Been progressing on my 63 Cruiser the last two weeks. I've got a bodyman that's coming by in the evenings to address the few minor wounds and prep for eventual painting. That task is progressing quickly.
Yesterday tho, I discovered something truly startling that I've never seen before - and I've had lots of 63-later Studes pass thru my hands in 36 years.
While I routinely DO see cracks in the body tub of 63-later cars (4-drs and wagons), usually it's where the A & B-pillars join the roof. This car has such cracks and I intend to address them with a MIG welder.
What I found last night tho - this is something new to me. This car is NOT a rust-bucket. It's spent all it's life either here in the central valley of CA OR in southern Arizona. In fact, most of the generous surface rust it bears is from it's original finish being destroyed in long-term outdoor storage in the Arizona sunshine. The only crusty rust is the upper lip that the rubber sill seals mount into. Wet carpets after the car was returned to CA and stored in less than ideal circumstances was the cause of that.
Anyway, the cause of this has me stumped! There's NO rust or rot here, just tearing due to fatigue.
This is the bolt that attaches to the crossmember that arches up over the rear axle. I haven't check from underneath yet, but I'm thinking maybe a frozen shock absorber(s) could cause this???
While I'm at it, here's the cracks at the tops of the B-pillars. Some of what looks like cracks is simply seam-sealer that I have yet to pick away at, but the rusted edges of the cracks readily give themselves away. Again, this is not a new phenomenon. I've seen it so often that a surprize would be to NOT see it.
1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door
Yesterday tho, I discovered something truly startling that I've never seen before - and I've had lots of 63-later Studes pass thru my hands in 36 years.
While I routinely DO see cracks in the body tub of 63-later cars (4-drs and wagons), usually it's where the A & B-pillars join the roof. This car has such cracks and I intend to address them with a MIG welder.
What I found last night tho - this is something new to me. This car is NOT a rust-bucket. It's spent all it's life either here in the central valley of CA OR in southern Arizona. In fact, most of the generous surface rust it bears is from it's original finish being destroyed in long-term outdoor storage in the Arizona sunshine. The only crusty rust is the upper lip that the rubber sill seals mount into. Wet carpets after the car was returned to CA and stored in less than ideal circumstances was the cause of that.
Anyway, the cause of this has me stumped! There's NO rust or rot here, just tearing due to fatigue.
This is the bolt that attaches to the crossmember that arches up over the rear axle. I haven't check from underneath yet, but I'm thinking maybe a frozen shock absorber(s) could cause this???
While I'm at it, here's the cracks at the tops of the B-pillars. Some of what looks like cracks is simply seam-sealer that I have yet to pick away at, but the rusted edges of the cracks readily give themselves away. Again, this is not a new phenomenon. I've seen it so often that a surprize would be to NOT see it.
1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door
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101st Airborne Div. 326 Engineers Ft Campbell Ky.
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