Fuselage common rust area, why?

Dodgy Dick

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As you mostly know the Fuselage car years have a very common rust out area around the base panels in the area of the rear window, as Professor Sumner Miller would say...
"Why is this so" ???
 
No way to drain the area at the base of the rear window inset where the sheet metal is usually made from two parts: dutchman panel and rear quarter......

Chrysler wasn’t the only one with this problem nor were C bodies the only models to have this problem. I just had my 73 roadrunner repaired in this area.
 
In addition, poor quality control on the size of the rear window opening, poor quality control on the installation of the rear windows and poor design as water that got behind the window molding would just sit there. In my opinion Chrysler should have continued to use gaskets around the window.
 
Would not lack of protective paint at assembly in these concealed areas leave raw metal to the ravages of water ingression and condensation ?
I'm lucky with no sign yet in my '69 Fury 4 door, but I guess its only a matter of time !
Almost every time I track down down a spare parts car its been trashed due to rust in the rear window/trunk panels !!
 
I doubt whether the underside of the upper trunk panels and/or under parcel shelf ever got properly painted, too many nooks and crannies.
 
Another issue was that the pinch weld where the window channels came together were often poorly aligned/finished as noted, these cars nearly always leaked at the lower corners of the rear glass which often lacked adequate sealant. This allowed moisture to seep into the trunk. Moisture collected in the rear quarter radii and under the trunk mat. As the vehicle warmed up some of the moisture evaporated and later condensed on the inside of the trunk lid and the flat panel above the trunk hinges. The metal on the flat panel and the lower side of the window channel was rarely painted adequately and was a magnet for rust. These cars often rusted from the inside out. As previously noted the window trim and the vinyl top held moisture and caused further rusting from the outside as well. Moisture retention in areas that used road salt caused the rust out to progress very rapidly.

Dave
 
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I doubt whether the underside of the upper trunk panels and/or under parcel shelf ever got properly painted, too many nooks and crannies.

I forgot to mention:

Inner reinforcement and package tray panels were two that I didn’t mention but would accelerate rust of the outer body panels if there was a leak at the corners of the rear window. No way to get paint into the multiple panel welds and only the weak galvanized protection over low nickel steel to hold back the rust.
 
Remember, it was a typical styling feature of cars of that era to have a more slanted/curved rear window configuration. As mentioned, the water pooled in the areas it couldn't drain from. 3M came out with "AlumaLead" metal repair for the GM cars' issues in that area. The popular vinyl tops made it worse, I suspect.

When my parents got their new '72 Newport Royal 4dr sedan, after it had some time on it, I had noticed how much windnoise it had, which was typically around the moldings. I'd already been at work on the '66 Newport to seek to decrease it on that car, so I was becoming handy with 3M Rope Caulk in filling indentions and such. Knowing of the issues that GM was having with their rear window rust (which seemed to happen in just 2 yrs of ownership!), I didn't want the Chrysler to have a similar fate. I filled the gap between the molding and the glass with a carefully applied strip of dumdum, then tooled it all smooth. But I left the side against the body unsealed. Still no rust in that area, so far. It seemed that Chrysler put more paint in that area than GM did, from the ones I saw. Never saw a Chrysler rust in that area, back then.

Just my experiences,
CBODY67
 
Maybe its time to sell mine before the inevitable happens and rust bubbles raise their ugly head, such a nice car too, only 58,000 miles and all original running gear, only a 318 but over here in OZ that's a bloody big donk !!
 
Maybe its time to sell mine before the inevitable happens and rust bubbles raise their ugly head, such a nice car too, only 58,000 miles and all original running gear, only a 318 but over here in OZ that's a bloody big donk !!

Just pop the rear window moldings off and see what's there now. Probably some accumulated road dirt and such? Clean it out good and any repairs might be minimal?

CBODY67
 
Surely after all these years, solutions have been found to correct this issue?

Keep the car, but as CBODY67 suggests, strip things back to see how it is, then fix as required and keep enjoying.

No point selling your car only for the new owner to enjoy, enjoy it yourself.
 
Surely after all these years, solutions have been found to correct this issue?

Keep the car, but as CBODY67 suggests, strip things back to see how it is, then fix as required and keep enjoying.

No point selling your car only for the new owner to enjoy, enjoy it yourself.
The auto manufacturers never intended for the vehicles to be on the road for 50 years,so build em and get them out of the factory...
 
With my '67 Fury I dripped some POR-15 into the space between the trim and the Dutchman using a straw. I don't know if it really worked as I only owned the car for a few years. Anyone think a trick like that could help?
 
I have to tend to this area too before it's too late. I already have vinyl top failure and some small visible rust bubbling below the back glass. Also, water just started dripping into the trunk through the seam at the Dutch panel/quarter in the trough next to the trunk weatherstrip. Ugh! Outdoor storage is a pain.
Next summer I hope to install a new vinyl top and address all of the rust. Before the new fabric is glued down, the entire top will be brushed with two coats of Por-15 plus a white top coat. The glass will probably come out too.
 
024BA078-EF1D-4059-AD74-E1FB32AF73D4.jpeg
A1548B66-21D9-47E4-9020-A59FBD3EFA6F.jpeg
I have to tend to this area too before it's too late. I already have vinyl top failure and some small visible rust bubbling below the back glass. Also, water just started dripping into the trunk through the seam at the Dutch panel/quarter in the trough next to the trunk weatherstrip. Ugh! Outdoor storage is a pain.
Next summer I hope to install a new vinyl top and address all of the rust. Before the new fabric is glued down, the entire top will be brushed with two coats of Por-15 plus a white top coat. The glass will probably come out too.

When I cleaned out my trunk, I noticed a bit of sunlight towards the front of the trunk. Sure enough, there were rot holes where the vinyl was coming up under the rear window. Took some spray foam and duct tape and made a temporary patch.
 
BARGE ON A BUDGET 134.jpg

This is what happens when a rear window leak goes untreated. Sister Donor Car...RIP
BARGE ON A BUDGET 135.jpg
 
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