Both front frame rails rusted / cracked right where the rear k-from bolts in. It appears the damage was done mostly from some kind of an impact (cracked the rails) because there is not much rust showing and cracks can be seen running up the sides of the frame rails. The front left frame rail also has a slight dent / bend at the very front from an impact. There are signs the car may have been dragged raced at some point. WOnder if the front wheels were pulled off the ground and the front end slammed down hard if this would cause the rails to crack like this. Question is do I replace the rails or repair them? I'd prefer to replace them but concerned about getting alignment correct and repair seems like it would be much less work. I'll attach a few pics of the damage. The car is a 70 challenger RT SE 440 U-code.
Thanks

Another pic...

Pic of the front section. Damage (slight kink / bend can be seen towards the front).

CLose up of the kink in the front of the front left frame rail. The right frame rail appears straight.

I would cut out and replace and put in new innner fenders while you're at it. I did mine about a year ago, a lot of work, but when you're done you've got something you can trust

it could be fixed
but i would replace the whole rail myself.
thats alot of repairing needed in that area there...

Thanks for the responses. Any good sites out there that show some good step by step replacement of front frame rails?

"If I'd have known what a cluster this AMD part was going to be I
would've probably just patched up what is on the car instead of taking
the whole thing apart. Lesson learned."

Maybe good advice?

Since it needs both rails I would put a front clip in. Drill the welds out where the inner fenders meet the cowling/firewall and the frame rails all the way to the torsion bar crossmember. It is far less work to do it as a assembly. You can then swap out you radiator header panel to keep the vin.

I would repair the area myself. The frame rails are pretty expensive, and the replacement seems like a lot of work. I did a similar repair a few months ago, you can check out this link.



https://plus.google.com/photos/100999535...COXEgJyxof6s1QE

I like the idea of replacing the entire front clip in one piece. Only problem is where in the heck do I find a front clip off a challenger that is not rusted?

Myself I would need to see the car first hand to make a solid call but if was my car and beings that is it a Code U RT/SE I would want to to it right for sure.
I would sure try to find another 70E front clip. Not a 71/2B-E clip. I wouldn't use the repro stuff but thats just me.
As stated there are many benifits to using an original one piece clip. Pretty simple change out actually.