I have a 1984 and 1987 240 series. Both have pretty bad undercarriage rust beneath the rear seat on the driver's side especially. You can literally put your hand up in there. The 1987 is a real keeper and I want to do a solid repair. Any suggestions?

I'm selling the 84. It's extremely reliable, 230,000, uses 1/2 quart every 3000 miles, nice body. I take many clients out and it really is not conducive to do that any longer. The 1987 is a beauty, though.

Tom -- 87 a keeper for how long? If you're thinking 5 years or less, then I'd just pull the carpets, scrape up the sound dampening panels with a heat gun, do a heavy duty POR-15 job on the rusty bits, pop rivet in some replacment panels, cover with POR cloth and paint, and replace the carpets. Do the bottom as well. Less than $100 and doable by the home mechanic. If you're thinking keeper 'for ever', then get a good body person to weld in replacement sheet metal cut from a donor car.

Rob (with two riveted-floor 245s that just need to hold till sons' college tuition bills are over)

Yep, some pop rivets, cutters, and creative sheet metal hammering can do wonders. Just take out the seats and carpet (good time to shampoo) and go to town. Just watch what your cutting or drilling into.

M