[shea1124]

Hey Everyone,

This is my first time using this forume and im not sure if i am posting this in the right section. but i recently bought a 1989 Suzuki Sierra 1.3 lt, original no mods done. It has a few things that need fixing some bigger things like the carby i just had it cleaned out but it needs to be replaced eventually and there is a small crack in the something and coolent leaks out unless i put radiator stop leak in it.. so eventually i also need to get a new engine it in. other than that only smaller things.. considering its ages it only has about 5 patches of rust (which i have put up photos of) i dont know what the best thing to do is.. i dont know if it is worth getting the rust cut out and the car completely sprayed for rust then a respray or to just sell it and find another car.. i bought it for 3500. and i love the car but i just dont know if its worth getting the engine reconditioned/ carby recond and the whole rust removed and a whole new respray ?? if you hadnt gathered already i dont know much about cars but i do love this one.


What do you guys think?? PLEASE HELP ME.

[Fatzook]

Hi!

Welcome to the forum!

So you want to know if its worth repairing the rust?

By the looks of pics #2 and #4, someone has tried to repair the rust before, no doubt making it worse.

The rust in the doors is easy to fix. Just buy some second hand doors ($100-300).

The rust under the windscreen frame will need some time spent on it though.

Where are you located?

[shea1124]

hey thanks for your reply... yeah i think one of the previous owners tried .... i went around some panel beaters and got some quotes to fix it and asked about a respray they didnt think it was worth it.. but i am a girl to who knows nothing much about cars so they prob didnt take me seriously.. i am located in rockingham... do second hand doors line up properly because i think i have second hand ones on now.. and they dont line up properly so they are a pain in the ass.. yeah and i was going to spend a lot on getting the engine done and a lift kit and stuff so i guess i havent seen a lot of seirras to know if mine is actually in pretty good condition to spend that amount of money on it..

[wolf_rt]

I would be having a really good look at the rest of the car to find any more rust before you went ahead and got the rust fixed, when you strip the car out to fix the rust, you almost always find more, and more ect...
Where is coolant leaking from? Leaking coolant shouldn't mean the engine needs rebuilding...

If the rust pictured is the ONLY rust in the car it should be worth fixing properly, and if you like the car then go for it...
Also consider that if you spend money on the engine/suspension ect. you can fairly easily drop a whole new body onto your current chassis, if you decide the body is too far gone.

[shea1124]

the machanic said that there is a crack in the head or something llike that he said it might last a year but then at the same time he couldnt be sure plus i need a new carby and i think a crack in the radiator also... as for the rust they are the only areas that are being eaten away.. as for under the paint work im not sure but i could deal with that if it arises. im gettin the car fully looked over next week at the chassis and all that to make sure there is nothing else major wrong if i did decide to spend the money on doing it up.. as for the new body that is a very good idea that i never thought of..

thank you for your response

[wolf_rt]

check in every nook and cranny... the sills under that plastic trim, the tailgate, the floors ect...

[alien]

thats VERY rusty! i'd be concerned about other hidden rust like the others said - especially being in WA, where most sierras have seen the beach and not been cleaned properly (and lets not forget you've got a 2nd hand paint job there too, who knows what thats hiding).

sorry to say it, but $3500 for a rusty sierra with a cracked head is way too much to pay, even at WA prices!

[wolf_rt]

Well she has brought the cor now so no point worrying about what was paid for it...

You sure its a cracked head? that's not the easiest thing to diagnose with the head still on the car...

I would recommend figuring out exactly where you are at mechanically before you make and decisions about the body. (you said you have it booked in.. that's good)

The sluggishness you described in the other thread is likely to be caused by the fitment of the larger tires with appropriate gearing changes.

has the head gasket been replaced??? (you can usually see if the gasket is new by looking around between the block and head.
I'd be wary of a diagnosis of a cracked head.. The mechanic 'may' be trying to take you for a ride.
(N.B. I have little experience with sierra engines, and don't know if they are prone to cracking heads)

Try this... When the car is cold remove the radiator cap and fill to the brim with water... start the car and top up the water if necessary... look for any bubbles coming out of the water (this would usually indicate a blown head gasket, though a crack in the head inside the combustion chamber, or a severe crack inside the exhaust port may also cause bubbles in the coolant)

If bubbles are present, and the car doesn't appear to have a new head gasket, i would definitely be changing the head gasket before thinking of a cracked head