1962 Dodge Phoenix (Australian Polara) Rear Rocker Rust Repair

[OzDodge]

Hi All,

I'm from Australia. What a great website. So many amazing cars.

Just returned from the US (40th birthday) with kids and my misses.

I fell in love with Death Valley, Mono County and San Francisco.

Anyway,

I own a 62 Phoenix (Polara/Dart 440 in USA) and discovered some rust in RH rear Rocker Panel. Common place to rust I hear.

Has anyone repaired this area? I can't seem to find any rocker panels for 62's online.

I have removed all the rust and now need to weld in new steel. See photo below.

I got quoted $1400 (US = about the same) to get it repaired and painted. I am willing to start trying to fabricate the metal myself.

I do everything myself on car and am good with my hands.

I have access to a MIG welder and want to start giving it a shot.

I am finding it hard to find any repairs similar to this on this forum.

Can someone point me in right direction what to do.

Is it a big job?

regards

George

 

[5.7 hemi]

Now that ya got the rust cut out, start fabbing up some patches and burn them in. Take your time, space your tack welds, and have some fun.

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

Hey George

Happy 40th!!

Great to see another lovely 62 on here. I heard there were only 500 of them brought in that year. Is that true?

As 5.7 said, you don't really need specifically made repair panels for this. Using similar thickness sheet steel you can shape and tack it in easy peasy. This is an excellent project to cut your teeth on body repair. MIGs are a god send...

When you can, introduce yourself at the Welcome Wagon and post some more pics and story of your fabulous Phoenix.

Cheers - Frank

 

[crossram 426]

Welcome George, another Aussie, we're taking over boys! I'm currently doing up a 63 2 door Polara factory 4 speed into a M/W. Lots of great info on this site and very helpful people too! just ask and they'll help out in any way possible. Matt

 

[Aussie Coronet]

You bet we're taking over, pretty soon there'll be more B-bodies in Oz than back in the US! ;)

Looks like an easy fix, have a crack yourself!

 

[A360]

and yet another Aussie to welcome you with a 63 phoenix.

Welcome

Benton

 

[62phoenix]

62 phoenix here as well...

hey did you try Jim Robinson @ Dodge Parts Oz...he might have something being wrecked that is chopped but sound in that area, stressing the 'might' here.
maybe Tj (wreckers) I know he had a bunch of the sd 2's in his place a while ago and loves the cars. Then there was John Baker over in west aus had lots of stuff (no contact #, sorry).

Great to see another lovely 62 on here. I heard there were only 500 of them brought in that year. Is that true?

I heard it was 200...that from a dealer that had retired when I was in St Kilda years ago, but another knowledgable mopar mech said he thought 300. Anyway, from what I have been told there are only about 30 that have lasted to the present.

 

[eric383]

Practice on some scrap sheet metal before actually welding up that area. Sheet metal can be challenging at first. Also use smaller gauge wire in that MIG(.023 or about that size) Good luck.

 

[coronet500]

All these Aussies are coming out of the woodwork. Great to see all of you! I'd say that for a 51 year old car the rust could be a lot worse.

 

[OzDodge]

I already tried Jim RObinson. He doesn't have any good ones he said. cheers.


wow. only 30 left in Australia. I feel privileged to have one.

 

[OzDodge]

i have made some progress.
I have made the first of the patch panels.

I will be "butt welding" this from the outside (where it is red) and will be tacking it in for now.
WIll have it all nice and clean and scuffed back to bare metal.

any comments or thoughts?

My brother has a mig welder so i will try tack this in on the weekend I'm taking it nice and slow.
Will practice on the scrap of i have got to make sure i can make a nice clean join.

I think it is a gasless welder. Not sure. If so I have read on here it is harder to weld???



George

 

[440+6]

Nice, like a pro.

 

[eric383]

If it is gassless then it uses flux core wire. Normally the weld isn't quite as clean but with some practice I don't think it will be a problem.

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

Dude, keep us updated and post more pics of that lovely 62. We'd love to see your handy work!

 

[The Russ]

Wish u success with the repairs. These models are a beauty to behold. Own one myself. Busy rebuilding her. Previous owner butcherd her. There is only 5 of these models that I know of that survived in south africa. Regards

- - - Updated - - -

Wish u success with the repairs. These models are a beauty to behold. Own one myself. Busy rebuilding her. Previous owner butcherd her. There is only 5 of these models that I know of that survived in south africa. Regards

 

[OzDodge]

I bought myself a 150 Amp CIGWELD MIG Welder. It welds both gas/gas less. I did all this with 0.8mm flux core wire. Just nice and slow. Blew a few holes here and there but am happy with the results. I put fibreglass filler on welded area to fill in the gaps between tacks. Then bondo to finish off.

What do you all think?

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

I ain't an expert, but it looks great to me. Well done mate!

 

[Aussie Coronet]

Its probably too late now but I know where theres a body shell of one of these, its at Flynns wreckers in Cooma, NSW. About an hour south of Canberra. I grabbed the bottom of the back seat out of it. There isnt much left inside and I think the doors are gone, trim pieces are scattered inside the car. Looked in good shape structurally but was picked over pretty good.