Should we buy? Surface rust and clearcoat peeling

[Dc2x4drvr]

The body corrosion is one thing, better look underneath, rust never stops.
Good Luck!

[mose]

I would consider 'Surface rust' what's on the left where the paint is chipped. The big difference is that surface rust can be treated from the outside and painted and you're good to go. But when the rust is 'cancerous', it's buried underneath and you must cut out the exterior metal in order to access, treat, and fix. Such as automotive rocker panels, trunk lips, cab corners, windshield channels, and other trapped areas. (I've done quite a bit of rust repair on car/truck projects.)

To me, that single spot just appears that the little door was allowing water intrusion between the exterior skin and interior, but likely above a reinforcement channel, which trapped the water and caused it to rust from inside out. (I had a similar situation under my exterior fridge vent/door, but caught it way before it rusted through.) That spot alone looks terrible, but could be isolated. And the other spot you describe sounds like a similar water intrusion/trap area.

If the rest of the bus looks great, I would not consider that a deal breaker. However those areas are also indicators that the bus was in an environment that harbored rust and that there could be a lot more cancer in other areas. If there are rust bubbles in many areas along the length of the rivets, seams, and channels, then I would be much more concerned. And I'd take a good look at the underside, bay interiors, under the step area, suspension, etc. to gauge the overall rust condition.

EDIT: More pictures may help.

[Thumbqdm]

You need look no further than this thread.

https://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.c...ad.php?t=40944

Here is a very clean Bird of the same year as the rust bucket. Sure the price is 45K (not 30K of the rust bucket), but its 45K OBO!! The rust bucket will cost much more than 15K to fix once, and because it likely has been subject to a lot of corrosion, once may not be the only time the body needs repairs.

Sorry to be so blunt (rust bucket), but I've lived most of my life in southeast Michigan. They apply salt on top of salt in the winter. I've seen the rusty results. I hate rust. You rarely can get ahead of it unless you do a frame-off restoration (try that on a Bird).

[atckip]

I haven't seen this bus since the last time J came to the WOG rally. As I remember... it always had weak paint. But it is a Georgia bus that I believe J was storing inside a warehouse. I haven't seen it, but I'd be surprised if it was ate up with rust???
Along with necessary maintenance, it probably needs tires and batteries. Still, lots of work and money. Your level of mechanical ability comes into play also. Can you do the work or will you be writing checks to someone else?
I believe...You are always ahead buying the best maintained coach you can get. Spend 45k upfront and have a road ready bus you can enjoy right away or buy a project and end up spending the same amount over a period of time while it sits in the yard.

[Crit Bliss]

Looks significant, galvanic reaction from a bad ground?

[Randy Dupree]

Originally Posted by Thumbqdm

You need look no further than this thread.

https://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.c...ad.php?t=40944

Here is a very clean Bird of the same year as the rust bucket. Sure the price is 45K (not 30K of the rust bucket), but its 45K OBO!! The rust bucket will cost much more than 15K to fix once, and because it likely has been subject to a lot of corrosion, once may not be the only time the body needs repairs.

Sorry to be so blunt (rust bucket), but I've lived most of my life in southeast Michigan. They apply salt on top of salt in the winter. I've seen the rusty results. I hate rust. You rarely can get ahead of it unless you do a frame-off restoration (try that on a Bird).

Chips bus has good history,the guy he bought it from only sold it because he had 2 birds (what wrong with that?).
He had spend a lot of time and money on Chips,before selling it back to Chip.

[golfster]

Originally Posted by Pike-Elliots

Should we buy? Surface rust and clearcoat peeling

Today we are looking at a 1990 SP36 in Georgia.
The owner passed away, he was a member of this group and meticulously maintained it mechanically. As far as we know the only issue is some surface rust in certain spots on the exterior and pretty significant peeling of the clearcoat. Would love this community to let us know how much we will have to invest to fix this! And, if the surface rust is a dealbreaker. Is it something we can fix ourselves? There is some rust and corrosion around the water inlet. The metal will have to be replaced. Guide us!

That would have to be fixed plus there is more rust if there is rust like that. To fix rust like that you have to cut out everything until you get to clean metal. Check under the bus. I've fixed older cars with that kind of rust before and if it is done right it can look good. If it is not something you want to fix then walk. If there is frame rust like that run.

I would not pay a lot for the bus. I personally wouldn't want to fit that monster size project.