Bad Door Jams

Flormat · Flormat's Garage

I'm thinking about buying this '72 but the door jams are rusted out pretty bad. Replacement door jams would need to be welded in place of the old. Is this very serious? Should I still consider the car? And what would it cost to have them welded in? Thanks guys.

Joe Ricard · Joe Ricard's Garage

The scourge of 30 year old cars. If that is the olny place that is rusty that would be amazing. I would guess that you have more of the orange monster than you can see right off. May make a good parts car, or good place to learn how to weld.

Flormat · Flormat's Garage

The battery tray is of course pretty much gone. Both trunk floors have no rust. She's been stored for 9 years and she fired up and ran well considering. I didn't see rust in the engine compartment but that doesn't mean anything. I assume there is rust in places that I can't see of course. But from what I saw the door jams were the worst. Is this common place for rust with these? And I didn't pull up carpet in the interior. Speaking of interior it is in really good shape- no rips or cracks.

jabez · 04-18-2002, 08:24 AM

I just finished welding in the passenger side jamb of my 74. It is pretty involved but if you go slow, you can do it. I'm an intermediate ability welder and it came out well. I still need to do the driver side. Mine rusted at the top where the vent tube goes through. I believe it was a result of the excessive amounts of rubber filler pumped in the top corner above the tube, and salt from Ohio roads.

GS

retro74 · 04-18-2002, 08:11 PM

Jabez,
I could use some insight here myself. I have similar issues. I have pieces from a doner car that show that the spot welds follow the inside door frame edge. However, not sure about the quarter panel since I haven't scraped off the seam-sealer from the doner parts.

Question is... How does the quarter panel mount onto the door jamb. Is is spot welded down the edge or seam-sealer glued on?

Job will be a PITA, but I wanted a project to work ...

Joe

jabez · 04-22-2002, 08:32 AM

Joe,

You are correct. Spot welds down the side of the jamb. I also found the striker plate totally rusted out when I got in there. It is a PITA and not for the impatient, but doable (is this a word?).

Jabez