Thread: More like a keeping it alive log

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It was time to give my Ol' Reliable Cavalier work car some love today. I bought it several year ago with 101K from our salvage yard and all that was wrong with it was severe hard water spots. The odometer now reads right at 170k and for the second time since I've owned it, it didn't start for me. The first time was the fuel pump and now the fuel filter was plugged which may or may not be related to me not knowing the fuel cap was missing since the last fill up. I checked it over a bit while it was on my pit and seen just how rusty this thing is getting, not really sure it's safe anymore. Aside from that I fixed up an exhaust hanger and welded my converter flange up cause it was just about ready to split in half. I cleaned out the charcoal gas filter so hopefully it will not fight me putting in gas anymore. Lastly, the only remaining door handle that worked was the drivers door,so I bent a rod around a bit on the passenger door for a bit more push on the latch. Both back doors outside handles are broke on the inside to I'm trying to justify replacing them aslo. Will it make it to 200k?

That's bad but the 75 Duster I sold a few years back was worse.

I think there's a lot of bad frames out there. My BIL is replacing his Jeep Wrangler frame also. The uni body cavalier doesn't bother me too bad, shortly after this pic I took a broom handle and poked it through

I guess if it is YOU driving it... and not the wife/kids.. then go for it. We've all done it - kept a vehicle patched together - when we should've let it go to the scrap yard. I had a Dodge D-100 that I finally had to scrap as the cab settled down so low over the frame that I couldn't shift gears, (it was 3 on the tree), or steer!

I think it is "something" in our nature as hot rodders to see beauty and value that others are blind to.

I owned a 2001 Forester that was worse. I finally took it out of service when a crossmember went through it's support while jacking it up

I'm the only one that drives it, although my wife took it to town recently and she said " I can't believe you drive that POS " These Cavaliers seem to run a long time but the car generally falls apart around you, especially getting beat up on gravel road wash boards. As long as it's reliable, I'll keep it around.

I had a cavalier once, I had completely forgotten. I sold it on payments when I deployed to Afghanistan. About a week later I was informed that a front wheel fell off on the hiway when the axle failed. I told him to forget the balance due, and do with the car what he wanted.

My wife had 2 cavaliers over the years. Both I had to kill due to bad rust underneath. My Dad actually drove the last one for a year before it nearly broke in half going over the rail road tracks by his house.

Had one, no major problems but sold it with 265 k on it, best car I ever owned, sold for 200 bucks to a kid but trans went out on him with 268k

Originally Posted by Matthyj

Had one, no major problems but sold it with 265 k on it, best car I ever owned, sold for 200 bucks to a kid but trans went out on him with 268k

You just got me depressed thinking I could be driving this car for another 100k or about 10 more yrs

Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

You just got me depressed thinking I could be driving this car for another 100k or about 10 more yrs

He didn't mention he doesn't have the liquid rust problem we have up here.

You are correct Ryan, the body was in good shape (no rust) and under carriage was fair, I broke a ac bracket for some reason at about 150k miles, I rewelded it and it held till I sold it, I did replace the cv joints three times and two water pumps but bought it from my mom with 69k on it, and that was about all I did to it, remarkable for such a cheap ride

Well, it didn't make it, I replaced the Cavalier. The fuel pump went out and I decided to cut the cord with it. I sold it to a co worker for $250 with the fuel pump but he has to put it in yet. He needs a car to got 2 1/2 miles back and forth to work so It should last awhile for him. The replacement is a 2006 Hyundai Tuscon with 103k, FWD 4 cyl 5 speed manual. It's the first foreign car I've ever owned but I guess the Hyundai/Kia motor lasts a long time. I had to put a radiator support, radiator, headlight and front bumper support on it, I straightened the bumper cover and hood a bit and called it good. I have $1800 total invested in this one.

Wow, that's alright for 18 hundred. Had it been hit? Was that the reason for the support and radiator?

Nice deal @$1800. Did it wack a deer?