The SX/4 money pit

[Smitty]

Well, I think I have determined how I want to proceed with the floor repair and carpet install.  I will cut out the rust spots and weld in new metal where needed.  All the original horsehair padding is coming out cause it is old, dirty and damp.  Then I will hit the entire floor with the wire wheel to clean it of all gunk and debris.  After a good wipe down with solvent it will get a coat of herculiner (bedliner material for trucks).  Lowes has underlayment for floating floors that is plastic coated on one side and thick sound deadener mat on the other side.  I will cover the entire floor with that, plastic side down, then a layer of heavy carpet padding and another layer of the underlayment, plastic side up.  The edges will get duct taped to limit moisture infiltration into the padding and to help ensure the ride is quiet.  Then the carpet will go over that.  The herculiner is near bulletproff and that should really help seal all the nooks and crannies.  As much as possible I will also coat the underside of the cabin area with the herculiner to limit any further rust.

I think I will put the underlayment under the door panels and the plastic trim panels covering the wheel wells.  It should help seal things and deaden some road noise.

[IowaEagle]

Sounds like an excellent plan.  One I will have to remember.  Thanks.

[rmedon]

That should give you a very quiet ride.

[Smitty]

Hey, guess what I found today?  A small drip of coolant from the pass side subframe rail.  Know what that means?  Heater core time!!  Before I am done, I think I will have most every part on this car replaced or removed to replace something else   I pulled all the carpet pad out and found some ugly swiss cheese that used to be the driver side floor.  The subframe is perfect so just some sheet metal work needed.  Every time I try to take a step forward I find something else that needs fixing. At least now I can coat the inside of the subframe with POR15 before it gets sealed up .  $34.79 from Rockauto.  I am afraid to total up the pile of slips I have for this car.  Skeezix would probably question my sanity but it's my money so I can be foolish with it if I want.

[IowaEagle]

Better to find it that way than a passenger the hard way.  You are scaring me for what I might find.

[Gil-SX4]

Hey even new cars have problems, why you think they come with warranties?

[sx4eagle]

Gee... reading through this thread, and looking at my car... I'm just nodding my head...

At least all the parts I put in it will be under warranty. 

[siguy8]

I am really curious what the total is so far. Quite the project.

[Smitty]

I am really curious what the total is so far. Quite the project.

I am AFRAID!!!!!   All I know is  WAY TOO MUCH$$$$

[Gil-SX4]

Yup whet to take on a project of this magnitued it is better not to total the cost till you are finish, that way you dont say its geting to expensive you just say wile looking at the finish product it sure was worth every penny an minute I put in to it.
This is since, as all car restores know it is not the money you put in it, since you will never get your investment back in dollers, you will get it back in the pride and satisfaction of knowing the time, money and effort you put in to it.

[Gil-SX4]

BOY! I was just looking at the pages on this topic an with out checking I thing its the bigges one we got on forum and still going strong.

[IowaEagle]

Its in second place, yet 105, well now 104 replies behind the 1st place topic. 

[Smitty]

one we got on forum and still going strong.

Thats cause I never seem to get it finished.   I can think of so many more things I would like to do, such as new springs all around, that the bank just can't justify right now.  I need to get driving this on a daily basis and figure out the necessary items before I start going after things that aren't broke yet.

[Gil-SX4]

heck to me it looks like about every time I got the money to have it painted some unforseen expenditure comes up.
an the worsth thing all it really need at this point is to get it painted so I can start puting it back together, and then talke Mick in to building me a bolt on leaf spring conversion.

[Smitty]

It is crying time!!!!  And this is not all fer sure!!

Costs to date exclusive of the car and shipping.  I think I am going to be sick