My son and I are restoring a 70 maverick. When removing the rear leafs I discovered a disconcerting issue just behind the rubber spring stops. It appears that the frame her is building out slightly and is cracking. The other side has a plate of sorts welded over the crack. This car is all original and there is no body work that has been done so I think I can rule out any accidents. There is also no corrosion (with the exception of the plate welded over the crack on the drivers side) these appear to be completely stress related bulges and cracks. Is this typical of the rear rails? Any suggestions on reinforcement or repair or if it necessary. The bulges are out indicating that the rear end would be down but no other indications of body stress etc can I find..... I have attached pictures....
rear sway bar No evidence of a rear sway bar. Is there a weak point in the rails? Or some event that may have caused this? Again everything bolts right up perfectly and all body panels fit nicely .
Looks like someone was driving it like they stole it quite a bit and did some damage. Looks like standard torque related damage to me.
Torque damage I agree that it may have bottomed out or he'd the $$$&@&$ driven out of it. Given that what is the repair ability if this type of damage? Is it worth continuing on this chassis?
Its been rear ended, check if the rear body panel has been replaced, and hidden bondo in the quarters
Yep....been rear ended. If the rest of the car is solid and has NO bondo...might be able to get it on a frame rack and get it pulled out. I wrote a thread about a similar car I used to own. It is on here somewhere.
No bondo any place at all. All panels fit perfectly and there appears to be no stress anywhere in the frame. It is very strange. Has not been in a rear ender. Just wondering where the stress could be taken up due to the torsion folds.
Also could have been backed into a parking berm or curb at high speed. I've seen a car back into a curb so hard the guy tore the rear axle off the car.
Look close at the shape of the fenderwells, they may not be round, also the rear of the car (bumper) may be bent down. Mine got rear ended, more than 20 years ago, I welded the cracks up and thought all was good. Now I look at my 1/4's and wheel openings, and I can see where the rear is "squatting" There was no real 1/4 damage noticed. Have to look hard at the shape of it.
