Neither would I, but I must say that if you know what you are doing before, during and especially after the bath, it can be a success and never show any signs of damage. Even the factory back then had thrown in the bodies for too long and on occasion resulted with skeletons riddled with sink holes and weak sections.

My guy in Detroit knows the procedure and care after the bath and the parts are fine and much lighter. Even acids in modern times are different with their chemical structures. No Acme products here.

Not sure on the various car models Chrysler pushed into the jacuzzi, but they had started the black magic back as early as 1965 with the altered AFX program. Cars shells shed 200 Lbs.

FENDER BRACES!
Somewhere in my first 80 pages on this post I ran across some information on aluminum fender braces made by LIGENFELTER BRACKETS.
When I looked at the website I noticed that this guy is local to me. Well it turns out I know Jeff and purchased a pair of his aluminum fender braces. I already have aluminum brackets, aluminum bracket bolts and light weight bumper so this finished off the set!
Here are a couple of pictures on my scale. The first is the original stock braces and hardware coming in at 12.6 ounces. The second picture is Jeff's braces and hardware coming in at 2 ounces.
A nice weight savings for the price right up on the nose!
You can see all about Jeff and his products at: ligenfeltersbrackets.com and he IS a Mopar Racer!
MJ

I'm looking at buying a set with his brackets and bolts. Trying to get the car between 3400 and 3500

Anybody who dips a race car body in an acid tank is likely not too concerned with the long term effects on the sheetmetal. To those guys, it was a disposable race car and R/D test mule not meant for resale or street duty. Their only goal was to win the next race, they did what they thought needed to be done to gain an advantage.

Kinda crazy when you think about it the lengths they went to make the cars lighter. Like you said, most guys wouldn't think of doing that now. But when the cars were new and just bodies in white, it was no big deal.

Well said.
Most cars are a one year deal only before the next body change and or new tricks and that was in 1965 alone.

Yeah Jeff is a nice guy and well talented. Met him at the Nats this past Summer.
Got to see his full arsenal of brackets laid out next to his racer.

So I ran over to the grotto tonight with a minute to spare and installed my new rear bumper which is the one below, but with black chrome powder coating done at M&M's in Detroit.
I did not have my camera with me, but I will take flicks within the next couple of days and post 'em. It sure looks quite stealthy and beautiful. Stock weight it is for those wondering eyes.

MJ.

Good weight taken off with those pencil braces.

Those brackets are slick, may add them to a list of possibilities

I built fender brackets from 3/8"x .060" moly. Had to heat the ends pretty good to flatten them. The center core support is 3/8" tube as well.
Doug

You're all sick in the head. So apparently im in the correct place.

FMJ I didnt have a chance to blast through all the pages but you are probably my new hero. Did the weight of your car ever get revealed? What would it take for you to make a set of those wheel covers also?


Thumper, ive chatted with you a bit and we know most of the same old farts on the west coast. Your car has always been motivation to make mine quicker.

Working backwards on your questions.
The wheel covers were spun by a guy that I have no contact with anymore unfortunately. I had made the measurements and calculations myself and even brought the actual wheel to the guy to have him thoroughly understand what I was trying to do along with a drawing. He thought I was crazy and yet inspiring for him. I think people are attracted to secrets, maybe that's why lots of people look forward to working in Government. LOL.

These days, any good competent metal/fabrication shop can spin 'em. Just have to make sure the high point of the discs clears rivets on the centerline wheels edges which I used as a base.

Unfortunately, this sickness only inflicts just a few to make it worthwhile to make multiples of stuff at times. Plus no time myself. I could be wrong, but I bet that most hits on this board could be out of curiosity with a sprinkle of application and that makes for one of a kind or as I like to say; one of none parts. What works on my car may not apply to others simply because in the case of the discs, not everyone is using Centerline wheels and or setting motors back to call for a new transmission cross member.
On the weight of my car? Honestly, I have not had the time to set it on the scales and I don't really know myself, but I will real soon now that the Winter is upon us. With that being said, I predict that I have breached the 2999 Lb mark already, but I want to make sure that this number is true via the scales especially when I install the greatest weightless doors.
At the point that I am now, it is very, very hard to extract any ounces or pounds and any loss is deceiving making it look like many pounds have been removed.
I will post the real world numbers real soon and we'll see where it lands. I'll also try and find the drawings to post.

Thank you for the words that ultimately inspire me and at the same time show me that I have been doing the right thing. Art in the making.

Thumpers car has been a big inspiration because it is a real world STREET car with a naughty nature. Easy to identify with and look up to of course.
On what I had mentioned before, if every one person walks away from this thread, though not easy, and performs or learns of one new trick, then it has made its case WEIGHT in gold.

FMJ and some others are bad dawgs for sure............ And thankxxx for the kudos and it SHOULD be a bit quicker next time I go to Irwindale...........

Here's the Black Chromium rear bumper installed. What you guys think as far as esthetics of black chrome on a black car?

Another angle since light creates different hues of color in the chromium.

LOVE IT................

Funny enough in what MJ brought up about same part differences in weight and beef. I picked up my old bumper and my hyper sensitive mental scale felt a hint of a pound or two heavier than this new black chromium piece. I'll have to weigh it on the scale in the next day or two and maybe throw the car on it while I'm at it.

Stay tuned.

I like the black chrome