Serious Body Rust Below Driver's Side

-
Joined
Nov 10, 2020
Messages
19
Reaction score
21
Location
New York
Anybody have creative ideas on how to fix this piece? The support piece that runs side to side looks like it can be cleaned up and rustoleum'd but the perpendicular piece is absolute swiss cheese. I'm getting antsy about ordering floors but I can't do anything until this gets solved.

From the perspective of the driver - or the driver's feet I guess. Bottom of the photo is the piece that runs side to side under the front bench. The piece in the middle is what I'm trying to repair/replace.
IMG_8965.JPG


Pedals for reference.
IMG_8959.JPG
 
Replace, It's probably bad at the shock tower also.
 
That car has serious rust issues. Not only does it need frame rails but torsion bar cross member and floors. (and probably more like the rear rails).
See that socket the torsion bar inserts into? It's a ticking time bomb if not addressed, not if but when. When you get that thing running the t-bar anchor will twist right out of the crossmember. It goes BANG! And the front end drops down onto the tires. BTDT.
Look at AMD site for starters. It may be time for Emily to look for a better starting point. Or contact Auto Rust Technicians for patches. They also fix and install.
 
That car has serious rust issues. Not only does it need frame rails but torsion bar cross member and floors. (and probably more like the rear rails).
See that socket the torsion bar inserts into? It's a ticking time bomb if not addressed, not if but when. When you get that thing running the t-bar anchor will twist right out of the crossmember. It goes BANG! And the front end drops down onto the tires. BTDT.
Look at AMD site for starters. It may be time for Emily to look for a better starting point. Or contact Auto Rust Technicians for patches. They also fix and install.

Not sure who you're addressing here but I *am* Emily. Thanks for the input but this is the car, I've had it for a decade and its obviously not going anywhere until it's safe to drive. Auto Rust discontinued A-Body parts three years ago but thanks anyway!
 
Not sure who you're addressing here but I *am* Emily. Thanks for the input but this is the car, I've had it for a decade and its obviously not going anywhere until it's safe to drive. Auto Rust discontinued A-Body parts three years ago but thanks anyway!
I would do a thorough inspection of all the metal work needed on the car. There is a time when too much is needed and it's not worth the money and effort to fix it all. That rail repair is quite involved. Do you have the skills and shop space to do it? Or the large pocket book to have it done at a shop?
 
I would do a thorough inspection of all the metal work needed on the car. There is a time when too much is needed and it's not worth the money and effort to fix it all. That rail repair is quite involved. Do you have the skills and shop space to do it? Or the large pocket book to have it done at a shop?

I have a good amount of free time and an uncle with a shop and a soft spot for cases like this one. As for worth it, it won't be the only sentimental rebuild on here. I like working on it and I'm happy with the car.
 
I still wonder why guys back East will not pay $1000 shipping for a solid Tx car plus a fair price for the project. Not trying to sell anybody anything, so don't ask ,BUT why!????
^^^^ Like Demnracer says, go for it and save another old mopar, but wow!
 
I still wonder why guys back East will not pay $1000 shipping for a solid Tx car plus a fair price for the project. Not trying to sell anybody anything, so don't ask ,BUT why!????
^^^^ Like Demnracer says, go for it and save another old mopar, but wow!

I hear ya! This car was my first ever, something funky to drive around when I was a teenager, but I fell in love with it so I'm dragging it back to life. Next time I'll be looking at garage-kept and dry-state-driven only for sure.
 
Front frame rail, front floor pans and torsion bar cross member. At least.
 
Anything can be replaced - it's just time, money, parts, and effort. If you are willing and able to acquire the parts, then it can be done, regardless of whether people think it should be done. My project was one of those "never should have even tried" kind of projects. But we did it anyway and found a way to do it without bankrupting myself. It was worth it in the end just to say we did it. Plenty of people would tell you to ditch that and find a cleaner body, but you do what you want with it. As long as you are committed or willing to throw in the towel at some point, I say go for it.
 
