I got a used 10 y.o.( date was on the pump) Lomart metal sided pool with a faux wood siding from Craigslist. Lomart is related to Doughboy pool which I researched a lot last year. It's a sturdy pool. I only had a photo of my pool all disassembled in a wooden crate. I paid $150 for it and the man loaded it on a rented trailer and it came with nice plastic stair steps and very sturdy ladder-that alone was worth $150. My metal pool sides were all rolled up and gosh darn it the bolts were still in the interlocking seam meaning the pool was folded completely flat and rolled, so crease big time but I just undid bolts, he riveted the seam closed too. Then I walked on the folded seam and it worked out. It had a few more small creases. The sand filter looked ok EXCEPT the handle that moves the water from suck to waste was broken off and I had no idea how it worked. There was new parts on the internet for the 10 year old sand filter but I bought a new sand filter any way. I got 2 motors with the deal and I don't trust either one so I bought a new pump. I got a liner 25 gauge over lap for $119 at
Swimming Pool Supplies, Accessories, Chemicals, Liners, Safety Covers, Solar Covers, Aboveground and Inground Swimming Pools, Heaters, Filters and Parts, Floats, Toys and More! - PoolSupplies.com ( free shipping) I struggled to install the bleeping liner and it survived my newbie wrestling. I was missing only 1 18 " section of metal coping, I bought new plastic coping. I lost ( lab pup walked off with it) one thing that covers the 2 top rail sections. I bought new self tapping metal screws. I had no directions to assemble but I did it. I have put over $1000 in the $150 pool but it is very sturdy. I spray painted the top rails. I just finished painting the metal sides ( I used exterior primer from Sherwin Williams and then used a roller to paint the sides, again Sherwin Williams -paint for wet areas exterior) I had to spot treat with rusty metal primer-rust wasn't too bad. The old skimmer seemed fine but was badly cracked. New gaskets are important and come with a new skimmer. I hard plumbed my filter and pump with PVC- I used 2 ball shut off and a lot of unions so I could take the pump or filter off line to work on them. The Lomart pool customer service was fairly helpful in making suggestions. She guided me to a good place to get parts for a 10 y.o. pool and then I found a cheaper place. I have read here don't buy a disassembled pool cause it's a big mystery but I didn't find this site till after. And I have never owned a pool. It worked out well and we are enjoying the pool thanks big time to this site. I did 98 % of the pool install myself.
I have used Rustoleum the red kind for rusty metal. I sanded it a bit then sprayed the bad spots. Some of the bottom and top metal rails needed coaxing with pliers to open, some had been stepped on, but they did great. I was thinking of using a shiny white spray paint used for cars ( we have intense sun) for my vertical supports. I used Sherwin Williams spray paint for the top rails- it sprays nicely, lots of pain for the money, less drips that other brands.
As you look at the possible parts that need replacing think about how much those individual parts would cost vs a new pool. Site preparation took the longest, leveling was hard but very important.