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Rust Issues

D

Damn Rust

New member
Hi guys,

I'm sure you've have had a few of these threads. I'm including pics so that hopefully it helps to see how bad (or not) the problem is. I am trying to figure out whether I should have the rust dealt with. Here is what is rusting:


  • Rocker Panels - I understand this is very common. I knew it when my passenger side panel started rusting about 6-7 years ago and I saw all the other GPs on the road with the same issue. The driver side panel held up well, but it's starting to rust now too. I had the passenger side panel cut out and replaced five years ago and it is now starting to rust as well. The body shop told me they had to fabricate a new rocker themselves because none were available for the GP unless I bought a new set of doors, and that was expensive! I'm kind of doubting this now, as I see by reading this forum that you can buy these things on eBay. And that's why I registered, to get some opinions on whether I should even bother. Cost of that repair was $800. Well worth it for the last five years of mostly no visible rust. I'd hate to see what that panel would look like today if I didn't have this done. What do you think I'd be looking at cost wise to do the same today if I bought the panels on ebay and had a body shop do the work? Looking at the car, it looks like there is some rust on the door and rocker panel cover too. :mad:
  • Gas tank door - I see from the common problems thread that this is also a bit of a known issue. I have a spot of rust under my door. It seems to be spreading slowly, or even not at all. Is there an easy way for a body shop to take care of this?

The car is a '97 with 230km on it. Great car, fun to drive. Wish it didn't have rust.

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Not to get off topic, but where did you get those mud flaps? Can't find any like that anymore. And I'm curious to see pics of the rust under the gas door..
 
It's Canada. Rust is living the high life. It's not economically wise to spend that on rust repair on a 1997 Grand Prix though. That would be murdering good money.
 
brandonl2000 said:
Not to get off topic, but where did you get those mud flaps? Can't find any like that anymore. And I'm curious to see pics of the rust under the gas door..
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Yeah, I didn't think to take a pic of that at the time. I'll take a pic of that this week.

The mud flaps were purchased at a Pontiac dealer, at the same time I had the rocker fixed. The body shop was kind enough to install them for me. Just had to have them!
 
brandonl2000 said:
Especially an SE that may or may not have a 3100?
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No! That's an insult!

It definitely has a 3800.

Guess I kind of knew that repairing this wouldn't be wise. I plan to keep the car for however long it lasts. 1 year, 2, 3, who knows? I don't mind paying under $1,000, if it's possible to take care of the rust for that amount.
 


welding new patches and undercoating the **** out of it after wards to help prevent rust, you will never stop it, just slow it.

for the gas door, theres a foam behind it that holds, salt, water, gas and causes the rust.. same thing weld in new patch and try and get undercoating behind to seal it.
 


Part it out...scrape the rest. Save and buy another gp with no or less rust. It's not smart to put the money into it that it's going going to cost to repair it correct. Plus Gp are a dime a dozen.
 
All cars cost money. Makes more sense to fix something before it gets worse, then shell out more $$ for another car. Sand blast it, epoxy primer and paint. For the babies, paint remover disk, rust remover solution then throw on some kbs rust seal or eastwood encapsulator.
 


repairing it will be cheaper than buying another car, but as stated above WATCH THOSE STRUT TOWERS, i had to get rid of my GT when one of them fell thru due to rust
 
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