1979 Toyota Corolla

terolla · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:05 pm

get ready to discover some rust in those corners that your getting the leaks.

chithead · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 2:16 pm

Actually you are right, there is some rust on each rear fender towards the bottom, and there are holes into the trunk. I haven't removed the vinyl floor covering yet though to see about up front. From the bottom, you can see that the seat pans have been repaired before, but not professionally.

Took apart more of the interior today and found something interesting... we have about a nickel size rust hole in the bottom of the passenger door... and about half the bottom of the driver's side door is gone. The inner and outer panels are fine, it's just the very bottom where the door weatherstripping attaches that is rusted out. Dissappointing, but expected. I'll have to research a repair, or start looking for a new door.

I figure if this is the worst of it, I can live with that.

terolla · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 6:54 pm

glad you saved her, was actually thinking of picking this one up when it was on c-list. the whole working a/c thing had me tempted.

chithead · **Posted:** Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:01 pm

It's funny you mention that, whenever I tell people about the car, they often ask, "is it the white one that was on Craigslist?"

Have you seen that yellow four door down in Rock Hill?

terolla · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 3:35 am

cant say that i have, post a link if you can.

chithead · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:08 am

I seriously thought about nabbing it as a parts car, but don't know if my wife would let me have two just yet:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/pts/2661358372.html

UtahSleeper · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:10 am

Do it! And tell the wife it will be gone soon enough

chithead · **Posted:** Fri Nov 04, 2011 2:37 pm

I talked to my wife today, we may go look at that other Corolla this weekend.

Picked up some Rustoleum Rust Reformer last night along with their Filler Primer. Thought I would hit some of the spots with a wire wheel, then try that Rust Reformer, then the Filler Primer, and then Undercoating and see what kind of results I can achieve.

Still debating on that door though. I planned on picking up an entire seal/weatherstrip package for the car, but if there's nothing on the bottom of the driver's door to seal... well that kind of ruins the plan.

chithead · **Posted:** Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:07 pm

Took a better look at some of the rust today... wowzers. I'll have to post up the pictures when I get home from work tonight. Let's just say it's bad... mmmkay? Rust is bad...

chithead · **Posted:** Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:57 pm

Here is a close up of what was lurking under the rear seat...

Check out these brackets for the front seats, quite sturdy I must say, but could use some cleaning up:

And then this was hiding under the vinyl flooring:

You can see the previous attempts to fix it, but with the car still leaking water, all of this was soaked and continuing to rust:

chithead · **Posted:** Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:59 pm

Here is the bottom of the driver's door that I was talking about:

Definitely have some work ahead of me. But hey, at least I get to buy a wire-feed welder now!

chithead · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:53 pm

On second thought... might not buy the welder. I keep reading up about the adhesives being used now for body patch work and floor pans. Really has the gears in my head turning.

chithead · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:21 am

This is what we're faced with after stripping everything out, and some quick work with a Shop Vac:

Previous patchwork:

Not a terrible effort from a previous owner, but I think we can take it up a few notches.

chithead · **Posted:** Fri Nov 18, 2011 6:53 pm

Broke out my low power electric pressure washer to do some cleaning on the engine, did a pretty decent job:

masterbarber · **Posted:** Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:55 pm

Nice, make it feel alive again bro

Crash1976 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:58 am

wow, you got some rust issues there. I would replace those doors. The floor pan can be patched up pretty easy. better is you can get a donor car and patch in it's floor pan pieces you need. You asked about a small tach for the dash to fit in the clock hole. I have a small Sunpro in my clock hole. not a small Toyota one available i'm fairly certain.

chithead · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:49 am

Cool! Thank you for the recommendation. I wonder if the Liftback doors will fit this body style. I know where there are some in pretty decent shape.

Crash1976 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 09, 2012 10:39 am

i'm pretty sure all E3 doors will swap. so to answer your question yes.... i think so.

chithead · **Posted:** Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:14 am

Progress yesterday, new battery arrived so it is installed. Just need to run new cables to extend the positive side (I have plans for a stout audio setup, so a strong battery was a must):

Here is the interior completely out now:

UtahSleeper · **Posted:** Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:45 am

Glad to see you are still working on her. That flooring looks pretty bad. Atleast it's going to be fixed now.

1979 Toyota Corolla

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