You had rust in MN ?...lol
I had a 73 Dart Sport convertriple back in the late 70's in St Paul.
The springs shot up through the trunk floor at the rear shackles....
I rigged a stop sign post up to support the car and drove it another 2 yrs.
Then transplanted the engine into a 71 340 4speed , dual scoop , Go-wing Demon....