So, the hunt for the wagon has ended, as I drug one home yesterday.
Found this thing on Marketplace a couple months ago, but wasn't in a place to do anything about it at the time.
After some talks with the owner and working out some logistics on my end, my buddy and I made the 6 hour trip to southern MO to check it out.
It has been sitting under a group of trees since '05-'06, when it was parked for what looks to be a HG issue.
The interior could best be described as "moist", due to a bad door latch striker leaving a minor door gap, and a window slightly cracked.
.
Checklist was-
- Check strut towers/frame
- Check underneath
- Check cowl
Popped the hood. Towers and frame were clean. Got a jack underneath it. Greeted by perfectly straight pinch welds and a surprisingly rust-free floorpan. Pulled up the front carpets. No evidence of standing water, so the cowl is good. There may be some rust inside in the rear floors, but nothing was evident from below and it seemed solid.
I struck a deal with the owner and we pulled it out of its resting spot and got it ready to travel.
The first stop before a quick bite to eat was a carwash
Still needs more scrubbing, but there is no body damage, no body rust, and only a couple small spots on the hood where the paint has given up.
Right now it is tucked away in a relative's pole-barn until I get it moved to the house. Hopefully that will help dry the interior out a bit. It's not getting touched until after I finish up a couple of house projects that MUST get done before tearing into this.
The plan right now for it, aside from getting the interior sorted, is pretty basic for the time being.
It will get the '11 3.7/6R80 combo I have in the garage. Will stay 4-lug for the short-term, but will get at the very least 11" Fox brakes. Tow hitch. General refresh to get it road-worthy.
More details and pictures when the car is at the house and I'm tearing into it. For now, it's just planning and organizing when I'm not tending to my other needed projects.
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