Sorry to write that, but I would search for a survivor, or at least better body. In my opinion this will be a never ending and very frustrating story. Yes, everything can be replaced, but a good body is in my eyes the most important foundation to start resto. I understand your enthusiasm, but I strongly recommend letting this car rest in peace. Better rescue one that's still alive.
 
Last edited:
Sorry to write that, but I would search for a survivor, or at least better body. In my opinion this will be a never ending and very frustrating story. Yes, everything can be replaced, but a good body is in my eyes the most important foundation to start resto. I understand your enthusiasm, but I strongly recommend letting this car rest in peace. Better rescue one that's still alive.

Asked and answered but thanks for your input
 
Anything can be replaced - it's just time, money, parts, and effort. If you are willing and able to acquire the parts, then it can be done, regardless of whether people think it should be done. My project was one of those "never should have even tried" kind of projects. But we did it anyway and found a way to do it without bankrupting myself. It was worth it in the end just to say we did it. Plenty of people would tell you to ditch that and find a cleaner body, but you do what you want with it. As long as you are committed or willing to throw in the towel at some point, I say go for it.
Thanks for this! I figure if there aren't a few "lost cause" success stories on this forum then where the heck are they? Glad to hear you got yours up and running!
 
Something tells me Emily has an emotional attachment to her car & wants to get it going again. There is no harm in trying to resurrect an old car with emotional ties. I wish I had my first car back, my dad & his best friend drug it home. They helped me put it back together, get it running & helped in untold ways. Both my dad & his best friend are gone now but I have the memories, if nothing else. Fortunately I do still have a very few pictures of the 3 of us working on it, mind you the pictures are 56 years old & in black & white. These pictures are in a glass frame above my desk & I glance at them everyday when I sit at my desk.
 
I've had my car for 35 years. In that time it's had it's passenger door caved in, a big rig clip the drivers front fender, 3rd car in a 5 car pile up, and the last was a deer running out in front of me sending the car into a hillside. I've put it back together everytime. Many of my friends thought I should just junk it. I say if you've got the time and the patients anything is fixable.
 
Anybody have creative ideas on how to fix this piece? The support piece that runs side to side looks like it can be cleaned up and rustoleum'd but the perpendicular piece is absolute swiss cheese. I'm getting antsy about ordering floors but I can't do anything until this gets solved.

From the perspective of the driver - or the driver's feet I guess. Bottom of the photo is the piece that runs side to side under the front bench. The piece in the middle is what I'm trying to repair/replace.
View attachment 1715711420

Pedals for reference.
View attachment 1715711422
Check out this guy's Youtube channel. He'll give you plenty of ideas on how to fix that.
https://youtube.com/channel/UC6JPmJ_aicru8XPWr3EvJnw
 
One reason us on here can be pretty down on some projects is simply because we see so many old Mopars taken apart, sit for year, owner gave up decades before, parts in boxes parts lost, then one day they want it sold for $$$$$ and all gone.
If a person has the unquestionable desire, anything can be achieved with time, work, money.
 
I put a new front rail and crossmember in my 72 Charger in my single car garage without a jig.
Do one rail at a time and it pretty much bolts in the right place due to the K member. After they are in place do the crossmember.
I had a lot of people tell me the same thing. Junk it and find a rust free project.
I felt good saving the one I had.
Good luck!
 
Thanks for this! I figure if there aren't a few "lost cause" success stories on this forum then where the heck are they? Glad to hear you got yours up and running!
I'm glad the PO of my car didn't listen when people told him he should part it and scrap it. He refused and just waited for the right buyer to come along (me). It's just cutting, welding and time. Mine wasnt as far gone as yours, but I would have replaced frame rails if it would have needed them. Hell, it needed dang near everything else. How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at at time.
00h0h_2so7AROpvAU_1200x900.jpg
01414_8AaTSEMQdYE_1200x900.jpg
00N0N_g1YWUEe58dh_1200x900.jpg
00i0i_5IfVEhxX4i0_1200x900.jpg
01616_kQuB3BifFpF_1200x900.jpg

20190225_170219.jpg
 
Last edited:
-
Back
Top