Noob Needing Advice - Rust

[ItHasWheels]

This weekend I'm going to have a look at a 1976 Ford Fairlane ZH.
I'm very new to classic cars and wondering where the most common rust spots are for the Fairlane, so i can make sure im not buying something that going to fall apart in a few months.

Many Thanks.

[323Turbo]

lower doors, door hinge & striker mounts, rear lower rear guards, rear lower front guards, around rear window & boot seals, below rear taillights/behind the bumper
front windscreen seals, front edge of bonnet, seam for the intake plenum (all around the lower windscreen/wiper motor area.
run a hose just on the front windscreen & watch for water dripping inside the car - especially near the drivers pedals.

theres probably lots more areas - try to look at some really bad ones & you will soon find all the common places - especially where dirt/mud collects

[BroncosXR8]

All those areas mentioned above, I even had it right in the centre of the bonnet of the P6 LTD I had where moisture was absorbed by the soundproofing material under the bonnet panel.

To be honest, EVERY ZH is going to have a fair bit of rust these days unless its already had work to remove it.

[ebxr8240]

Whatever you do... CUT it out and weld new sections in.. Then treat from behind ...

[mik]

it will probably be in the worst possible spots to see and get at, hopefully you will find an example thats been owned by an old feller and garaged all of its life,
best of luck.

[MercurySilver]

itll be everywhere
i thought my xb was reasonable (had the odd bit here and there) but as you take em apart you find more and more
check as much as you can and then when you find what you find....double it lol

[Morexbs]

The most common area for rust on an old Ford is between the front and rear bumpers.

[OzJavelin]

ZH will likely have a vinyl roof so check for bumps under it .. Most will be surface rust getting worse with time.

Originally Posted by MercurySilver

itll be everywhere
i thought my xb was reasonable (had the odd bit here and there) but as you take em apart you find more and more
check as much as you can and then when you find what you find....double it lol

The weird thing is that I have in my shed a 1974 AMC Javelin which spent most of its life in Colorado USA .. And it had rust in the outer rear quarters but that's it. Floors, screens, firewall, doors, etc all great. Its sister car - a 1969 AMC Javelin assembled here in sunny Oz by AMI in Melb has measurably more rust ...