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My '86 Cavalier

K

Kreon

Golden Member
My 86 Chevy Cavalier is basically dead
I want to know if anyone knows of anything that could possibly save it


It has frame rot on the driver's side, and body rot on the rear passenger door

Is there any way to save my beloved car?

If not, is there anyone who would want it for parts?
I'd rather it go to a collector for some use than to the scrap yard
 
Just let it go, man. All good things must come to an end.

The amount of money you'd have to put into it to fix it... I imagine you'd be better off putting that money towards another car.
 
Originally posted by: Sqube
Just let it go, man. All good things must come to an end.

The amount of money you'd have to put into it to fix it... I imagine you'd be better off putting that money towards another car.
Click to expand...
This is typically not true. It's almost always cheaper to fix the car you already own - even if you need to dump $1000 into chassis or suspension work. That grand may give you 6 months or more life out of the car. Meanwhile, that's only 3 car payments.

With that said, there comes a time where the money spent on life support is not worth the hassle and discomfort of driving an old POS. I just moved on from a '92 Mazda into an '05 Focus. Sure I probably could have kept the Mazda running for another couple years, but I wouldn't have been as comfortable.
 
To the OP, who gives a crap about rust? Does the car still run? If so, save the money on aesthetic things like body work and just drive the car into the ground.
 
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Originally posted by: Sqube
Just let it go, man. All good things must come to an end.

The amount of money you'd have to put into it to fix it... I imagine you'd be better off putting that money towards another car.
Click to expand...
This is typically not true. It's almost always cheaper to fix the car you already own - even if you need to dump $1000 into chassis or suspension work. That grand may give you 6 months or more life out of the car. Meanwhile, that's only 3 car payments.

With that said, there comes a time where the money spent on life support is not worth the hassle and discomfort of driving an old POS. I just moved on from a '92 Mazda into an '05 Focus. Sure I probably could have kept the Mazda running for another couple years, but I wouldn't have been as comfortable.
Click to expand...
$1,000 to fix frame rot...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh man that's rich.

A proper re-paint on a car that has zero body damage will run $4,000. Fixing just one door can run $750-$1,000.

If his car is as damaged as the post makes it sound, he's looking at huge money for bodywork. He's better off to spend $5,000 on a solid used car that will last him another 10 years.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
To the OP, who gives a crap about rust? Does the car still run? If so, save the money on aesthetic things like body work and just drive the car into the ground.
Click to expand...
It is unsafe to drive a car with frame damage. Why on earth are you recommending that?

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
$1,000 to fix frame rot...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh man that's rich.

A proper re-paint on a car that has zero body damage will run $4,000. Fixing just one door can run $750-$1,000.

If his car is as damaged as the post makes it sound, he's looking at huge money for bodywork. He's better off to spend $5,000 on a solid used car that will last him another 10 years.

ZV
Click to expand...
Who said anything about a proper fix and re-paint on a 86 Cavalier?:roll: My comment was in regards to fixing issues affecting drivability - like tie rod ends, ball joints, shocks/springs, etc.

Dumping money into body damage/rot on such an old car is silly. I'm glad we can agree on that. The difference is, you're suggesting buying another car. I suggest that he keep driving the Cavalier, as long as it runs.
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
To the OP, who gives a crap about rust? Does the car still run? If so, save the money on aesthetic things like body work and just drive the car into the ground.
Click to expand...
It is unsafe to drive a car with frame damage. Why on earth are you recommending that?

ZV
Click to expand...
Why? Because it's cheaper. I didn't think my reasoning was that difficult to follow.

Are those Porsche's of yours in perfect condition? Ever consider what would happen should you get into an accident with an SUV? Everybody manages risk in their own way. Somebody driving a 30+ year old coupe has no room to talk.
 
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: KnightBreed
To the OP, who gives a crap about rust? Does the car still run? If so, save the money on aesthetic things like body work and just drive the car into the ground.
Click to expand...
It is unsafe to drive a car with frame damage. Why on earth are you recommending that?

ZV
Click to expand...
Why? Because it's cheaper. I didn't think my reasoning was that difficult to follow.

