I found a 64 Polara and although it's a Az. car I wouldn't mind finding out the bad spots for rust and the like. It was painted 10 or so years ago so it probably has some filler. Thanks.
Problem areas to look for on a 64 Polara
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Worst place can be driver's side cowl area. Front floors, torsion bar crossmember, rear frame rails. This is my experience with Ontario rust belt cars. Arizona car should be fairly solid.
If you can get a look at the inner cowl.Look up under the dash. Many times the outer looks good but underneath may be gone.
Lower quarters hold water when drains clog after a few years. For some reason the driver side more than the passenger side.
My 2 cents. Dust and dirt in the desert is very fine and builds up and hardens. Door bottoms, fenders, quarters. Also check rear wheel well lips.
dvw
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As mentioned crawl under the dash and look up by the wiper pivot. The 1/4 rust gets caused by water getting into the trunk. When I disasembled my 64 it definately had some 1/4 and trunk floor issues. What I didn't expect was when the lower rear window trim was removed (looked great before removal) that there was no botttom lip below the glass and rubber channel. Take a look up from inside the trunk.
Doug
Doug
Cowl, mainly drivers' side but, they both trap water. Bottom wrap a round portion of the quarter panels. Dog leg areas. Rocker panels (mainly the rear areas to the rear of the overlapping body seam) in front were galvanized. The floor to firewall seam. Battery tray. Trunk floor. And everything made from steel (here in Michigan)!
Mike
Mike
Thanks for the tips fellas. I hope, because it's a southern car, that is solid.
I saw it in the flesh today. It's a nice driver. Not perfect but I don't want perfect. I need to get it out onto the pavement and give her a good look over.
My ride is a ’63 Plymouth I got out of CA 30-years ago and has never seen salt, much less much rain having parked in a heated garage. While not the same car, they’re close relatives so tossing out what I encountered when doing a complete resto in case it might be helpful. The lower trunk well needed to be cut out, about a 12”x12” section replaced with new metal. The rocker below the rear left window needed to be cut out with new metal.
Heard that the rockers and cowling areas on these cars were subject to rusting; cowling on mine was still pristine given where it lived most of its life before I got it. But, one time I got caught driving home in a huge rain storm several years before restoring it. When getting home noticed how saturated the carpeting was. Ended up removing the seats, interior panels and carpeting to dry it out, damn, the interior well area beneath the rear windows were full up with standing water. I fashioned a vac-nozzle to use with the shop vac to reach the bottom of the wells and set up fans for two-days to dry everything out.
I’m sure this hassle is with many/most cars; but after years of accumulating dust and dirt build-up drainage is plugged.
I’d also inspect closely around the body trim given the multitude of holes for mounting it. A quality paint job does the coating, though before reattaching the trim, I added some rust prevention coating using q-tips into and behind those holes as the metal fasteners can scratch off the paint. Yeah, I was kinda picky. Anyway being careless here can leave exposed or scratched metal to rusting.
Heard that the rockers and cowling areas on these cars were subject to rusting; cowling on mine was still pristine given where it lived most of its life before I got it. But, one time I got caught driving home in a huge rain storm several years before restoring it. When getting home noticed how saturated the carpeting was. Ended up removing the seats, interior panels and carpeting to dry it out, damn, the interior well area beneath the rear windows were full up with standing water. I fashioned a vac-nozzle to use with the shop vac to reach the bottom of the wells and set up fans for two-days to dry everything out.
I’m sure this hassle is with many/most cars; but after years of accumulating dust and dirt build-up drainage is plugged.
I’d also inspect closely around the body trim given the multitude of holes for mounting it. A quality paint job does the coating, though before reattaching the trim, I added some rust prevention coating using q-tips into and behind those holes as the metal fasteners can scratch off the paint. Yeah, I was kinda picky. Anyway being careless here can leave exposed or scratched metal to rusting.
WileE
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A magnet is also a good tool to use, particularly on the outer painted body panels.
Looks nice Mike.
I am looking at it closer tonight and bring my checkbook along. Going to run it out on the concrete so I can look at the underside and I want to look closer in the trunk. The cowl looks ok from what I saw a few days ago although it's hard to see to the middle of the car from the side. I need to see if I can find my endoscope. That would help if I have a phone it will work on. Wish me luck.
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Good luck, Mike. It looks like a super car.
If I was onto wagons.
Yes, I did. Picked it up tonight and drove it home. 25 miles. It needs the tires balanced and the front end aligned, and come carb work. It really stumbles when you step on the accelerator. It has a new looking Holley 2 barrel on it. (like a replacement) It seems to be running rich though. That's the stuff I like messing with. New exhaust, all welded, new driveshaft with the slip yoke to eliminate the ball and trunion. New gas tank and pump. (gauge works) The floor pans are really clean and solid. New master cylinder and brakes. It looks like new front suspension, Also a new steering gear and pump. Damn, I could scrap it and come out ahead.
It has a kick *** stereo I need to figure out. Oh, the clock works.
@Scott Engelhardt I picked up tonight.
Thats awesome! I really like the color
khryslerkid
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Congratulations Mike! Welcome to the B body club
Looks like a pretty clean car. Looking forward to seeing what you work on getting her the way you want it.
Looks like a pretty clean car. Looking forward to seeing what you work on getting her the way you want it.
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Congratulations Mike! Enjoy your new ride. I have had my '64 Polara since 1980.
Yes, I did. Picked it up tonight and drove it home. 25 miles. It needs the tires balanced and the front end aligned, and come carb work. It really stumbles when you step on the accelerator. It has a new looking Holley 2 barrel on it. (like a replacement) It seems to be running rich though. That's the stuff I like messing with. New exhaust, all welded, new driveshaft with the slip yoke to eliminate the ball and trunion. New gas tank and pump. (gauge works) The floor pans are really clean and solid. New master cylinder and brakes. It looks like new front suspension, Also a new steering gear and pump. Damn, I could scrap it and come out ahead.
It has a kick *** stereo I need to figure out. Oh, the clock works.
View attachment 1822376
Damn I could scrap it and come out ahead
What does that mean?
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