Cut out front wheel wells or no?

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Ryansrt

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currently I’m stripping my 72 Dart down to bare metal and thinking about cutting out the front wheel wells inside the engine bay, they have rust on them also. Anyone have pictures or ever did this? Do I have to worry about rocks? And I’d imagine it keeps engine temps down too?
 
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Do NOT cut those out...You will actually trap air under the hood, by disrupting airflow. and you will also lose rigidity in the chassis. Unless you are building a chassis car that sits an inch off the ground, you are only hurting yourself.
 
I had a old guy at work telling me I should cut them out too hah but I wasn’t sure how important they are but I appreciate the replies!
 
If you cut them out, your fenders will fold up like an accordion.It won't happen right away. But while you are out driving around, the front will jiggle this way and that way, like a snake in the grass. If you get her up to 50ish and cross a diagonal railway track, the car is likely to steer itself straight sideways, and you will not have time enough to countersteer; Pray it pulls to the right and there be a shoulder there.
 
Yeah do a good job; those aprons are part of the Unibody, a giant "frame weldment"
Now, the fenders , those you can cut holes into; but leave the top rail. There is not much on a Unibody car, that you can sacrifice. Well, decklid, hood, and doors maybe...
 
Yeah do a good job; those aprons are part of the Unibody, a giant "frame weldment"
Now, the fenders , those you can cut holes into; but leave the top rail. There is not much on a Unibody car, that you can sacrifice. Well, decklid, hood, and doors maybe...
The rust is mainly on the passenger side wheel well where it meets the firewall on the top, also the holes that the front panels bolt to have seen better days so they are due for some work. Good thing I posted this before I went cutting away lol
 
That is a typical rotten spot. There and down by the framerails. It's all gotta be firmly attached. And also under the upper control arm between the control arm saddles. If the saddles start moving around, then the alignment changes and then the car steers itself.
Another bad spot is the rear spring hangers, where they bolt to the frame at the back. And of course the rocker boxes; these too are structural.
Enjoy your intimate time together. After yer done you have about 8 years of respite, before it comes apart either again or somewhere else. Well in Manitoba at least.
 
That is a typical rotten spot. There and down by the framerails. It's all gotta be firmly attached. And also under the upper control arm between the control arm saddles. If the saddles start moving around, then the alignment changes and then the car steers itself.
Another bad spot is the rear spring hangers, where they bolt to the frame at the back. And of course the rocker boxes; these too are structural.
Enjoy your intimate time together. After yer done you have about 8 years of respite, before it comes apart either again or somewhere else. Well in Manitoba at least.
Yeah I’m sure when I’m in my late 30s or 40s it’ll get a full overhaul. But she’s garage kept now so she should last a couple hundred years
 
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