Frame Rail

[CooDuh]

Hi,

My dad and I started restoring a '72 Barracuda when I was about 12 yrs old. (I'm 28 now) In the early '80's he had a '69 GTX with a 440. Before I came along he pulled the engine/trans/rear, which he saved, and got rid of the body. Over the years we have replaced the firewall, front floor pans, and installed the engine/trans/rear. Doesn't seem like much but with everything else going on it can be hard to find the time.

In August my father passed away suddenly. It's been a whirl wind for sure, but this car is going to get done! The car as it sits has both rear quarters off, the passenger rear frame rail, the trunk pan, extensions, and inner and outer wheel houses are out. Just this weekend I got the new frame rail mocked in with screws. Measurements were taken and both sides are identical where it marries up to the floor pan but the rear cross member doesn't sit flat against the new frame rail. It looks a little twisted. Is this something that should just line right up or does it need persuasion? Driver side leaf spring is still connected but not on the pass. Does this effect the geometry?

Any help would be much appreciated!

-Phil

[jimynick]

This depends on what you're calling the "rear crossmember". Are you referring to the lower trunk panel where the tailights go or the piece that goes between the rails under that? I'm a Challenger guy and aren't up to speed on if the Cudas are exactly the same internally. The piece that goes between the rails under the trunk panel should have two extensions that spot weld to it and also the trunk floor extensions or drop offs and you fit them to the cross panel and extensions to fit against both of them. Do a search here and you'll find frame/unibody specifications for your car and that'll help to determine if it's twisted. Having the spring in shouldn't affect the geometry and may serve to confirm your measurements if it fits in easily. You've got a lot of sheet metal in play here and I'd advise you to buy a box and pliers for Clecos to take the place of 700 screws. I'd hang all the tin and see how it all comes together. You can make the necessary changes until you get your gaps figured out. I did the same thing to my Challenger and while it's a large PITA, it's do-able, but stock up on patience and measure 4 times before you weld. Hope this helps. 

[CooDuh]

Thanks jimynick.

I should probably take pictures, will do that Wednesday. I'm referring to the rear cross member as the piece that ties the two frame rails together at their ends, closest to the bumper.

Do you have any pictures of your Challenger during the process?

[jimynick]

Yeah, I do have some pics of it in the thrash, but not sure how many of that particular area. And then there's the technological leap to get them from my phone and/or camera to here. LOL I'll consult my IT guys (my sons) to see if "we" can do it.