nicc264
Member
Hello All,
So i recently found a 68 coronet RT 7.2L automatic on CL with 36k original miles. The car had been in a barn since 72'!, crazy as it sounds its true. Young man had the car, died and his father wouldn't let anybody touch the car thereafter. At some point recently the father passed and his other son decided to sell the car. So the car sat in a small barn for 43 years on a DIRT floor!. I asked WHY???? too.
Over the years the car sank into the ground and at some point raccoons and mice made entry and destroyed the interior, **** and pissed everywhere, ate the 8 track tapes too.. Much of the plastic like the instrument cluster and console are in good shape, once i wash all the **** off. The torsion cross member is basically gone, severed from the rockers. The front frame rails from the firewall back are shot, the rear cross member is shot, floor is 80% gone, trunk deck lid shot, trunk floor spotty, gas tank gone.
Front frame rails and engine bay metal looks decent from the firewall forward. Hood, fenders, doors, quarters, roof, rear wheel wells, engine bay metal, rad support, are all savable, actually in decent shape. Bottoms of the quarters, doors and fenders need some patch work but not bad. The rockers and door jams are still intact enough that the doors closed easily and the car still has structural integrity, (mostly). Rockers will need to be replaced though. My big concern is the engine bay from the firewall forward is noised up several inches due to the frame rails being shot.
Already pulled the engine and trans, both appear to be in decent shape. I will be breaking down the engine soon and having the block magnafluxed to verify no cracks, didnt see any at first glance, freeze plugs are intact. There was still coolant and oil in the engine, even though sitting for 43 years, still had the coolant smell and was somewhat green/brown. Hopefully no cracks. Haven't had time to pull the rear end yet.
I realize if this car is savable that the cost will be high, im figuring $3k in metal and $7k to have somebody chop it up and install the parts just to save the bottom. Question is, is it feasible? With both front frame rails and torsion cross member near gone from the firewall back and disconnected from the rockers, is there a way to weld in new metal and keep the body square?
If so, does anybody know any shops in Michigan that are capable & honest?
Or is it beyond saving, just part out the good parts?
So i recently found a 68 coronet RT 7.2L automatic on CL with 36k original miles. The car had been in a barn since 72'!, crazy as it sounds its true. Young man had the car, died and his father wouldn't let anybody touch the car thereafter. At some point recently the father passed and his other son decided to sell the car. So the car sat in a small barn for 43 years on a DIRT floor!. I asked WHY???? too.
Over the years the car sank into the ground and at some point raccoons and mice made entry and destroyed the interior, **** and pissed everywhere, ate the 8 track tapes too.. Much of the plastic like the instrument cluster and console are in good shape, once i wash all the **** off. The torsion cross member is basically gone, severed from the rockers. The front frame rails from the firewall back are shot, the rear cross member is shot, floor is 80% gone, trunk deck lid shot, trunk floor spotty, gas tank gone.
Front frame rails and engine bay metal looks decent from the firewall forward. Hood, fenders, doors, quarters, roof, rear wheel wells, engine bay metal, rad support, are all savable, actually in decent shape. Bottoms of the quarters, doors and fenders need some patch work but not bad. The rockers and door jams are still intact enough that the doors closed easily and the car still has structural integrity, (mostly). Rockers will need to be replaced though. My big concern is the engine bay from the firewall forward is noised up several inches due to the frame rails being shot.
Already pulled the engine and trans, both appear to be in decent shape. I will be breaking down the engine soon and having the block magnafluxed to verify no cracks, didnt see any at first glance, freeze plugs are intact. There was still coolant and oil in the engine, even though sitting for 43 years, still had the coolant smell and was somewhat green/brown. Hopefully no cracks. Haven't had time to pull the rear end yet.
I realize if this car is savable that the cost will be high, im figuring $3k in metal and $7k to have somebody chop it up and install the parts just to save the bottom. Question is, is it feasible? With both front frame rails and torsion cross member near gone from the firewall back and disconnected from the rockers, is there a way to weld in new metal and keep the body square?
If so, does anybody know any shops in Michigan that are capable & honest?
Or is it beyond saving, just part out the good parts?
