we are all being spammers.

no there was spam before me, and i wasnt paying attention

 

[voided]

I've had 13 vw's and all of them were fun. Right now I'm driving a 2005 touareg..

Once you learn there engineering you won't drive anything else.. But with a Vw its a love hate relationship. You love it when its running perfect and your modding it.. Your gonna hate to fix it.

I've had anything from 87 (mk2), to 95 (mk3), corrado's, b5 passat, and my touareg..