What should I do?

[89BLAZER4ME]

Hey all...I have a dilemma. I have a 1989 S10 Blazer with 133,000 on it. I have put alot of work into it, replacing the gas tank,fuel lines,brake lines,water pump,fuel sender,etc. I love this thing. The problem is, it looks like sh**. It is red and white, and the rust is getting bad. The right rear rocker panel, especially over the tire, is almost completely rusted out. It is falling off in pieces. There is also little "mumps" of rust on both doors, obviously rusting from the inside out. The guy who owned this before me used it as his hunting and trapping vehicle, and did not take care of it too well.

The engine runs great, aside from the usual oil sweating from the cooler lines, and the DARN HESITATION when you press on the gas...is that factory for there to be a delay?

Anyways, the wife has stated that it is an eyesore, and wants me to get rid of it. She doesn't think about all of the work I have put into it, or that it will outlast probably her next two or three vehicles. If I had the money, I would restore her, at least the outside.

Is there any way to stop the rust totally? I know from partly being a nerd that rust is basically the same chemical reaction as fire, but it just takes longer to destroy. I don't think that this old girl deserves an early grave. What should I do? Cover it? Sand blast it and cover it with primer? Replace all the panels? Help me with your thoughts if you can. Thanks in advance.

[lou S.]

Not sure this will totally help but here goes. Just helped my son replace both front fenders and grill on his 94 4-door(used to be mine)----he has 206,000 miles on it---truck does not leak any fluids and runs great that's why he put some $$$ into body work. Many places on the internet to find parts(got his from whitney). Even after market parts though will most likely require a little work-----shipping companies aren't really to gentle with body parts. We tried junk yards but these trucks run for ever so there is usually not much of a body left when the motors finally give up. Any way the truck looks great. Used a product called paint over rust on some of the areas where surface rust was showing. It seals the rust in so the UV rays can't help promote the growth. May want to take yours to some body shops and get some quotes and then do some of the work yourself----of course it all depends on how good you are at body work. Good luck. Now if we can only get his stereo to have a clear FM reception he'ld be really happy----LOL.

[89BLAZER4ME]

Thanks Lou...I have never done body work before, and I tried to go to a body shop...they wanted about 1500 just to do the back fender and paint the BOTTOM of the Blazer! WOW!

Anyways, about your recdeption. Try replacing either the antenna wire, or the entire antenna and wire...it helped me.

[lou S.]

Thanks---that's probably what I'll have to do, since he gets great reception without the engine running but once the engine starts the reception goes to hell-----static and all----must be getting interference. As far as the body shop quote---wow, my son paid I think $70/fender and when all was said and done invested like $600 total----had a friend paint the fenders for him---that's this guys profession.

[89BLAZER4ME]

I will keep shopping around...maybe find someone who does this type of repair "on the side". I paid $400 for the Blazer, and what a steal it was...I couldn't write the check fast enough! I have put close to $1000 into it.

As for the reception, you might even consider replacing the radio as well, but keep it if you like the "stock" look. I even installed new speakers. If you do this, you will need an extension plate for the magnet on the 6x9 speakers in the rear is too large.

I will also be replacing the carpet sometime in the future, for the wife has informed me it smells like "feet" ...I think she might have been kicked in the face one too many times playing soccer, and the smell is lodged in her nose.

[lou S.]

For the most part when we replaced his fenders we must have messed up either his antenna mast or broken an inner wire in his antenna lead for the stock radio did pretty much the same thing. So he buys a Pioneer and we install it and we are still at the static with engine running. I do believe though that the center post for the antenna mast may be touching the fender due to the fact that we drilled the post hole only slightly larger than the stud for the antenna mast and the interference may be entering his stereo there. Just what I really want to do--------pull wipers off, take trim piece off and hood to get to the 2 bolts that hold the mast to the fender and drill hole larger---if it has to be done it has to be done I guess----LOL.

[Sen Sen]

Body shops will always rape you on price.
I would buy all the panels from an aftermarket store, then get a shop to paint them. it will save you a few hundred.