Posted by Rustyoldodge on Sunday, July 06, 2003 at 2:10PM :
In Reply to: rusty frame posted by Steve Pellock on Saturday, July 05, 2003 at 11:38AM :
Hey Steve, Here are some tips you might use. l own a 68D300, and twenty years ago, l pulled her apart to do a complete restoration. After l stripped her down to the frame l realized that the frame had to come apart because the most extensive of the rust was that sandwiched between the frame members. l rented a cutting torch and grinder and went at it. l would heat up the head of the rivet and grind it down untill l was close to the frame. Then l heated up the "stem of the mushroom" again as well as the bottom. The rivets would punch out rather easily. after the frame came back sandblasted and Zinc Chromate primed, l finished it off with an industrial enamel. Then when l started to reassemble the frame l ran into a little problem. l found out that certain holes were to large for a 3/8" bolt and to small for a 7/16" bolt. l took my dial calipers and measured the hole and l got.404. l'm thinkin' "What the heck is Dodge doin' here. then it came to me. 25.4mm to the inch. 1mm is a little more than 40 thousandths of a inch, so a 10mm bolt was the answer to that problem. Needless to say, my Dodge is held together with metric bolts. the paintjob has held up well. The only corrosion failure has been under the master cylinder, and that problem can be taken care of simply by using Silicone brake fluid. Also, l plan on doing the job again, and this time l am going to use PolyUrethane Caulk between the Frame members and drill the frame to accept S AMERICAN E Bolts. Hope this has been a help to one and all. Rusty
Follow Ups: