"Normal rust"....a craigslist rant

[jcramsey]

Can someone please tell me what "normal rust" is for one of these trucks? Asked craigslist seller if there were any more areas with similar rust other than the visible rocker panels/cab corners shown in the pics and he says "normal rust for a 69". Thanks for nothing, pal!

[leddzepp]

It is very subjective and you really need to look at the truck yourself in person and decide.

[71sierragrande]

Heres a quick translation for "normal rust": It's rusty

[GoaterAz]

If it's not too far away, I'd take a look at it.

If it's far away, it doesn't sound like a guy I want to deal with.

There is no such thing as 'normal rust,' there are common areas for rust...that term is simply subjective.

[tommys72]

Originally Posted by 71sierragrande

Heres a quick translation for "normal rust": It's rusty

that sounds about right

[67ChevyRedneck]

Depending on where it spent its life in Charleston, that could be bad. Definitely check above the drip rails, UNDER the inside windshield gasket at the top, and above the windshield gently push on the metal. If it moves or makes crunchy sounds run. The cab will need major repairs.

Other than that, probably the door bottoms, fender bottoms, cab corners, and rockers all need repair for a "typical rust" South Carolina truck.

[jcramsey]

From his lack of detail I was assuming it was almost rusted to he ground and held together with bondo and spray paint. He said he thinks the floors are solid....again, so helpful I agree on the subjectivity and the need to check it out in person. It's about four hours from me but only a half hour or so for my dad and brother. Gonna see if they can go check it out for me. I'm just more annoyed by vague three to four word answers to an email asking a fairly specific question....

[slowcpe]

What was said above plus lower kick panels, passenger side inner fender and front fender cups. You could easily put "normal rust spots" in an ad and mean basically the entire truck is a rust bucket.

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Depending on where it spent its life in Charleston, that could be bad. Definitely check above the drip rails, UNDER the inside windshield gasket at the top, and above the windshield gently push on the metal. If it moves or makes crunchy sounds run. The cab will need major repairs.

Other than that, probably the door bottoms, fender bottoms, cab corners, and rockers all need repair for a "typical rust" South Carolina truck.

It's a NC truck so I'm hoping door bottoms etc as you said. I did look at a 67 out on James Island before and it looked like they drug out from the Harbor when they discovered the Hunley submarine.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by jcramsey

It's a NC truck so I'm hoping door bottoms etc as you said. I did look at a 67 out on James Island before and it looked like they drug out from the Harbor when they discovered the Hunley submarine.

I love Charleston. My wife and I spent our anniversary there last week for 5 days. We try to go at least once, sometimes 2 or 3 times a year.

Charleston does not like classics. I saw a green 68 longbed that looked like it was dipped in salt and left in a sauna.

Doesn't like new cars either. Two years ago one of those carriage tours broke the mirror on my Z71 (it was parked).

Speaking of the Hunley, I saw it years ago when they first started to display it to the public. I then saw it last week again. It was cool to see how different it looked. The rust conversion is DONE. They started using a new solvent in the tank just a few months ago to start to dissolve/remove the cementious sea life material. The tank is full for 4 days, drained, then two people scrape a strip 2" wide all the way around the sub. That takes about 2 days, the 90,000 gallon tank is refilled with the water/solvent and sits for another 4 days. They said it should be complete in about a year, and then it will be moved a couple miles away to it's own museum where you'll be able to see it much better and NOT in a giant tank of water!

[davepl]

I don't know how many non-rusted trucks are still out there, but buying mine with zero rust was a huge budget-saver. I think next time I'd try the metalwork myself, but paying someone else to do it is like hiring an attorney.

"Normal rust" on these trucks probably means all of the rust that rusty trucks normally have. Maybe he'll tell you which are surface and which you can stick a screwdriver through, but I wouldn't touch it without a personal inspection.

[ebfabman]

How about a description of condition with "as found" or "driver condition" when describing a part(s) for sale. Don't ya love buyin old used stuff!!! sheeshh.....

[In The Ten Ring]

Our trucks all seem to have the same places for rust so I'd assume that's what the seller means. As for me, I'm down with paying more for less rust since I am not a body man.

I used to sell cars and although the lot manager was a slim ball, he was right about a few things and one of those was, "you can't talk price over the phone." Get over there, inspect it, drive it, test it out, get under it (with safety glasses on) and THEN talk price. Test drive might include a pressure test at a local shop.

[PanelDeland]

I like "rust free" It generally means the truck is more than half rust but if you buy it, you get the "rust Free".