Are those Porsche's of yours in perfect condition? Ever consider what would happen should you get into an accident with an SUV? Everybody manages risk in their own way. Somebody driving a 30+ year old coupe has no room to talk.
Click to expand...
They sure as hell don't have frame damage. (For the record, they have, collectively, exactly zero rust.)

Frame damage is a risk to anyone else on the road. This isn't cosmetic rust we're talking about here. Once the frame has rotted, the basic structural integrity of the vehicle is gone. There is NO option other than complete repair of the damaged area of the frame (usually a couple thousand dollars at the cheapest). This is the single main structural piece of the car. It's literally a potential for for the car bending in half just from the stresses of driving, no collision necessary.

Both of my old Porsches are as strong as they day they rolled off the assembly line. A car with a rusted frame is NOT. You can invent strawman arguments all you like, but the simple and uncontestable fact is that a car with a rusted-out frame is structurally unsound on a fundamental level and is simply not even remotely comparable to a car with its main structure completely intact (even if that other can is 30 years old).

ZV
 
There's no frame damage on a Cavalier, because it doesn't have a frame to begin with. It's unibody.

So you might have sub-frame rust...which is not good. Time to junk it. Car isn't worth spending 25 cents on.
 
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
There's no frame damage on a Cavalier, because it doesn't have a frame to begin with. It's unibody.
Click to expand...
For purposes of convenience, the structural parts of a unibody are usually referred to as the "frame". I could have been more clear about that.

ZV
 
wow...an 86 cavalier.

While I'm sure you've had some great times in the car, it probably wasn't all that crash safe the day it came off the assembly line back in 1985.
Fast forward to today, you might as well be driving a cardboard car...no, a card board car that splinters into jagged rusty metal when anything else hits you

Then again, if you hate life, it may be a good investment to strap some 2x4s to the frame to keep the car from collapsing. That way, if the jagged rusty metal shards don't kill you, the fire that ensues from the leaking fuel lines and 2x4s will consume you


Sorry to sound so bleak
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
There's no frame damage on a Cavalier, because it doesn't have a frame to begin with. It's unibody.
Click to expand...
For purposes of convenience, the structural parts of a unibody are usually referred to as the "frame". I could have been more clear about that.

ZV
Click to expand...
You don't have to tell me that...I know it, and I know you know it, but I'm not that sure about everyone else.
 
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
There's no frame damage on a Cavalier, because it doesn't have a frame to begin with. It's unibody.
Click to expand...
For purposes of convenience, the structural parts of a unibody are usually referred to as the "frame". I could have been more clear about that.

ZV
Click to expand...
You don't have to tell me that...I know it, and I know you know it, but I'm not that sure about everyone else.
Click to expand...
Same sentiment behind my own clarification. 🙂

:beer:

ZV
 
Originally posted by: redly1
wow...an 86 cavalier.

While I'm sure you've had some great times in the car, it probably wasn't all that crash safe the day it came off the assembly line back in 1985.
Fast forward to today, you might as well be driving a cardboard car...no, a card board car that splinters into jagged rusty metal when anything else hits you

Then again, if you hate life, it may be a good investment to strap some 2x4s to the frame to keep the car from collapsing. That way, if the jagged rusty metal shards don't kill you, the fire that ensues from the leaking fuel lines and 2x4s will consume you


Sorry to sound so bleak
Click to expand...

i loled

 
Originally posted by: Wolfie
Man, I used to own a 86 cav RS. 5 speed. Two door. Digital Dash. haha I loved that car.
Click to expand...
The Cavalier was the best-selling car a couple of years in the 80's, and was never out of the top 5, so lots of folks had them, that's for sure.
 
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Wolfie
Man, I used to own a 86 cav RS. 5 speed. Two door. Digital Dash. haha I loved that car.

</end quote></div>
The Cavalier was the best-selling car a couple of years in the 80's, and was never out of the top 5, so lots of folks had them, that's for sure.
Click to expand...

No doubt about that. I know it was my first "decent" used car I bought. I bet I put about 45,000 miles on it the first year I owned it. After that, I think I put about 120,000 miles on it in 5 years. I drove the P!ss out of that car and it never let me down. I finaly had to sell it as living in Minnesota, the salt took it's toll on it. It fell apart like Kreon's car did. Unibody sucks.
 
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