• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

how to replace rear frame rails ???

acii

Well-Known Member
Local time
5:04 PM
Joined
Mar 14, 2020
Messages
51
Reaction score
15
Location
Germany
Hy all..

i need to replace the rear frame rails...

Not really sure how to do the job..... hope you can give me some advice.

I also have to replace the trunk floor and rear valance...

Not sure how to keep the measurements ?

Makes it sense to do at first the body work ...to be on the safe side ,that everything fits nice and the gap dimensions are fine !

Pls let me know

CU
Achim
 
Body work is the last thing to do...
beeresto2016bodyshop 461.JPG
beerestowaynebodyshopvisits 014.JPG
beerestowaynebodyshopvisits 064.JPG
beerestowaynebodyshopvisits 065.JPG
beerestowaynebodyshopvisits 066.JPG
 
What car are you working on. I got lucky all frame rails where good on my car. I would measure form my drop downs and wheel tub's. Measure between them. Do one at a time. That sound's like a real job. If you can get pic's of it let us see what and where your going to be doing the work on the car. I did one piece at a time on mine did quarter replacement- tail light bucket's- valance panel and all on this runner. New trunk pan. Got lucky the rear seat pan was in good shape. The hole back of the car had to be replaced even the filler panel between the quarters and all the back window stuff like package tray.
 
It is a big job, are you handy with welding sheet metal?
It is not HARD, as long as you already have some welding skills. It is just VERY time consuming work, a lot of fitting, and trimming, and grinding.

Do not, let the first time you use a welder be when you are trying to weld in a frame rail.
Do yourself a favor and PRACTICE on the same gauge metal you will be working with, grab some extra metal, and practice, practice, practice.
You will do a much better job, and have far less screw ups if you already have a basic idea of how to use your welder.

IMO: I would NOT do any body work first, I would do the frame rails, removing and replacing one at a time before moving to next one, and then move to the trunk, THEN move on to 1/4s and body work.
Do you have any PHOTOS?
Are you doing FULL rear frame rails, or the 3/4 frame rails?
Will you be using full one piece trunk pan, or the overlapping two piece trunk pan


PHOTOS, and the answers to questions above will give us an idea of what you are working with and then we can guide you in the correct direction.

Good Luck!!
 
Dad'sbee and blue69runner beat me to it!!!!
By the time I got done typing, you had posted!!!
:thumbsup:
 
Dad'sbee, That looks GREAT!!!!
I bet that took some time!!!!
Good for you!!!
 
Sorry Bad B-rad. I got my welder from East Wood. Used Argon gas type welder and bought a tig on E bay. The Mig is from East Wood. East Wood sell's a tip for the Tig. that you can do spot welding with out having to drill hole's and weld like the Mig. It take some practice is advised with some scrap metal pieces. The metal need's to be clean and use weld through primer.
 
Yes Dad'sbee you did some good work. Know the welding is not the hard thing. But all that grinding and drilling holes is the most work I can think of. I mean that grinding dust is a killer even with a mask on and goggles. It get's every where. :lol:
 
hy ...and thx for ur feedback !!!!!
just forgot to mention ... it is a 70 charger.

THe back of the car is in a very bad shape.... all the the parts need to be replaced.
Rear crossmember is half rotted away.... also like the rear valance and trunk panel.

I already do have the full frame rails from AMD..... but actually the frame rails are in a good condition at the front.
the rails are rotted away from the shock crossmember til the end...

Should i keep the good part of the rails ?? or replace completely ?

I will send some pics tomorrow...

big thx
 
Just to say I don't like to patch frame rail's together. Just my feeling. Would replace the hole thing. Did patch an outer rocker on my passenger side on this car. But I bought the hole rocker and cut it longer than I needed and it slipped behind the old one like a patch panel. I did by a pinch welder 220 volt from harbor freight it came in handy in some place's but the tong's are not long enough to reach some area. Wish ya luck and have fun.
 
hy and thx again for ur advice...

i feel also better to swap the whole frame rails instead of patching..... just thought to keep as much as original, as often recommend and also to have it a bit easier.

I guess the rear frame rails are originally installed with spot welds only ?

I watched almost every single video of chris... but so far i couldnt find any vid with a rear frame rail replacement.

Do you to know some vids ?

Unfortunately i dont have any good pics with me to show you my starting point.... need to make some next time in the garage.

Thx
Achim
 
I replaced the rear rails on my 68 Charger. There were pinholes at the rear but I decided to replace both entire rails with original southern frame rails. I leveled the car on jack stands then built a fixture out of 3/4" square tubing that I welded to the car. I replaced one side at a time and everything lined up nicely. I also did the trunk floor and rear cross member at the same time.
 
thanks for ur advice... do you have any pics about ur setup ?
CU
AChim


I replaced the rear rails on my 68 Charger. There were pinholes at the rear but I decided to replace both entire rails with original southern frame rails. I leveled the car on jack stands then built a fixture out of 3/4" square tubing that I welded to the car. I replaced one side at a time and everything lined up nicely. I also did the trunk floor and rear cross member at the same time.
 
thanks for ur advice... do you have any pics about ur setup ?
CU
AChim
Sorry I don't have any good pics, but I made a rectangle perimeter on the floor, then I made pieces that go up from the perimeter piece to the car. The very front pieces I welded to the rocker pinch weld and I had two additional pieces on each side that went up and met the frame rails. I welded a piece of angle iron that cradled the outer corners of the rails and clamped them. Then I just added cross pieces from side to side and front to back to stabilize the whole setup...
2020-07-21_04-51-41.jpg
2020-07-21_04-51-20.jpg
2020-07-21_04-51-07.jpg
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top