Can this under carriage be restored?

[Chris E]

Hi, I am looking at a HDJ100 diesel in France, to potentially purchase. The owner have sent me some photos and there are some significant rust under the car. The rest of the car is ok, just need some interior improvements (new leather for front seats and one or two new door panels. It is full specifications and manual which is quite rare here (most are auto).

From what I seen on the the photos I think the frame and the under carriage need complete restoration (probably lifting the body off to do the job properly). It looks like most of it is surface rust but in some places it looks like more than just surface rust.
Thoughts or views from anyone with experience from an similar under carriage would be much appreciated. Am I naive thinking it can be restored? Many thanks in advance

 

[Beijing Ballie]

I would not let that amount of rust stop me buying the vehicle, as long as the rest of the thing are agreeable. the question would be are you intending to clean and rust proof it yourself or getting it done by a specialist. There is nothing that looks too far gone in those photographs

 

[Shayne]

I can't see anything that would alarm me , just in time to be saved with a wire brush and rust converter i'm thinking

 

[karl2000]

It probably looks worse than it is, most of it looks like surface rust. A couple of days with a wire brush / angle grinder and it would probably look a million times better.

 

[Chris E]

Thanks very useful, that is what I was hoping. If I buy it will probably pay someone to do the under carriage restoration since I don't have the space or at least get some help from someone with the space and share the work. I'll go and see the car.

 

[fittus]

I can also confirm that i can't see anything that would alarm me.
It's a possible task. You have to spend some time, if you want to make it right!
These are the steps:
1. High-pressure cleaning
2. Manual rust removal, where it is necessary
3. Apply deruster und let it work
4. High-pressure cleaning of the used deruster
5. Apply rust protection primer
6. Final paint application at least two layers

See my work here:
Is it OK to buy LC 100 with rust in the axles - [Leaving Land Cruiser Club]

 

[Chris E]

Thanks the advice. The work you did looks very good. Seems you are in Austria which is a bit far from here otherwise I would probably asked for your services.
When doing this work I image that I would want to lift the body off and dissemble all the parts (remove engine, gearbox, axles, cross members, rods, cables etc) before restoring them and putting it back together (as it was originally assembled in factory).
Was that how you did it or could you restore it with all the parts still assembled? And related to that, is the €4-5k estimate based on dissembling and restoring or just restoring as is / assembled? I image that whether all the rusty screws are removed as part of the restoration will make a significant difference to the total effort.

 

[karl2000]

Personally I think youll struggle to get someone to do a decent job for a reasonable price. It's all labour and 4k labour doesn't go very far.

 

[madmanmart]

That’s not bad in my opinion and I’ve seen a lot worse.
If it’s the spec you want and the price is ok then I’d go for it.

 

[Tractionman]

The only problem is when you get someone to do it for you, you don't know if their methods/prep/treatment is done, or as good as your own efforts, which if done properly can take a long time in hours put in.
Prep is the absolute key to anything they may cover it up with, unless it's Krown where you can still see the rust !

 

[fittus]

Hello,

thanks for your respect. It is only hobby for me and i have unfortunately insufficient time through my profession...

Yes, i agree absolutely to Tractionman that it is an enormous effort to separate all the parts (Chassis, Body, engine, ...). I would do this only if the status of the car is very bad. Also i agree with madmanmart, if you get someone, if it will make seriously and for a fair price, get this option, if you dont't have time by yourself.
You have to decide, if it's worth for you and you will get a platform for the next ten-fiveteen years or longer. Or you process in considering cost-benefit expenditures und your need to drive with your new acquired car. If the last is the criterion you should restore the underbody without separation.

I'm using as a rust converter "FERTAN" and i swear by it (FERTAN Rostkonverter - die Lösung gegen Rost - Korrosionsschutz - [Leaving Land Cruiser Club]; there are a further good rust converter products - everybody has his own experience and preference...). This is also effective at the top side of the chassis, where the body is mounted. Because it creeps. Very important is, that the usage of this rust converter will be made not in extreme temperature environment. If it is, you should always be kept a little moist (spray bottle), in order dont't stop the chemical conversion process.

In my profile picture you see the preps for my underbody work.
In the attachement you will find a picture from a rusty, very bad chassis, where it is the only way of disassembling the body and all other parts!

In Austria or Germany you have to estimate EUR 4-5k for a professional treatment without disassembling... The basic cleaning will be done with dry ice cleaning/ice jetting.


Cheers!

 

[Shayne]

I will be making enquiries about this stuff when the time comes Metal preperation prior to painting - [Leaving Land Cruiser Club]

 

[uHu]

What the pics don't show, is the state of the floor above the spare wheel, and the rear fenders/corners - from the rear wheels to the tail lamps. If you take off the tail lamps, you can see all the way to the wheel arches, and probably rust all over. Also the liftgate is normally rusted under.
The tank would normally have rusted through at the seam around the middle at this state and age. Luckily there are now plastic tanks to be had.