Underbody Questions and Concerns...

[74ChargerDrummr]

I have a 74 Charger and was concerned about the underbody.   I have many questions, so here goes...

1. Where are the common places for these to rust?
2. Is it possible for the entire underbody to be rusted out, yet still be driveable?
3. Is it easy to replace the floor pans in the front and back?
4. Any other thoughts about the underbody, please feel free to share!

Thank you all! You've been most helpful in the old Charger site, and I believe that you'll come through again! God bless! 

[Nacho-RT74]

I have to say my car has a perfect underbody, with only trunk floor pan extension exception, so on my own experiece I couldn't say you anything.

But a friend of mine had to parted out his 71 because front rail frames were badly rusted out between firewall area, and rear crossmember. I don't know about floor pans or another areas beside of course the tipical rust on quarters and dog leg fender.

Where tipically rust on pans... as any car, not just because a Mopar ( old or new ), at the lower section of all pans, tipically close to drain plugs is where starts the rust.

A complete floor cab replacement needs a lot of care, since the floor is part of the unybody assembly, and that could damage the car structure. So IMHO, a badly damaged floor car is not good to drive. But of course that depends if there are just rust spots of a BIG HOLE... Or full or tiny holes.

Is easy or not to replace... as any patch panel is the same difficulty, but keep in mind you need to be sure when you cut WHERE do it to weld the new one. So wait to get the replacement panels to do it and take all mesures possible, and make good marks between new pan and the original pan to match at weld moment.

And definitelly DO NOT cut and weld all floor pan panels at the same time... The car could be twisted when you weld if you do it and will get a twisted welded car.

[74ChargerDrummr]

Thanks, Nacho, and congrats on your underbody! This puts me in a situation...half of me wants to restore it, while the other half wants to sell. I have NO idea of what it looks like underneath, but am planning to have a local garage lift it up and let me know. I have an ad in the Forum to sell it, so we shall see. Anyway, thanks for the info!

[Nacho-RT74]

I'm an amateur so, is true and better wait for a pro opinion seeing what your car has.

[74ChargerDrummr]

Nacho, thanks again...I'm basically getting info from everyone on the boards to see why these things rust in certain places, as well as where. You have given me some good info, and I appreciate it.

[70plumrt]

I'd say the biggest reason for them rusting out is neglect!
If the car is sitting a while, leaves rest within body lines holding in the water
then the seals and gaskets diteriorate...
let's say the trunk gasket let's in water and is not taken care of, then trunk floors holds the water
then they frame rails take a beatin' holding the water as well

just my two cents

[Nacho-RT74]

I'd say the biggest reason for them rusting out is neglect!
If the car is sitting a while, leaves rest within body lines holding in the water
then the seals and gaskets diteriorate...
let's say the trunk gasket let's in water and is not taken care of, then trunk floors holds the water
then they frame rails take a beatin' holding the water as well

just my two cents

I'm agree. I think also bad quality on repro parts about weatherstripes or even unavailable replacement parts, beside expensive... that is the case here In Venezuela.