Rolled the '68 out of the garage to its new home (update 2/28)

[68RT440]

Well, its time for an update. I've been plugging away on the Charger over the last few weeks and wanted to post my progress. I had to do a little more work than I anticipated, but it wasn't too bad. I didn't plan on replacing the torsion bar cross member, but after peeling the floor away to expose the rear of the front frame rails for removal, I didn't like what I saw with the cross member. Also the inner rockers in the cross member and seat brace areas were pretty funky, so I repaired those as well. On to the pics!

Peeling the floor away:



Nasty cross member:





More of the floor out:





I added more bracing to the front fixture and I made a removable jig that bolts to the shock towers so I can locate the angle when the new rails go in:







With the front all braced up, I added a piece of angle iron across the rear of the frame rails just to keep them located when the torsion bar cross member is removed. Then out came the cross member:







I cut more of the floor away to expose the inner rockers. They weren't terrible, but pretty pitted and thin, so I removed the seat braces and cut out the sections of the inner rocker that were the worst. I cut out and welded in one side at a time to keep the center of the car as strong as possible:





Seat braces removed:





Cleaned and blasted the seat braces. I will need to do some patch work to them, but overall they aren't too bad:





I started on the passenger side inner rocker. I removed the section that I wanted to replace, then took it to work and fabbed up a new piece out of 18ga steel. Then I brought it home and tacked it in place. Finally it was welded and ground:















With the passenger side done, I marked and cut out the same area on the drivers side and cut it out. I cleaned up the flange and straightened it out and Ill be taking the piece to work tomorrow to make the new piece sometime this week. I'm going to run up to Summit this week and place my order for the torsion bar cross member:

[keepat]

Nice job on the rocker repair!!
Pat

[68RT440]

Nice job on the rocker repair!!
Pat

Thanks! One down, one to go!

[alfaitalia]

You must have cornered the market in square section tube in your town!

[cdr]

outstanding work!!!!   

[VegasCharger]

Excellent work

What part of Ohio are you from?

[qwick68]

Keep the updates coming!

[Bronzedodge]

That is really nice work on the inner rocker!   

[68RT440]

You must have cornered the market in square section tube in your town!

Lol luckily my dad's buddy owns a metal shop so we get a little bit of a break on the pricing

outstanding work!!!!   

Thanks!

Excellent work

What part of Ohio are you from?

Thanks, I'm just north of Akron if you're familiar with that area

Keep the updates coming!

Will do!

That is really nice work on the inner rocker!   

Thank you!

[tan top]

nice work      good stuff !! keep the pictures coming 

[68RT440]

nice work      good stuff !! keep the pictures coming 

Thanks, I'll keep you guys posted.

I ran up to Summit after work yesterday and placed my order for the AMD torsion bar cross member. It should be in next week, so I'll get the driver's side inner rocker done this week, then I'll be ready when the cross member arrives..