May be looking at a Ghia. Problem areas? (Looking for you Pasha)

[Egz]

I might go out and take a look at a KG for my father this weekend, and I was wondering if there are some problem areas I need to focus on looking at. This car is definitely for restoration, so we expect some work. Was there anywhere in particular that was prone to rust?

Thanks

[Curmudgeon]

Hey Egz ...

1) Rocker panels.  They are fully boxed beams that double as heater ducts in addition to being the main structural member of the chassis/floorpan.  This means they can get condensation inside and rust extensively before anything shows on the surface.

2) Around the plugs in front of the rear wheels that give access to the torsion-bar adjustment nut.

3) Wheelwell linings.  Not so much the fenders themselves, but the flimsy sheetmetal lining the wells.

4) Around the battery on the left of the engine bay.  It can get hot enough in there to boil the battery and cause acid to be vented, which strips the paint and can lead to rust.  I would take the battery out and check underneath.

Finally, if you are going to farm out the restoration work, be sure to work with your restorer on the front end to set limits on what you are prepared to spend.  In particular, be sure how much it will cost before agreeing to a body-off restoration, because that will be a huge number of man-hours for which you will get equally huge bills.

Good luck!