Did B Bodies use different steel thickness over the years? For instance my 72 satellite seems to have thinner steel than my 67 satellite.

[tonyp25]

Maybe it’s all in my mind by my 1972 has a much more tinny sound than my 1967. The 1967 doesn’t sound like a tin can when I shut the door, trunk or hood. Did they use different steel throughout the mopar years or possibly a different gauge?

 

[YY1]

 

[YY1]

I had always thought so.

It's taken decades, but I now own 66, 67, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 87 cars and it all feels and cuts the same to me.

 

[Jerry Hall]

I'm not positive, but I think there was a slight change between 67 and 68. Between 70 and 71, I couldn't say what the difference was with the body change. Between 67 and 68, I can't say for certain that the gauge metal changed, but I can't see how you make a bigger car and it be lighter. I know exactly what you are talking about, that tiny sound, as my 66-67's sound more solid than my 68's and the 70. I put some spray on sound deadening material inside the doors on my Superbird and it helped, but didn't take it all out.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Thinner metal and harder, probably to save money and make cars lighter.

 

[Lefty71]

know exactly what you are talking about, that tiny sound, as my 66-67's sound more solid than my 68's and the 70.

Some part of this has to be the reduction in angles in the body lines down side of the car. And these days, all cars are blobs.....no one ever leans on the door or fender of a modern car lol.

 

[tonysrt]

And of course they never thought these cars would be around 50 years later. There only $3000 so they'll buy another one in 4-5 years. And then no more muscle cars. We have to be thankful that repro parts are being made now for all the rusted out body parts.

 

[Geoff 2]

What I can tell you.

I had a 1961 Dodge Phoenix. My friend had a 1962 Dodge Phoenix, first year of the 'unibody'. Both were 4 door pillared cars. We both had 440s with alum TFs. We weighed our cars same day, one after the other. My 61 was 400 lb heavier.

 

[YY1]

I will say this, and it should be fairly obvious to anyone that's spent any real time around the different generations of 60's and 70's B body Mopars-

The typical 66/67 body absolutely does not rust out like the 68-70.

Not even close.

...and to a somewhat lesser degree, in general, the 68-70 body does not rust out as bad as the 71-74.

 

[moparedtn]

I will say this, and it should be fairly obvious to anyone that's spent any real time around the different generations of 60's and 70's B body Mopars-

The typical 66/67 body absolutely does not rust out like the 68-70.

Not even close.

...and to a somewhat lesser degree, in general, the 68-70 body does not rust out as bad as the 71-74.

Seems so, yeah. I'd also suggest that the metallurgy changed over the years - yes, as the manufacturers discovered
newer ways of making shiyat cheaper, of course.

 

[Runcharger]

I think the gauges from say late 60's to early 70's would be the same although I have never measured them to be sure or I have and forgot them.
I do remember patching an 80 Ford pickup with sheetmetal from a 72 Dart hood though and the Dart metal was roughly twice the thickness of the Ford metal.

 

[WileE]

From personal experience in the northeast, from back in the day, my perception was the 68-70 were the worst rot-buckets compared to before or after, based on the cars we worked on. Especially floors.

 

[AR67GTX]

I will say this, and it should be fairly obvious to anyone that's spent any real time around the different generations of 60's and 70's B body Mopars-

The typical 66/67 body absolutely does not rust out like the 68-70.

Not even close.

...and to a somewhat lesser degree, in general, the 68-70 body does not rust out as bad as the 71-74.

That’s fortunate considering the scarcity of reproduction sheet metal for 66/67.