[special-K]

I used to look for rust free only. As time has passed and panels now available,I'd consider a truck with "minimal rust". As mentioned, normal rust means it's rusty because it's normal for a truck to have rusted out rockers,corners,cab supports,outer floor,cowl,right front fender bottom,door bottoms,core support,inner fenders,cowl area...
Rust, mechanical condition, or whatever, if the seller doesn't give informative answers you need to walk away or go look with ears turned off and see for yourself whether it's something you want r not. Generally, the first option will be the best. It just depends on how hard you are looking.

[Old Truck Man]

Normal rust , rusted in the common areas, ready to restore, in very good conditiom for what it is. ect are not descriptions. Unless it tells something definite its all blather. The best way is to see it in person.

[Keith Seymore]

Normal rust for a squarebody in Michigan means you can see through the fenders.

K

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by special-K

Rust, mechanical condition, or whatever, if the seller doesn't give informative answers you need to walk away or go look with ears turned off and see for yourself whether it's something you want r not. Generally, the first option will be the best. It just depends on how hard you are looking.

This is where I'm at. He's no help, and I'm not looking hard. If he's still got it in two weeks when I go visit my family, I'll go check it out.

[TheCougarine]

That kind of description has always been a huge pet peeve of mine, especially when someone is wanting the price of a perfect vehicle. I had a guy trying to sell me a car once that was full of rust but kept repeating it was perfect. He kept showing the me the NADA price for a car in top condition. Which was something like 13K. He just kept telling me every car that was 25 years old had rust and all the external plastics were gone. What a joke, a car no matter the year is not in "perfect" when its full or rust.

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I love Charleston. My wife and I spent our anniversary there last week for 5 days. We try to go at least once, sometimes 2 or 3 times a year.

Charleston does not like classics. I saw a green 68 longbed that looked like it was dipped in salt and left in a sauna.

Doesn't like new cars either. Two years ago one of those carriage tours broke the mirror on my Z71 (it was parked).

Speaking of the Hunley, I saw it years ago when they first started to display it to the public. I then saw it last week again. It was cool to see how different it looked. The rust conversion is DONE. They started using a new solvent in the tank just a few months ago to start to dissolve/remove the cementious sea life material. The tank is full for 4 days, drained, then two people scrape a strip 2" wide all the way around the sub. That takes about 2 days, the 90,000 gallon tank is refilled with the water/solvent and sits for another 4 days. They said it should be complete in about a year, and then it will be moved a couple miles away to it's own museum where you'll be able to see it much better and NOT in a giant tank of water!

Let me know next time you come to town!

I agree the salt water air is rough on old cars that stay out near Folly/IOP and the other beaches. There is however a pretty good car scene down here with a fair number of events that happen on a regular basis.

Interesting to hear about the sub. We've been down here 4 1/2 years but I havent been to check it out yet. I've got to get out more.

[Paul V]

I am from the UK and have been trying to buy a C10 for some time.

I have had 2 trucks inspected @ $400 a time, both said 100% rust free both were lying though there Ass It then i realized what i think it rust free is not that same as most people! The one tuck you could put your hands though the bottom of the doors, and your feet though the floors, and the guy still says it is 100% rust free.

But 3rd time lucky i found what i hope is a good truck just got to wait until early January next year to find out.

[special-K]

I've seen many people call rust bubbles in the paint surface rust. Yeah right, like the surface of an iceberg or that pair of eyes coming at you in the swamp

90% rust free means the lower 10% is gone.

I like the pinky size hole line. If a rocker has a pinky (or dime) sized hole, the panel needs to be replaced. Might as well be fist size.

[franken]

Normal rust is whatever rust the truck has. This vintage vehicle had at best primer over steel, and so they rusted from the inside out. We've all seen 1/4-3/8" rust pimples that are 1/8" on the other side. Nasty.

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by jcramsey

Can someone please tell me what "normal rust" is for one of these trucks? Asked craigslist seller if there were any more areas with similar rust other than the visible rocker panels/cab corners shown in the pics and he says "normal rust for a 69". Thanks for nothing, pal!

What "Normal rust" means is the truck has been so eaten away by rust that he's gonna try to find a sucker who doesn't know anything to buy it.

[Acorn]

I have a "dear lease/zombi apocalypse special" blazer that I always joke and say it has a rust free floor board. Because technically, big holes are not rust! I just put an "emergency exit" sticker next to the big hole and call it a custom option!