Help ! Should I cut my car in half??

Author Topic: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??  (Read 6063 times)

Offline 72hemi

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #15 on: June 12, 2009 - 11:21:33 AM »
Find a new body guy and have the car blasted, not dipped. Anybody who wants to cut a car in hlaf and then weld it back together, doesn't know what they are doing at all.
1972 Dodge Challenger 340 6 Pack 4-speed
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Offline CUDA JAS

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #16 on: June 12, 2009 - 11:48:52 AM »
Personally, with a recomendation like that - I would be looking for a new body guy.  :screwy:

 :iagree: :iagree:

  not to :horse:, but run from this guy.
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Offline DAYLEY/CHALLENGER

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #17 on: June 12, 2009 - 12:49:54 PM »
Well here is my 2 cents.....(I can't find the smiley).....Not being completely sure how the vehicles are dipped......can you dip the back end first and the front end second.??? Or is it some sort of magical electrical thing??? :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

And NO.......do not cut.!!
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Offline ChallengerGary

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #18 on: June 12, 2009 - 01:24:17 PM »
RUN, FORREST, RUN!!!!!
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Offline brads70

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #19 on: June 12, 2009 - 03:37:46 PM »
 :iagree:  :roflsmiley: Good one!
Brad
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Offline gomangoRT/SE

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #20 on: June 14, 2009 - 01:46:31 PM »
My friend, Im afraid you have gotten a bit overboard with the project.  You have purchased a kill gillion parts and spent alot of money on things, and you want a nicely restored car no doubt.  But this being said, Im afraid you are spending far to many dollars for a project that will fail to be worth the money you have in it.   Surely the car isnt so rusted, in such bad shape you need to resort in such an extreme solution.  Media blast, or soda blast or something, but in cases of the guy who "wants to overrestore their car" beyond reason, body shop guys love to find people I fear such as yourself.   These guys dont do insurance work, they specialize in GRINDING on guys who want their cars to be max nice.  If you have the money, they can find the solution.   The idea of cutting a car in half is ultra extreme.   For goodness sake remember in the long run its a 383 car.  Dont end up with $60K in a $35k car.   Nothing wrong with wanting a nicely done car, but remember more than likely this car is gonna sit inside, not driven in bad wearther, and well kept.   Its not gonna rust back up on you in a few years.

Offline Moparal

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #21 on: June 14, 2009 - 05:33:36 PM »
Richard, Is the tank long or tall?  Couldnt you dip one side then turn it around or over and dip the other side?  People back section cars all the time, and used to in the old days.  And as far as Dollar wise, Richard like all of us loves the car he has. He wants it the way he wants it. The value of the car isn't in the equasion. (spelling) He isnt building it to sell it. I have met Richard. He is planning on enjoying this car for many years to come. If the body man is competent to do the job and gives a guarantee, then saving 5k is a big deal. Many members here cut frames, roofs, foors and all of thee above out of their cars.

Still curious if he can dip half then the other

Offline rusty70cuda

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #22 on: June 16, 2009 - 02:01:53 PM »
I agree I plan on back halfing my 70 barracuda, basically the rear is rusted out and gone. can you say ohio car! I would dip one side or end at a time or find someone to do the whole car cheaper. at this point take your time and make a few more phone calls. just my 2 cents.

Offline JoltinJoe

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #23 on: June 16, 2009 - 10:30:51 PM »
I am not so against his body mans suggestion.  There is a top notch welder around these parts who has been doing some amazing work on his cars over the years.  After taking his cars down to the frame, he cuts the frames up at all the factory welds.  After cleaning everything up, he re-welds the frame his way.  This usually includes non-factory spots.  The frames are always stronger in the end.

I'm sure that this is not done on rare or numbers cars.

I am not disagreeing with the alternate options that have been suggested here.  Just though you might find this interesting.
HIS: '68 GMC 3/4 ton pick-up truck, '73 Barracuda, '87 Firebird, '01 Jeep Cherokee and finally a '70 Barracuda Convertible!
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Offline RT Dude

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #24 on: June 18, 2009 - 05:06:45 AM »
Personally, with a recomendation like that - I would be looking for a new body guy.  :screwy:
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Offline bb71challenger

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #25 on: June 18, 2009 - 06:38:13 PM »
Can you just picture a huge bandsaw cutting through a classic musclecar? Man what a nightmarish mental image   :scared:
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Offline Tropicalcats

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #26 on: June 21, 2009 - 07:46:18 PM »
Thanks for all the suggestions and comments. I have made the choice to plastic bead blast the car and than acid etch. And in answer to some question we had thought of dipping half the car at a time but you would end up with a seam and than that would need to be removed and it kind of defeats the purpose.
It’s a California car with little rust and in the long run you all are right it’s not going to see rain when I'm done. I do tend to go overboard sometimes with the car but I just want it done right. Sometimes right and over the top get clouded in my mind.
I have little doubt that my body guy could do the job and again he is just following my lead and thinking of ways I can get what I want. He has suggested media blasting a number of times and I have been holding out for dipping.
Maybe the shock of cutting up my car was just what the doctor ordered.
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Offline bb71challenger

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #27 on: June 21, 2009 - 08:04:22 PM »
I think unless I was going whole hog on a restoration I would rather media blast or soda blast than dip. After dipping you have all the seam sealer on the whole car that is gone to deal with along with making sure the solution has been neutralized. Good luck and keep us posted! 
1971 Challenger (OO==== ====OO) getting close!
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Offline torredcuda

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #28 on: June 22, 2009 - 05:20:31 PM »
Thanks for all the suggestions and comments. I have made the choice to plastic bead blast the car and than acid etch. And in answer to some question we had thought of dipping half the car at a time but you would end up with a seam and than that would need to be removed and it kind of defeats the purpose.
It’s a California car with little rust and in the long run you all are right it’s not going to see rain when I'm done. I do tend to go overboard sometimes with the car but I just want it done right. Sometimes right and over the top get clouded in my mind.
I have little doubt that my body guy could do the job and again he is just following my lead and thinking of ways I can get what I want. He has suggested media blasting a number of times and I have been holding out for dipping.
Maybe the shock of cutting up my car was just what the doctor ordered.

As you said it would be pointless as you would have to prep/clean the metal and weld the body back together and then you have exposed seams inside that will be untreated anyway.
Jeff
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Offline quapman

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Re: Help ! Should I cut my car in half??
« Reply #29 on: June 22, 2009 - 09:12:27 PM »
Spot welds are theoretically stronger than MIG welds since there is less heat involved, therefore, less modification of the steel's molecular structure. Steel is more prone to stress and rust near a weld.
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