1971 Malibu

I am going to look at a 1971 Malibu 2 door 307 and turbo 350, It has A/C and tilt wheel. The pictures look great! But.. where should I look for rust? I know about around the rear window and windshield, in front of rear wheels, floors and where else should I look?

THANKS !

Hi Mikey,

Good to see another Mainer on here.

Sounds like you have the usual areas known, if it has a vinyl top ask the owner to allow you to lightly poke the areas behind the rear quarter window (outer sail panels). Use a pencil with an eraser (not the pointy end) and attempt to get some water to squeeze out or check for a crusty sound or sponginess. Along the top vinyl seams too.

To check the floors, put a very bright shoplight under the car and carefully peel back the carpet. From the inside you might be able to see some pinholes. This is easier to do for the footwells in the front but try to look everywhere that you can get the carpet pulled away if possible. Bring a pair of coveralls or something and really crawl around. Take along a jack, some jackstands and some blocks of wood to chock the wheels with. Safety glasses too so that you can really stare at the bottom of the car without getting grit in your eyes. Bring flashlights like you are doing a CSI crime scene. Also bring a flexible magnet pad so that you can check to see how much, if any, body filler has been sculpted on the panels.

Pull back the trunk mat and look for evidence of repeated moisture contact. Look at the rockers too.

Is this that tan one that I've seen listed around here for the last six months or so?
If so, that is a nice looking car.

Tom

Hey whats up bro? Some other locations are where the door hinges are and at the very front of the door jambs. These places are due to detieriating weatherstripping. It leaks down and settles in those locations. Also the front quarter panle behind the tire.

I had forgot I posted on here. I went and looked but at the time I wanted to trade my 1994 Corvette for it. The car needed restoration but everything was there and it had been patched but was done very well. I offered my vette for his car including the 402 big block in his garage, but he wouldn't do it. July has been good I bought this 7/3 a 1969 GMC with 350/350 and only 55,000 on the truck and 500 on the engine. I had not considered a pickup until I found this one. So now I am on the 67-72 Chevy/GMC truck forum! Thanks for the help !


I did sell my vette on 7/14