GQ rust

[muddyjunior]

Hi,
My old GQ is starting to show some signs of age and rust is starting to grow in unhappy places. I took it to some panel beaters for some quotes and $4800.00 seems like a lot of money on an 88 model car. The rest of the car is perfect for me, 4.2 diesel, arb front and rear lockers, lifted, good tyres, winch and everything I have needed for 4wd.
I really love the car and am planning on doing some bigger trips in the next couple of years. Seems to me I have a few options
1. Pay the money and get the old girl fixed up.
2. Try and find another good body and change the gear over.
3. Update to a GU 4.2.........when I win Tattslotto.
4. Maybe look for a cheap GU 2.8 and put my running gear in it. ( if possible)
I am hoping to get some advice from people who have had the same issue and what they have done and was it worth it.

[dizzle]

Gday muddyjunior. Bloody rust aye. I would be chasing down the best bog stock, RUST FREE GQ i could find and swapping all your gear over. It sounds like you have a bit of gear (expensive gear) on the old girl and it would be a shame to waste it. It would be cheaper than buying a gu and i couldnt stomach paying 4800 for rust repairs. Plus you will still have a tough truck. I searched high and low for a shorty with no rust and a good motor and have had many years of trouble free wheeling (mostly beach work) and still no rust.
Just my 2 cents worth. Hope this helps.
Dizzle

[muddyjunior]

Thanks for the response, think I will have a look around an see what sort (condition) of cars are out there for sale.
Dave

[5inchgq]

Is it a wagon ? Rusting out along the roof gutters ? Is the possibility of a chop viable ? Ie twin cab wellback style ? It is a realistic way to remove ALL the rust from a wagon rusting in the gutters and if you're handy with a grinder and welder, or have mates who are could be done for a hell of a lot less than $4800.

[SCANAS]

I would just treat the rust yourself. It may not be the prettiest job but it will work, and lets be honest $4800 to fix the rust you have, is money you will never see again. Other places that weren't treated will rust too.

Save your money, spend a few hundred on cutting out the rust where possible, treat the area as best you can, and keep saving your dollars, and have fun in your rig in the meantime. Just plan to be able to upgrade in the next 5 years or so when the rust will have really settled in.

Rust in a full chassis 4b isn't a huge drama. Ive traded troopy's with the entire wheel tubs rusted out and cracks between the rear windows still being driven daily.

I'm gathering you have more than rusty gutters, bottoms of the b pillars foot/well firewall etc etc??

And i'm going to disagree with 5inch, if there is rust in the back it will be in the front too.

[kiwi4x4]

Hey guys am doing a roof replacement on a 89 Gq wagon at the moment you can source a roof panel from Nissan for around $850. Takes a bit of time to get roof panel off as you have to break all spot welds with reasonable care as to not dammage the body structure underneth. as for putting it back on the only solution i have come up with is to drill holes in panel just above gutter about 1inch apart( i know alot of drilling and a lot off plug welds) and plug weld or if you are a good welder or know some one who is it would be possible to weld roof to body under gutter, would have to be nice welds cos getting a grinder under the gutter to grind ugly welds would be near on impossible with out grinding bits you dont want to grind. Iam at the roof off stage the easy bit, will order panel in next week or so.
If anyone has any other ideas to get roof welded back on would like to hear from you

cheers
Kiwi

[5inchgq]

I would just treat the rust yourself. It may not be the prettiest job but it will work, and lets be honest $4800 to fix the rust you have, is money you will never see again. Other places that weren't treated will rust too.

Save your money, spend a few hundred on cutting out the rust where possible, treat the area as best you can, and keep saving your dollars, and have fun in your rig in the meantime. Just plan to be able to upgrade in the next 5 years or so when the rust will have really settled in.

Rust in a full chassis 4b isn't a huge drama. Ive traded troopy's with the entire wheel tubs rusted out and cracks between the rear windows still being driven daily.

I'm gathering you have more than rusty gutters, bottoms of the b pillars foot/well firewall etc etc??

And i'm going to disagree with 5inch, if there is rust in the back it will be in the front too.

It is a realistic way to remove ALL the rust from a wagon rusting in the gutters

The chop idea was directed at gutter rust only, I have seen gutters rust where nothing else has........

Sorry for the obscurity.