70 Challenger disassembly

[jbearden]

I started pulling my Challenger apart today and once I removed the back seat I noticed that one of the braces welded between the package tray and floor in between the passenger compartment and trunk is bent and needs to be replaced.I've searched all of the metal replacement sites and have not seen anything at all that resembles these braces.What exactly are they called and has anyone else had to replace these?Thanks in advance.I'll be taking pics of the resto and I'll start a thread on it soon.

 

[DetMatt1]

Depending on how badly its bent I would think your best bet would be to drill it off at the spot welds and hammer it back into shape and weld it back on. I'm sure those braces aren't repopped as they are rarely rusty. If somebody has a parts car with them that would be your best bet for finding a replacement and they may even be the same profile as the ones used in B-bodies.

 

[jbearden]

Thanks Matt.I might be able to work with it,but it is bent in the shape of a Z now and the welds were popped off from the floor years before I got the car.It looks like a U-joint busted at the pinion and slammed into floor,knocking it loose and bending it pretty bad.

 

[DetMatt1]

It's factory profile is Z shaped or its bent into the shape of a Z from damage? If its just Z shaped profile you could probably have a piece bent for cheap at a local metal fab.

 

[jbearden]

It's bent into the shape of a Z.I'll get pics tomorrow and post it for you.I just got through pulling the rest of the carpet and took a shop vac to the floors.The brace is supposed to be spot welded to the floor but something hit so hard in that area that it busted all the spot welds loose and bent the brace.The passenger side is fine but the driver side is pretty tore up.Overall the car is really solid.It was originally B5 blue with B5 interior and white vinyl top.Factory 383 2 bbl console auto car.

 

[DetMatt1]

Nice color combo, love the blue cars especially with white accents.

 

[jbearden]

I'll get a better pic posted today,but this is basically what I'm talking about.

 

[DetMatt1]

I just verified that the B bodies are the same profile so you could broaden your search for a replacement.

 

[jbearden]

That will make the search much easier!Thanks Matt.Here's another view of it.No clue what happened to it,but it was obviously hit really hard from the bottom.The floor isn't bent nearly as bad as what the brace shows.A hammer and mig welder will get it back together in no time.

 

[Moparparts]

I have a set here from a 70 GTX, 71 Road Runner i am parting and quite a few sets from A-Bodies as well PM me if interested

 

[jbearden]

PM sent Moparparts

 

[jbearden]

Which year B body brace will work on the E bodies?I'm guessing 71-74 but could be wrong.Thanks again

 

[DetMatt1]

They may be different but likely longer so you could cut them to fit.

 

[Donny]

Old one removed and tossed James! New one blasted and in epoxy primer!

 

[dongei]

Talking from experience......you would be so much better off to repair that one. It's ''original" to the car. If it's more than you can handle a body shop could do it for you. You can buy a mig welder from Harbor Freight for $100.00 to weld it back on. I used one for small jobs and it works well.