Don's 69 Charger Rust Belt restoration

[keepat]

Don,
Cool upgrade to your K member. It's nice welding with that heavy steel as you don't ever burn through it like you can the 20 gauge body panels.
Pat 

[mopar4don]

Don,
Cool upgrade to your K member. It's nice welding with that heavy steel as you don't ever burn through it like you can the 20 gauge body panels.
Pat 

Hi Pat,
Amen to that! The biggest problem I had, was getting my welder dialed in and the welds to look good as I was not use to the higher settings on the welder.

[charger chris]

Looking good. Looks like u got some of ur parts where I been getting my from. His car helping to save at least two cars. And his car gettin a wing and nose and engine.

[mopar4don]

Did a little work on my lower control arms.

I never got a pic after grinding down the welds.
I will get some after they come back from powdercoat

[Lighthorseman]

..."Did a little work on my lower control arms...."

Noted two references to this mod recently, and find it quite interesting.  My LCAs are currently out of the car, and this would be a great time to jump on the LCA stiffening bandwagon - Does this make a noticeable difference?  Is there a template out there for a guy to follow, with regard to thickness, etc?


  --> Edit...     http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1965-76-Mopar-A-62-72-B-70-74-E-Body-Lower-Control-Arm-Stiffening-Plates-/201401517559?hash=item2ee47745f7:g:sYcAAOSwgQ9VwiHL&vxp=mtr

Well, what do you know?  There they are...

[mopar4don]

Yup those are it.
I am kinda like you, As long as I had everything apart I figured I may as well do it.

[XS29L9B2]

very nice work

[mopar4don]

I got the 4 speed pedal backer bracket welded into the firewall.

[Cncguy]

Didn't think that needed welded.

[mopar4don]

Originally there were 2 spot welds, so I drilled a couple of holes and plug welded them in

[Charger-Bodie]

Originally there were 2 spot welds, so I drilled a couple of holes and plug welded them in

[mopar4don]

Ok, next I got my grill support back together.

[mopar4don]

Before I disassembled the grill support, I drilled some 1/8 holes to aid in re-alignment

[mopar4don]

These alignment holes worked for self tapping screws

[mopar4don]

These next 4 pics show the support compleatly finished

[Pat1973charger]

Looks good Don! I wish I had a solid grille support lol......baldwinvette 

[mopar4don]

Looks good Don! I wish I had a solid grille support lol......baldwinvette 

Ah, you noticed that extra one ther didnt ya

[mopar4don]

I was a little concerned about any possible rust that I could not get at when I blasted. (RUST BAD )
So I bought some Eastwood internal frame coating and sprayed down the inside of the a-pillars and inside the front frame rails

[mopar4don]

notice all the tape (even the yellow tape on the driver side front frame rail), this was to cover the holes so the coating would not run out

[mopar4don]

Or should I say it was an attempt to seal the openings and keep the coating from running out
But it did anyway! WHAT a MESS! but I think it is worth it. (at least it makes me feel a little better)

[mopar4don]

I will most likely spray inside the torsion bars and rear frame rails before the get covered.
here is one more pic of the driver side frame rail

[green69rt]

notice all the tape (even the yellow tape on the driver side front frame rail), this was to cover the holes so the coating would not run out

I did the same thing.  I also sprayed it inside the folds of the trunk lid, hood and the bottom of the doors.  But, I didn't think about the A pillars.  All places you can't really clean up very well, sometimes you can't even see what's in there!  And, yes, that stuff is runny and you can't keep it from seeping out any little hole but I guess that's what makes it a good sealant.

It does clean up with Lacquer thinner, maybe even mineral spirits if it hasn't cured.

[fy469rtse]

Don,
With that grill frame , I modified mine so the top comes off, also hidden welded to make that frame more rigid ,
It does support a plastic grill after all
And with the top separate to rest ,
Amazing how differently you can put the front together ,
Grill support and grill can go in last ,
Front valance and bumper
Looks stock

[mopar4don]

notice all the tape (even the yellow tape on the driver side front frame rail), this was to cover the holes so the coating would not run out

I did the same thing.  I also sprayed it inside the folds of the trunk lid, hood and the bottom of the doors.  But, I didn't think about the A pillars.  All places you can't really clean up very well, sometimes you can't even see what's in there!  And, yes, that stuff is runny and you can't keep it from seeping out any little hole but I guess that's what makes it a good sealant.

It does clean up with Lacquer thinner, maybe even mineral spirits if it hasn't cured.

You say you sprayed it inside the trunk lid and hood. Hmmm
It's kinda weird you mentioned that as I was just looking at my trunk lid, and wondering what to do about all the rust inside. When I roll the trunk around, I get a lot of rust falling out. (I was thinking about seperating the inner from the outer) But I think spraying that inside should help a lot!
Thanks Green

[mopar4don]

Don,
With that grill frame , I modified mine so the top comes off, also hidden welded to make that frame more rigid ,
It does support a plastic grill after all
And with the top separate to rest ,
Amazing how differently you can put the front together ,
Grill support and grill can go in last ,
Front valance and bumper
Looks stock

Do you have a link showing how you did this?