Hey everyone,
So a couple years back I purchased a '99 2.2L impreza sedan in Obsidian Black Pearl and of course since I live in Canada it has quarter panel rust... quite bad quarter panel rust (roof panel rust too, icing on the cake I guess). Apart from the rust though, it drives flawlessly and the most major piece of equipment it has needed in the last two years was a set of spark plugs.
Fast forward to late 2013 when I bought an impreza shell from a guy. It is also OBP in color but the quarter panels are clean.
The shell is jdm and really only has the exterior (sans the bumpers), and seats. It doesn't have much at all for mechanical components My impreza, though, is an american model (the only issue I saw was the antenna mounts are on opposite sides for the two). Additionally, the shell has a sunroof while mine does not.
My question is: should I be looking to get the body work done? (I was given a rough estimate of $3000 from a body shop BEFORE I bought the shell) OR should I try to convince the mechanic in my family to help me swap everything over? I can go a few weeks without a car as my job has me all over the country for weeks on end in a company truck, but pretty much every mechanical component would need to be swapped.
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I love this car and will be keeping it and getting rid of the rust one way or another. Thanks in advance for any replies!
So a couple years back I purchased a '99 2.2L impreza sedan in Obsidian Black Pearl and of course since I live in Canada it has quarter panel rust... quite bad quarter panel rust (roof panel rust too, icing on the cake I guess). Apart from the rust though, it drives flawlessly and the most major piece of equipment it has needed in the last two years was a set of spark plugs.
Fast forward to late 2013 when I bought an impreza shell from a guy. It is also OBP in color but the quarter panels are clean.
The shell is jdm and really only has the exterior (sans the bumpers), and seats. It doesn't have much at all for mechanical components My impreza, though, is an american model (the only issue I saw was the antenna mounts are on opposite sides for the two). Additionally, the shell has a sunroof while mine does not.
My question is: should I be looking to get the body work done? (I was given a rough estimate of $3000 from a body shop BEFORE I bought the shell) OR should I try to convince the mechanic in my family to help me swap everything over? I can go a few weeks without a car as my job has me all over the country for weeks on end in a company truck, but pretty much every mechanical component would need to be swapped.
I love this car and will be keeping it and getting rid of the rust one way or another. Thanks in advance for any replies!