Re: Body restoration advice
[Re: QuickDodge]
#1496854
09/06/13 03:51 AM
09/06/13 03:51 AM
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,511 AZ
Mike P
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,511
AZ
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Depending on what work is being preformed some slightly different techniques might be required, but I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s any more difficult. Doing a true frame off restoration on an older car will require an additional bay for storage/work while the body and frame are split.
Unless your talking about restoring an Imperial, the Chrysler products were had moved to unibody design during the 1960 and 1961 model years. The Imperials retained a frame thru 1966.
1957 Plymouth (Hemi, Dual Quads, A833 4 Speed 9 1/4 w 4.10) Sold 1937 Dodge Pickup (Hemi, 6X2 intake, 46RH, Dana 60 w 4.56) Sold 1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
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Re: Body restoration advice
[Re: QuickDodge]
#1496856
09/06/13 01:43 PM
09/06/13 01:43 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
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Unibodies incorporate the frame into the body, it maybe that he was old school enough to believe that a unibody was weaker than a body on frame. If you look at the stoutness of the early frames, talking Mopar frames here not anything else, they are substantial. Looking at the portions of a unibody that have equivalency, such as the frame rails the front suspension attaches to, the unibodies look weak. But one has to consider that a large portion of that strength is tied into the inner fenders and cowl that the older design never used. A prime example is the old Airflow video showing it drive off a cliff and keep going. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nug-8jCi8O0Remember the Airflow was Chrysler's first unibody car.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: Body restoration advice
[Re: QuickDodge]
#1496858
09/06/13 10:48 PM
09/06/13 10:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,579 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,579
Freeport IL USA
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If your thinking a 65/66 Fury, they are unibody cars. At the same time, all Dodge trucks are frame and body except vans after about 69-70. The reality is nearly any Mopar from the 30s through the early 60s, is probably going to need floors replaced. When you replace floors on a unibody car, you need to be sure the attached structures are in good condition or you may create an unsafe vehicle.
The floors on a car with a frame are usually just floors, but they use portions of the floors with reinforcing to attach the body to the frame with rubber mounts and bolts. Also, the sides of the car, roof supports, and door frames are often built on top of the floor. Those areas often also need to be repaired along with the floors. Unless the car (or truck) is a real rust bucket, most often the frames are OK.
If you are going to look at an old Mopar, be sure to look at the floors where they attach to the frame, and where the sides of the car attach to the floor. Even when the body sits on a frame, the body structure still needs to be good. When you look at this stuff, keep in mind, bubbles under the paint means a rust hole is there, but the paint is still covering it. Paint does not add any structure, bubbles are still rust holes soon to make an appearance. Gene
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