B-Body Rust/previous repair Inspection

[Rudderguy]

Good Day All,

Where are most common areas to look underneath the Charger/B-Body cars during a pre-buy inspection for rust, rot, body integrity and previous repair?

Pictures of examples would be great.

Thanks

Rudderguy

[70 sublime]

Torsion bar cross member
Bottom of all frame members ( dirt and critters build up inside and rot out on bottom)

Back lower corners of rear valance - seams filled in is a good sign of work has been done in the area

[BLK 68 R/T]

Under the battery tray, trunk floor, rocker panels, rear quarters all the way around the lower side. Not underside - but the rear window is another place, probably the most common on a charger.

[Mike DC]

      
As old as these cars are, it's pretty rare to find one that hasn't rusted at some point.  Even Arizona and New Mexico cars are not immune anymore.  

You need to be able to judge the quality of repairs.  Not only to avoid bondo buggys, but also there is good and bad sheetmetal work.  I would rather deal with an unrestored rusty car than one which has been restored badly.   



Trunk floors and the lower corners of the rear window are some of the first places to go.

Rust can potentially set in anywhere on the body after 50 years.  I mean anywhere, from the subframe rails & rocker boxes all the way up to the roof skin.  These days a $100 bicycle at Walmart has more durable paint/primer/coatings than these cars got at the factory in the 1960s.  It's part of the reason why old car body panels were thicker than modern stuff.  The extra thickness was buying time before the rust holes came through.