How much rust is too much rust?

If you put in about 15-20 hours in to cleaning that frame up, you may be able to stall the inevitable by maybe a year or so, Let someone else be that guys chump.

 

Did I see a grease fitting on the lower control arm bolt??

 

Your 22k hard earned dollars are going to be the tip of the iceberg. Looks like it was "built" a while ago (as has been mentioned) and since then it's been rode hard and put away wet. No frame coverage and if it was coated, it was a long while ago. No evidence of the recent white goo. It'll be a disappointing 10 hour drive.

 

While I agree with your posting, if it wasn't for TW I would have never known about FF and how important applying it in the rust belt. My last truck was a 1988 Nissan 4x4 that I owned since new for 18 years in the rust belt and only used the high-pressure wands at the car wash to maintain the frame, looking back, I wonder how many more years I could have gotten if I knew about FF and applied it annually, as frame corrosion was why it was taken off the road.

 

I wouldnt drive 5 hours for that, unless the price is a smoking deal, where if you parted out you'd make your money back.

 

Glad you passed on it. Even if the frame was in better condition, the cost of having to replace just about every rusted item in the suspension can be a nightmare. Easy routine shocks replacement can take all day.

 

I wouldn't let someone beat on that frame with a rubber chicken....