--snip--
 but dont their hoses and things get baked?  But no rust, is that really a
benefit?
--snip--

I've 'fixed' rust and I've replaced hoses... is that really a question? Put
it this way... if I've got a solid frame and body, I can go ahead and do
what I want, and I feel like I have a good reason to do it- If I have a
solid drivetrain and a rotting frame/body, I'm gonna want a solid body
before I go on with anything else... but that's just me. I realize many
other folks just don't have much choice, but it seems like once the rot sets
in you're always putting out that fire, unless (maybe) you do what some
folks have done and strip the thing down to the bones and work your way back
up.
I've often thought about posting underneath pics of my native Cali Vgon
w/350K on the clock, but I wouldn't want to make our dear Benny cry. : )

Cya,
Robert

p.s. Welcome back to the fold!