Thanks all for the advice. getting use to it the way it is for a minute and addressing any rust seems like a good place to start.
The rundown:
When i was looking at it i took the top off, rolled the windows down, held my thumb over the door gap and put all my weight on the door & felt no flex or movement in the gap. The doors opened and shut with no issues.
I felt around under the battery and where that shelf meets the fire wall and couldn't feel any rust. He put it on the lift for me and the floor pans were solid, as were the mounts for the A-arms and as near as I could tell the rear inner console where the trailing arms connect.
The drain hole under the battery was clean. but I did a hole about the circumfrence of a pencil tucked away; i pushed around it and felt no flaking but still...it's a hole.
I haven't seen under the rockers...and i expect to find stuff that I'll have to sand (and por 15? treat) at best, ask and beg for help at worst. The rivets that holed the rockers had been replaced with screws so somebody somewhere knows. The seam along the long was there, but looked it's age.
It started fine, didn't smoke...PO had changed belts, gaskets, and 1 injector. I saw the beginning of a drop of oil when under but no puddles where it had been sitting.
The trunks were good, no rust; no dimples in the crumple zones.
Rear window rubber on the bottom is bad. Front blinkers are weathered. Dash perfect, lights work seats are tolerable.
Seemed to go between gears ok, but I'm paranoid from all I've read.
peace,
Chuck
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