Re: E-body rusted "T" in the frame - cap or replace?
[Re: Mopar72Man]
#1175547
02/09/12 06:13 PM
02/09/12 06:13 PM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,245 Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,245
Looking for a way out of Middl...
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Let me take a guess. Drivers Side? It seems like there must have been a problem with the battery acid or something washing down the drivers side frame rail because I have rarely seen the E-body frame rails rust only at the T section. It's usually the whole rail. Before you make a plan of attack I suggest you look over the entire frame rail even to the point of cutting holes on the floor to see inside the rail. I will bet that the rust is worse than you think and even the T-Caps won't be big enough. If you find it is only the frame at the T section and choose to repair it consider this. The frame at that point supports the transmission helps to evenly load the body with weight and braking/acceleration stresses. But most importantly it is the anchor for the T-bars. This a bad section to be trying to fab something up if you are only a OK fabricator. I'm not saying you can not do it but be sure you are confidant you can do it right. Assuming you want strength and not going for a show car restoration, here is what I would do. 1. Check the entire frame from bumper to transmission cross member and decide how much HAS to go. 2. If it is localized I would clean the rust from the inside with a good blaster. Rustproof it then build a cap for it and weld it over the existing metal. Leave drain holes. 3. If it is cancerous but only on the trans cross member I would get a whole cross member from either a donor car or a new one. If it is cancerous in the rail I would get a new rail and do the whole thing right. When you do start cutting it up I would get a bunch of RV load leveling jacks, or screw jacks and set the car on them before you start cutting. Measure everything and then remove metal. Position the new metal (maybe Tack in lightly) and measure everything again before you start the final welding. Hope it helps
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Re: E-body rusted "T" in the frame - cap or replace?
[Re: Mopar72Man]
#1175549
02/09/12 06:57 PM
02/09/12 06:57 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318 Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
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Depends, do you care about your repair from a visual standpoint or just a structural one? If you don't care about how it looks, just so long as it's safe and structurally sound, you can cut/grind out all the rust, make your repair section and weld some steel plate over top, similar to what the safe-t-caps do. I've done this before on a few vehicles. Done properly, your repair while maybe not visually appealing, is perfectly safe and structurally sound.
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Re: E-body rusted "T" in the frame - cap or replace?
[Re: JohnRR]
#1175551
02/09/12 07:16 PM
02/09/12 07:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 181 Washington State
70chall440
member
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member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 181
Washington State
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depending on your Fab skills, it is a pretty straight forward fix. only cut out sections you are going to fix at that time. You can use 1/16" plate to make new sections, make sure you cut far enough back so you are into good steel. with a little imagination, patience and a welder, you can do it.
The other option of course is to get a replacement. Call Rocket Resto in Olympia WA, they are getting ready to strip a 72 Challenger parts car and I am sure they would sell you the frame pieces.
01 Viper GTS ACR 10 Challenger RT PCP 6spd 70 Challenger 440 6 pac 73 Cuda 416 Road Racer 70 Hemi Roadrunner 01 Ram 4x4 / 98 Ram 3500 91 Stealth RT 05 Durango Hemi 09 Caliber / 99 Dakota 4x4 / 52 Dodge B3B
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Re: E-body rusted "T" in the frame - cap or replace?
[Re: Mopar72Man]
#1175554
02/09/12 07:50 PM
02/09/12 07:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886 Lost and Spaced
bboogieart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,886
Lost and Spaced
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(quote)I also don't want it to look hillbilly-deluxe
It all depends on your ability. If your not sure, then you need someone else to do it. The fix is as said. Remove rust replace with good metal. Not simple but very doable.
I have mechanical Aptitude. I can screw up anything.
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Re: E-body rusted "T" in the frame - cap or replace?
[Re: Mopar72Man]
#1175556
02/10/12 10:48 AM
02/10/12 10:48 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O
70Cuda383
Too Many Posts
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Too Many Posts
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,345
Marysville, O-H-I-O
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Quote:
I definitely want it to be strong, but I also don't want it to look hillbilly-deluxe.
what is it they say? You can have it done fast, you can have it done cheap, you can have it done right.
pick 2. you can't have all 3.
the repairs are as straight forward as welding in new, "beef up plates" to the frame, or as compliated as removing the entire frame from the unibody and welding in a new frame.
only one will win you awards at a show, the other will get your car done so you can drive it.
only you know what level of repair you want for your car.
**Photobucket sucks**
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Re: E-body rusted "T" in the frame - cap or replace?
[Re: 70Cuda383]
#1175557
02/10/12 06:27 PM
02/10/12 06:27 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582 Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
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The ps seems solid, unless its thinner than it appears, I don't see a real problem there. Ds, I would cut out a section of the lower rusted piece and find similar guage metal and replace that section. Now if its thinner foward of that are, best thing would be replace the rail... that goes for both sides. The crossmember, I'd replace the full piece for sure.
I had to do various patching on my rails in the challenger and I did alot of poking around to find any thin areas. I also had the floors cut out to replace them which made it easier. How bads the rest of the car, cause usually when they look like that underneathe, the rest needs alot too.
68 Road Runner, 69 Belvedere, 71 Challenger Vert 340 barracuda, 01 Ram CTD, 95 Ram, 04 Ram, 85 Daytona turbo Z 66 GTO, 06 Magnum RT AWD. 07 Ram CTD, 07 Ram
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