Sweptline Newbie!

[Jeremy198705]

Hey everyone! I am a newbie to the older dodges even though I have had a dodge my whole life! I have had 86, 87, and now a 03 Pickups, and a 95 Dakota. I recently adopted for Free a 1969 Camper Special. It has a 318 in it and its a Manual. It has 39,000 Original Miles. and Hasn't moved out of a garage since 1981. The bed is in Excellent Shape, the Tailgate was shot but my uncle had one that is brand new from 1967 Needs a driver side fender, a little hood rust, where the hinges mount to the cab are shot! My dad restored a 67 (where the tailgate came from) when I was three (I am 24) and says fixing this hinge issue is quite the ordeal! I hope someone on here has a solution to this because this is my biggest concern! Interior is awesome! Here is the pic from unloading it tonight!

[Hobcobble]

Welcome to the site. That's a real nice
garage find! You'll find plenty of help here.

Sometimes the hinges get worn out and actually bind
up which can create a bit more stress on the firewall
and inner fender mounting points. Give your firewall
a thorough inspection inside & out to see if it has
rusted at all.

If its the door hinges you're talking about, the lower
portion of the cab including the front cab mount might
be rusted badly. This can be fixed but does require some
welding & fabricating skills. Keep the pics coming.
John

[Jeremy198705]

There is a place on the cab in between the door and the fender where the cab rolls down the side (if that makes since) that is rusted, not but but is rusted, I believe the water then leaked from there down the hinges, Yes the bottom hinge location is gone on the cab I do know this for sure. Along with the rocker panels they are pretty well gone. SO yes there is some Rust problems through out that area! I will take some detailed pics and get them on here later today hopefully! Thanks for the help!

[PwrWgnDrvr]

That's why it was FREE!
Its gonna cost a bundle to make it like new again. (money AND LABOR)
Sure is beat for only 39000 miles and garaged since 81.
I would make this a parts truck and find a better one.

[Hobcobble]

There is a place on the cab in between the door and the fender where the cab rolls down the side (if that makes since) that is rusted, not but but is rusted, I believe the water then leaked from there down the hinges, Yes the bottom hinge location is gone on the cab I do know this for sure. Along with the rocker panels they are pretty well gone. SO yes there is some Rust problems through out that area! I will take some detailed pics and get them on here later today hopefully! Thanks for the help!

From your "cab rolls down the side" description, it sounds like
the cowl has rusted out. This would allow water, etc. to get
down into the door jamb by the hinges. It'll also lead to rust
in the cowl/vent area. When you can, give the cab a thorough
cleaning.... Pop the cowl vent where the wiper pivots come
through and get a vacuum down into the cowl and clean it out
good. You will have to pull the doors off and get a vacuum down
into the pillar/hinge area too and clean it out as well. Pull up
the floor mat too and see what rust issues you'll be facing there.
You'll have to give the cab mount brackets a thorough inspection.
These are the brackets that are attached to the front of your
cab at the inner rocker panels. These brackets are where the
cab is attached [bolted] to the frame brackets.
John

[soopernaut]

The body line looks like it lines up well between the hood, cab, door and bed. Maybe the cab mounts are still good but it sounds like it will need lots of work on the cab.

Looks through some of the build threads and see what others have dealt with in regards to removing rusted areas and rebuilding.

[Jeremy198705]

That's why it was FREE!
Its gonna cost a bundle to make it like new again. (money AND LABOR)
Sure is beat for only 39000 miles and garaged since 81.
I would make this a parts truck and find a better one.

Unlike most I am not necessarily going to try and make it "Like New Again," I want something to learn how to weld on. Something to do body work and things like that with. It was free to me but just because it was given to me by my Fiance's mother. She paid around 500 for it I believe. I just want to get it running and do the body work make it look good, (Not Brand New) maybe do some motorwork things of this such. I am 24 years old and one who believes the only way to learn is hands on. I have built a few Mud Bogging Trucks in the past but always ignored body work. So this will be the start to maybe another one in the future! Or who knows, I may get this one completely restored sometime down the road! Thanks for any advice!

[Jeremy198705]

Pictures are posted in my Build Post. Take a look!

viewtopic.php?f=34&t=27986

[Rumbles1960]

Hey good luck with the truck, I just finished a major body restoration on a 1960 D100, it was frustrating at times because most replacement panels have to be made by hand but its very satisfying restoring these old trucks and seeing them on the road again. The truck basically had no cab floor, the front cab mounts were bad and the front fenders were pretty much gone. But after a lot of work it turned out pretty good and it was my first major project too.

[Hobcobble]

Unlike most I am not necessarily going to try and make it "Like New Again," I want something to learn how to weld on. Something to do body work and things like that with. It was free to me but just because it was given to me by my Fiance's mother. She paid around 500 for it I believe. I just want to get it running and do the body work make it look good, (Not Brand New) maybe do some motorwork things of this such. I am 24 years old and one who believes the only way to learn is hands on. I have built a few Mud Bogging Trucks in the past but always ignored body work. So this will be the start to maybe another one in the future! Or who knows, I may get this one completely restored sometime down the road! Thanks for any advice!

I've seen worse..... believe me. "Free" is a great price to
start out with. If the truck runs and is basically mechanically
sound, you can find a way to rebuild the rusted areas. It'll take
some time, skill and sheet metal but you should be able to
patch it up and make a "Fifteen Footer" out of it. Like
Soopernaut pointed out.... the body line is still good so at
least the cab, or box, or core support haven't given out
and settled onto the frame yet. Have fun with it!
John

[Jeremy198705]

Hey good luck with the truck, I just finished a major body restoration on a 1960 D100, it was frustrating at times because most replacement panels have to be made by hand but its very satisfying restoring these old trucks and seeing them on the road again. The truck basically had no cab floor left, the front cab mounts were bad and the front fenders were pretty much gone. After a lot of work I think it turned pretty good though, it was my first major project.

This will be my first body work project. Pretty much why I think I will do it with this truck. It isn't something that is of much value, and hey it was free! I would like to one day do a full resto on something but you have to learn before you can do it on something real valuable! So as you have done I am just doing this for the learning experience. There is only one way to learn!

[PwrWgnDrvr]

....There is only one way to learn!

There are many ways to learn.
Some infinitely better than others.

[Jeremy198705]

....There is only one way to learn!

There are many ways to learn.
Some infinitely better than others.

Which would be!?