How did I do? I'm a little scared...

[FastWoman]

Olzed, I'm not saying there isn't a hazard from a rusty body. Your story about the Mini is sobering, to say the least! But here in the US, rust isn't generally an issue of concern to inspectors, even though it perhaps SHOULD be.

Annual inspections are required in most US states, with a list of items that must be certified good. However, in reality these items are just glossed over. Here in Virginia, we pay $16 each year for an inspection, and there are quite a number of points on the inspection list. See here:

Virginia State Police - Safety Division

There are no subsidies, so the business doing the inspection must make a profit off of the $16. That means the inspections are cursory at best. Sometimes the car will go on the lift (if it's an older one), and usually it won't. And even when it goes on the lift, the structural integrity of the body is not an inspection issue. The only rust related inspection issue I see is holes in the floor pan that might let exhaust gasses enter the cabin.

On that point, I had a friend in Texas who had a very old rust-belt car (from Massachusetts). If you were to lift the passenger side floor mat, you could see the ground whizzing by through a hole about the size of a cup saucer. If so inclined, you could put your leg through it and stand on the ground. Even THAT was not an inspection issue! The car passed inspection every year, with an almost obligatory headlight adjustment ($7) and an occasional wiper blade replacement.

I once had a structural issue in a rust-belt car. The engine subframe had rusted to the point it was no longer sturdy. An inspector caught it and suggested I replace it (which I did), but I didn't fail the inspection that day.

Edited January 26, 2014 by FastWoman

[JRSGTS]

Here in NY. We have to fail for structural rust IE: Frames, subframes, crossmembers etc. But floors, body mounts etc. No. essentially your seat could be falling through the floor, as long as you have a seat belt holding you to it, I can't fail it! . In NH. ANY rust hole any where is automatic failure.. Go figure. Get a good look at the structural stuff!

[bartsscooterservice]

Olzed, I'm not saying there isn't a hazard from a rusty body. Your story about the Mini is sobering, to say the least! But here in the US, rust isn't generally an issue of concern to inspectors, even though it perhaps SHOULD be.

Annual inspections are required in most US states, with a list of items that must be certified good. However, in reality these items are just glossed over. Here in Virginia, we pay $16 each year for an inspection, and there are quite a number of points on the inspection list. See here:

Virginia State Police - Safety Division

There are no subsidies, so the business doing the inspection must make a profit off of the $16. That means the inspections are cursory at best. Sometimes the car will go on the lift (if it's an older one), and usually it won't. And even when it goes on the lift, the structural integrity of the body is not an inspection issue. The only rust related inspection issue I see is holes in the floor pan that might let exhaust gasses enter the cabin.

On that point, I had a friend in Texas who had a very old rust-belt car (from Massachusetts). If you were to lift the passenger side floor mat, you could see the ground whizzing by through a hole about the size of a cup saucer. If so inclined, you could put your leg through it and stand on the ground. Even THAT was not an inspection issue! The car passed inspection every year, with an almost obligatory headlight adjustment ($7) and an occasional wiper blade replacement.

I once had a structural issue in a rust-belt car. The engine subframe had rusted to the point it was no longer sturdy. An inspector caught it and suggested I replace it (which I did), but I didn't fail the inspection that day.

I can imagine for 16 dollars, they don't spend much time..

But it's one of those things that make the USA great I think. Here in Socialist Europe everthing is to over-regulated

It doesn't get subsidised here either. But garages who do not follow the law ( there are un announced inspections on a regular basis ) , get warned first, second time they loose their rights to do those checks. Price is not fixed here, but average is around 50 euro. Garages like Kwikfit and other " low cost garages " draw people in by advertising something as low as 9 euro for a check..

[FastWoman]

Bart, it's interesting that here in Virginia I have the option of self-certifying my own antique vehicle safe. I think the rationale is that modern mechanics don't know antique vehicles the way their owners and restorers do. My inspection standards are much higher than the state's anyway.

However, I don't take this option. Every year I go to the inspection station, and the kid who KNOWS my vehicles are in top shape always practically waves me through. He'll sometimes put my car up on the lift, so I take the opportunity to walk around the underside and do my own quick inspection.

The reason I pay my $16 is that I have had my vehicle certified "safe" to state standards by a professional safety inspector. Then if I get into an accident, and someone decides to sue me, I can show I've taken reasonable steps to maintain my vehicle in safe operating condition. In our litigious society, I think that's $16 well spent!

[ajmcforester]

Idea for the surface rust on the car. On old style rifles their is something called browning it is an old method of protecting metal by chemical starting rust then hardening it. Since their very little paint left on the roof you will need to do something to keep it from rusting out. The method is not are and you can get the chemical at a good gun shop (not a sporting good store) it literaly is a whipe on whipe off treatment then a coating you dry on and wash off to stop the reaction. Once done use some oil to protect the finish and treat scratches with the second chemical.

I was looking at a Mack truck from the 50's with original paint and was thinking of hot-roding it and doing the same method. But I did not pick the truck up since I need to finish the Z first. It would have been cool it was missing the motor and I was thinking of picking up a 7L inline 6 with 750hp from Mack to put in it.

[olzed]

QUOTE=FastWoman;448952]Olzed, I'm not saying there isn't a hazard from a rusty body. Your story about the Mini is sobering, to say the least! But here in the US, rust isn't generally an issue of concern to inspectors, even though it perhaps SHOULD be.

Yes Sarah, it sobered me up very quickly.

Our vehicles require a six monthly check, costing around $43NZD-$35USD.

On top of that is our annual licencing fee of around $280NZD

The Warrant Of Fitness inspections are very strict, especially since the introduction of Monocoque construction techniques.

I remember as a young guy i had a 1934 Ford V8 Coupe which had 'some' rust issues, but it was passed as safe because those old cars had a chassis.

(wish i still had it)

Brian.

[EuroDat]

It doesn't get subsidised here either. But garages who do not follow the law ( there are un announced inspections on a regular basis ) , get warned first, second time they loose their rights to do those checks. Price is not fixed here, but average is around 50 euro. Garages like Kwikfit and other " low cost garages " draw people in by advertising something as low as 9 euro for a check..

I had my Zed in for its two yearly inspection last November and rhe garage called me at 09:15 that it was ready to pick up. Ten minutes later he called again, I had to wait two hours because he had a spot inspection and they wanted to check my car. It passed no problems. He charges €39 for an inspection.

Chas

[grannyknot]

I guess we have it easy up here in Ontario, once you have your car, any car safety inspected, that's it, you never have to have it inspected again until it changes owners. Any car 1987 and older does not need an emissions test so you can modify to your hearts content.

Ryan, here is a pic of my Z before, this is the passenger side foot well,

and after, it's all doable,

[ksechler]

Grannyknot! Post a link to your floor replacement thread it was a good one.

Here's similar work I performed on my rust bucket:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/open-s30-z-discussions/51255-few-pictures-new-year-floor-replacement.html#post447370

[grannyknot]

Had to hunt a bit to find it, back on page 14, http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/open-s30-z-discussions/48360-240z-rebuild-restoration-right-down-shell.html

Grannyknot! Post a link to your floor replacement thread it was a good one.

Here's similar work I performed on my rust bucket:

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/open-s30-z-discussions/51255-few-pictures-new-year-floor-replacement.html#post447370