Can this be fixed?

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

Hey guys I'm about to buy my first muscle car and I decided to buy a 1970 Charger, I've wanted this car ever sense I seen it in "The Fast and The Furious. I'm extremely excited and cant wait to start working on it but, I've noticed some parts on the cars rear frame that look like they been rotted out. If any of you repair/replace experts can tell me if this parts can be fixed please let me know I want to make sure the car it worth buying. Any advice would help thank!!!

[mikepmcs]

Welcome   

any pictures of the damaged area.  We like pictures.  A lot depends on what you are paying for this car.  Please provide as much detailed information as possible so we can all help you to make a more informed decision.  Replacing is an alternative but frame rot means serious neglect for the most part, so i'm curious as to what the rest of the car looks like, where it came from, etc.....


and here's a video to keep your spirits up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvQnHkOf3g0


v/r
Mike

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

OK I will post the pictures I have so you can tell me what you think.

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

This are the parts that worry me most

[Charger1973]

That car is going to need a lot of work.  Im not saying its not worth it, but it will be a long process. The inner fenders always seem to have some rust there, because of the battery tray. That frame is scary though.  I personally wouldnt touch that, but theres guys here that have fixed worse im sure. 

[moparguy01]

If you can do the work yourself, that is just a pain in the butt. if not, your talking ALOT of money. Unless that car is something special (hemi, 440 4 speed, 440 6 pack car, something like that) I would find a better starting car

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

more

[Charger1973]

Looks like Charger 500 on the grille 

[moparguy01]

Did they drag that thing up from a swamp?

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

LOL!!!  is it that bad?

[Charger1973]

I have seen alot worse, its just not something I would personally mess with because of the frame rot.  The trunk looks to be intact, thats a good sign. 

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

well the guy I'm buying the car from has the parts to replace the rear frame. He took them of a cougar

[moparguy01]

If he took parts off a Mercury Cougar they will not fit for a Dodge Charger. You need any Dodge or Plymouth "B-body" frame rails. I seriously doubt those will work.


While the trunk floor looks like its 1 peice, I am willing to bet if you hit that with media blasting there would be holes the size of your first.

I'd find a better car.

[73chgrSE]

Depending on what you pay for it, you could profit from selling many other parts off that car. But IMO it's too much work for the money to bring her back from the dead.

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

There asking $4,500 for her. I dont mind putting in all the time to fix her I just need to know if its possible to replace just that pieace or if a whole piace of the frame rail will also need to be replaced.

[GreenMachine]

That looks like a 69 with a 70 front clip. Still has the headlight vacuum reservoir too.

[73chgrSE]

It can be done. Just look at what they do on "overhaulin'" and "musclecar". But thet have a whole team of guys that are all highly skilled and no real buget. Even if you do the work yourself it will be an expensive endeavor. Trust me, we've all spent alot on cars that needed less work. But really $4500 is high, I'ld offer him 2K tops, if not, let it rot!!!

[mikepmcs]

My question is how much is the cost of the car?  It has a lot of great parts, and if you are getting it for a great deal then take all that into consideration.  Those frame rails scare me, but I also don't know your level of expertise.  If you are good at body/metal/etc.... then it might be right up your alley.  If you are in the same boat as a lot of us, then I would be declining.  Like I said if the guy is basically giving you the car for next to no money, then I would jump on it to have some spare parts and then find myself one in better condition as far as structure goes.

v/r
Mike

[mikepmcs]

oops posted too late.  $4500.... got it.  that would be out of my price range personally for a car that needed, IMO, extensive frame repair.

To answer your question, it is possible to replace the frame rails, but how much other of the structure is rotted away would be my concern.  My.02

v/r
Mike

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

It looks like just the rear is rotted out the rest of the frame looks ok. I don't mind paying whats his asking cuz I think if for some reason it becomes to much of a problem I can just sell the parts and maybe recover most of my cost. The parts look like there in good shape so they should sell quickly. Do you think if I can get a hold of a plymouth B body same year I could just swap the pieaces?

[mikepmcs]

OK, sounds like your mind is made up so.... yes, you can get a hold of a good b body and snag the rails off that. Look at the sheetmetal now too....  be prepared to do some heavy patching as well for those front fenders.  not a big a deal as the rails but just something to consider.

I still say $4500 is too high for this car.  Heck I think Travis has a rebuildable one on Eba for $2800 buy it now and it's restorable.  I think it's a 69 though can't remember.

v/r
Mike

[SoCal Zo (.)(.)]

Does anyone have a picture of how this part is suppose to look?

[mikepmcs]

courtesy of hemigeno.

[mikepmcs]

 

[mikepmcs]

Here's Trav's ebay listing. 

Travis Foster on this site.  He goes by the name 69charger2002.  Saw the ad this morning.

and low and behold it's a 70 charger 500.  read the whole ad, if you hit the buy it now he'll throw in a whole bunch more stuff

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-DODGE-CHARGER-500-70-MOPAR-PROJECT-BB-CAR-RARE-NR_W0QQitemZ140103775114QQihZ004QQcategoryZ6199QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

v/r
Mike