[6pack] Floorpan replacement and Rust repair quote...

Wed Jun 10 08:25:23 MDT 2015

James:
These are not particularly rare cars (yet) so it's hard to make a case for the kind of repair this British car "artiste" is pushing. Objectively speaking, this guy is so stubbornly set in his ways that I would walk away from him - no run!

I had a moment of truth like that with my car. It was there in plain sight when I drove 700 miles to buy it - fiberglass patch on the panel beneath the battery. It was not exactly pristine correct but it was solid. I had to make a decision then, but I did buy it. After all the other work I did on the car it was NOT an item that ever caused me concern. Frankly, if I was faced with doing that same repair I probably would have done the same thing.
What I'm saying here is that if you enjoy your car and are otherwise happy with it, save yourself some money and have it fixed in whatever way that makes sense. Like paint and modifications, repairs can be re-done by future owners.
PS - Silicone fluid is just fantastic! 
Jim Jones

      From: James_ via 6pack <6pack at autox.team.net>
 To: "6pack at autox.team.net" <6pack at autox.team.net> 
 Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2015 3:42 PM
 Subject: [6pack] Floorpan replacement and Rust repair quote...

Hi all…
First….I am so depressed - I may sell the TR6 and walk away….seriously…even after 22 years of my entire adult life.
I just met and got a quote from a guy that generally works on Austin Healey's…and I gather he does very high end work….and accustom to people with deep pockets.So that was probably my mistake, but still is probably the best approach to have work done 100% thorough and correct.
First: I was told floor pans require the car body to be off the frame to replace.First overwhelming thought…body of the car? ugh.
Second: I have a few bad spots of rust that need panels fabricated and welded. The worse is under the master cylinder and rust haseaten through the inner and outer wheel arch. It affects the pedal box too.(I can send a picture if anyone is interested)
So the guy was really wanting the body removed, sand blasted, panels repaired and powder coated.Sounds awesome. But it all gets down to time and money. a LOT of money and the rest of the year.Roughly, looking at $10-20K. for a TR6. yikes. Not sure I love the car that much. I know repairing old cars will ALWAYS cost more than a car is worth.I know that. Don't lecture about that. But...my rust is not a 'rust bucket' by any means. And for $20K I can find a car that comes close to showroom condition!!!
I guess I am so depressed / disappointed / overwhelmed / sad / hmmmm….what else…
…I am at a loss as to what to do. One option: Say screw it and live with the rotten areas, put the car back to gather and drive it.or:Sell the dang thing and walk away. Maybe I finally reached that "mercy…mercy…no more…make it stop" stage.- I doubt I could bring myself to buy a TR6 again….I mean, what's the point. Mine isn't THAT awful and  I know the history of THIS car.
Or:another option….(my original desire/thought) is to have the areas repaired and new floor boards installed by someone that does a really good welding job but not nearly as intense of a procedure or expensive. I know…you get what you pay for. 
This winter: I removed everything from the engine to detail it out and everything is ready to go back in once the rust was fixed and engine bay painted.At this point, I may as well sell off all the PARTS - they'd be worth more they the car as a whole at this point. And everything is removed!(only half kidding….)

Oh, one more thing….this guy is DEAD set against my thought of switching to Silicone brake fluid. I mean, DEAD set against and talking about warranty being voided if I use it.I looked at him and said: "What Warranty is that?" "It isn't like there is a dealership I can go to" "I buy parts, I put them on." I am the warranty department!He mentioned the warranty of the parts I buy from Moss, etc. hmmmm….They void it if the silicone falls the parts.Really? Moss SELLS Silicone brake fluid. I suspect all this is because his DAD is against Silicone and he just follows what his dad hates. 
I was recently curious why auto stores don't seem to carry DOT 5 Silicone as much as the other types. So now with this restoration guy's comments…is Silicone THAT bad/poorly rated?
Well, any advice or words of comfort?
James
1976 TR6 

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