What To Look For

[paulk68]

I am going to look at 68 camaro this weekend. I know the major areas to look at for rust, but what are some of the OTHER places to look. Also this car has a vinyl top i have never owned a car with one is there a way to tell if it is in good shape or what could be hiding under it. do most of you guys use a magnet to check out body work? is there something that works better than a magnet? i think it would be helpfull to have a check list to bring with me so please give me your best ideas when looking at a first gen camaro.
thank you

[TA219]

As i got to thinking about areas to look i began to think about where i found rust on mine..... everywhere! lol.
I assume that when you say major areas you are talking about 1/4 panels, back / bottom of the front fenders, front and rear of rocker panels, trunk floor, car floor, wheel wells, frame rails.... that is all that i can think of that you can see while just looking at a car.

I do not know what the best method is to inspect the roof or using a magnet to check for bondo

[mpozzi]

Get a piece of that flexible magnetic sign material. Drape it on various body panels and if they've got plastic on them, no stickie.

Get inside of the trunk and look up where the rear package tray sits and all around the panel between the rear window and the trunk lid. That area's a prime candidate for rust and evidence of repairs.

As for the top, that's also a prime candidate for rusting. If there's bubbling around the top or it's loose at the edges, plan on there being rust.

I don't want to sound too negative but some rust should be expected as it's a 40 year-old car. You just don't want to be doing major repairs to correct it.

Pull up the mat in the trunk floor and check for rust there.

Look for signs of prior collision repairs. Do the fender and body panels fit well? Are there clearance issues or gaps that don't look symmetrical side-to-side? While these cars weren't perfect from the beginning, if you see a 1/2" gap between a fender and door on one side and a quarter-inch on the other ... that's a hint to look a bit closer.

If the suspension is OEM, be prepared to replace bushings. Check the body mount bushings as they'll probably be worn through. Same thing with UCA/LCA bushings and other steering components.

Check and inspect for drivetrain fluid leaks and I'd expect to see some grime indicating they're there. If these leaks are severe, you'll see drips and even puddles under the car. Again, plan on resealing those problem areas.

Hope the car works out and post pics if you are the new owner.

Cheers,
Mary Pozzi