‘73 Town and Country In for maintenance and minor rust repair

[73 T&C]

my 73 wagon is in for minor rust repair at the spare tire well.

Also front fender at rear showing bubbles where repairs done two years ago.

Also replacing front bumper I messed up last year.

Regular maintenance will be:

• Lube and oil change
• Coolant flush
• Fluid check
• Brake check and service if required.
• Self leveling rear shock system leaking. Check and repair

Stay tuned.

 

[commando1]

Also replacing front bumper I messed up last year.

Were you trying to make it perfect?

 

[BLIMP]

Subscribed...I will eventually need to perform the same repairs, detailed pics and info would be great

 

[73 T&C]

Were you trying to make it perfect?

Yep.... it’s a thing with me.

Actually I hit a concrete barrier at the end of a pump island at a gas station.

 

[1970FuryConv]

Somewhere I can see pics of your whole car?

 

[FURYGT]

Common rust area with wagons. The side windows leak or the tailgate window gets left down and water gets in the spare tire well.

So if you have to have the body work done again after 2 years on that front fender I sure hope you are taking the car to a different body shop.

 

[73 T&C]

Common rust area with wagons. The side windows leak or the tailgate window gets left down and water gets in the spare tire well.

So if you have to have the body work done again after 2 years on that front fender I sure hope you are taking the car to a different body shop.

Not the body shop’s fault and I did a lot of the welding and fabbing.

Same issue different spots. The drivers side rear dog leg, where we did a good bit of surgery, is holding up just fine.

The spare tire well became apparent recently but has obviously been coming on for a while.

 

[73 T&C]

Somewhere I can see pics of your whole car?

Here’s some for you....

Sexy rear end....

Another Mopar sexy rear end

And another old girl’s sexy rear end

How she handles

 

[cantflip]

Subscribed...I will eventually need to perform the same repairs, detailed pics and info would be great

I'm watching just 'cause Javier makes such great repair threads...

 

[1970FuryConv]

Hey Javier, Great looking car! The Mopar *** under hood is a definite bonus.

 

[FURYGT]

Great looking wagon. Same color as my 71 Fury Custom Suburban.

 

[73 T&C]

Bent bumper off...

 

[73 T&C]

More work done.... and some historic tire pictures.

Rot cut out from welds inside to leave outer fender alone as much as possible.

Cut enough to get to clean metal and a square patch panel.

Need to separate the remaining panel toward the rear to clean out surface rust starting between panels.

New bumper cleaning up well. And nice and straight.

Original GoodYear Polyglass tire

With twin side wall stripes: white and gold.

L78-15

 

[MJF]

Spare tire well looks so familiar. Mine looked pretty similar, but after I hit it with grinder, I had to cut outer quarter panel too up to molding... It was rusted from inside.

 

[73 T&C]

Spare tire well looks so familiar. Mine looked pretty similar, but after I hit it with grinder, I had to cut outer quarter panel too up to molding... It was rusted from inside.

You should know MJF. Your wagon is a clone of mine!

I’m going to look inside to check with my scope camera tomorrow. You can see the whole at the bottom of the reinforcement inner panel. It will get waxoiled.

 

[73 T&C]

Patch panel in... not happy. I know it’s only the spare tire well but please.... They can do better than that...

What annoyed me most was that they didn’t even straighten the side wall panel. They built the patch to fit the dent. Good news it that the outer fender is pristine. Will still waxoil it when done.

The tire well had been badly dented in from being used as a fulcrom for a crowbar trying to flip the rear spring shackles back sometime prior to my ownership. Whoever did it (probably the idiot shipper), that was how I found it when she arrived.

In all fairness the guy doing the patch was a newbie. Ivan just looked at it and said... we’ll do it again.... sorry.

I said thanks and left.

 

[73 T&C]

Ivan’s dad passed away and he left to Peru for at least a week. Poor guy. I told him I would help mind the store for him and not to worry.

 

[BLIMP]

Aw man that's really unfortunate, sorry to hear that

 

[73 T&C]

New straight bumper getting final cleaning of the back face with grinder prior to chrome. Also, brackets blasted and painted. All finger tight for now.

 

[73 T&C]

Progress was stopped on this project to focus on the NYB issues of late. Also, Ivan’s mom passed away after a major stroke in early August. She passed in early September and poor Ivan’s been flying back and forth to Peru as these events have been unfolding. Needless to say, he’s way behind and asked for a pause.

NOS grille came in today. Mine was getting a little tired looking. Part of refurb effort on the old girl. Pictures tomorrow. I love getting parts in.

Should be getting back into it as we reassemble the road runner this month and next. Meantime, I’ll be working on the minor items that need attention.

Power door locks
Squeaky speedo
A/C fan speed switch
Antenna switch

All need attention.