Frame Rail Question!

[chargers_r_us]

I just picked up another 73 SE and it has bad rear frame rails. I have 4 parts cars that have good frame rails. How hard is it to cut out good ones from a parts car and install them in this running 400 BB car? The K-frame also looks like it is rotted at the rubber mounts, and I am just trying to figre out what to do with this particular Charger. Any input as to ,if, how this cut and weld project can be done would be much appreciated! I don't know if I should cut just the bad section of rail out and weld it in place, or if I should cut from the top and go right through the trunk also, or are there patch panels to place over the bad section and weld them on? Thanks!

[nh_mopar_fan]

Here are the caps if you decide to go that way to patch them.

http://www.autobodyspecialt.com/

[The Ghoul]

or another company option
http://www.autorust.com/catalog.html
I would be more inclinded to patch but, if one section is rotted thru that usualy means that the rail rusted from the inside out... meaning that the rest of the metal is prolly pritty thin.

If I were to approch it I would cut out the one you inted to use as the replacement from the parts car by cutting out the floor around the rail section. then using a grinder with a flap disk I would grind away the floor board metal and shock mount where it is tacked to the rail being carefull not to cut into the rail metal too much.

now on to the old fraim rail.
I would then cut away the old fraim rail leaving the metal that is spot welded to the floor board metal and the shock mount
(basically the folded out lip that was used to sacure it to the body.)
next I would drill pilot holes (about 1/8in) thru the spot welds and floor boards (also the rear shock mounts).
I would then brake out the good ol fassion sharpie to mark around the 'lip' so the new one can be lined up properly.
break out the grinder once again to grind away the spot welded sections of the lip and remove it bit by bit trying not to bend up the floor board metal too much and also trying not to grind away too much of your lines same thing with the shock mounts.
after all of the lip is grinded away clean up your mating surfices and put your new one up into place and keep it held up some how (cinder blocks, small child ect..). Now from inside the trunk and intirror weld around your pilot holes, into the new fraim rail lip (oh yeah, its all comming together) this will allow you to weld in the rail with nice clean look to the underside.

hope some of this made sence.
now I will restate this, This is how I would tackel the project based on how I have read to replace floor boards and such. I have just now started to weld so I have never personally tackeled a project like this, but this is the most logical way I can come up with to do this job.

I would love to hear how this job would be done by a professional if there are any in the house would like to comment.

[Mike DC]

I just picked up another 73 SE and it has bad rear frame rails. I have 4 parts cars that have good frame rails.

Would it be too obvious of me to suggest building one of the less-rusted bodies instead of swapping rails?

Professionally swapping entire rails is certainly do-able, but to do it truly correctly it will be more work than any amount of unbolting things from a few cars.  And up to a point, I'd much rather pick a car with more rusty outer-skin sheetmetal if it means less framerail rot.

.

[chargers_r_us]

Thanks for the help!   NH Mopar fan...that site is helpful, and the cap idea is good, but more expensive than what I really want to do with this particular car. I have more available time than available funds right now! But I will certainly be thinking about that one! Cudeah... Sounds good to me! Most likely, I will get into that project in the Spring that way! In the mean time I just want to do my homework like this to have an idea of what I am taking on! Mike DC That is a good suggestion also, but all 4 of my parts Chargers would Definitely be quite a project! And none of them are Big Block cars...well one WAS, but the K-frame has been pulled and is laying on the ground! This 73 SE has a rather nice vinyl roof, good glass, power windows, and seems like a buildable car. BUT, your suggestion has me thinking about my parts cars, and I will have to look at them a bit closer with that possibility in mind! Thanks! My plans are that I "want" to drive my GOOD 73 SE this summer while I repair the one with bad rails well enough to drive it ,so that I can I restore MY GOOD 73 SE the next summer and drive the one I repaired the previous year! Long term plans, but I am getting older all the time ( almost 50 now!) and I don't want to go through a whole summer without a Charger to drive! And my good 73 needs finished and done right! And that is going to take some time! And I don't have the facilities to work on it through the winter. I hope you all keep ideas and input coming in on this one...I appreciate all the help I can get on this project! Thanks!