Project Bulldog. (1988 Diplomat AHB)

[Mikes5thAve]

Dont scare him lol You're not replacing the whole thing. Cut chunks out bigger then the rusted areas and a body shop or anyone decent at welding can replace those sections.

That F body panel has everything you need and should be the same for those areas. Just sayin.... too bad its not your bad side.

 

[SonOfaTomP]

Here's a Volare quarter, probably won't fit, but you can see where the edges are where it gets welded to the car, which will help you figure out where to cut. Link:

Pardon Our Interruption...

that's a huge help. 84 New Yorker is an M right? theres one in Pennsylvania that might get sacrificed. if not one in Delaware that might as a bonus have the red seats i want for my maroon car

that or i can see if i can get back in contact with the guy with that white car you took the header off of

 

[AMC Diplomat]

that's a huge help. 84 New Yorker is an M right? theres one in Pennsylvania that might get sacrificed. if not one in Delaware that might as a bonus have the red seats i want for my maroon car

that or i can see if i can get back in contact with the guy with that white car you took the header off of

Go for the one with red seats, because if the quarters aren't any good at least you can get the seats.

Idk how much better that white car was, and if i recall correctly, the trunk didn't even open, so its not like you could even check down inside and see if it's rotten.

 

[Mikes5thAve]

It depends on if they used the right name or not. 84 new Yorker is K-car but it's obvious what it is from pics.

 

[SonOfaTomP]

It depends on if they used the right name or not. 84 new Yorker is K-car but it's obvious what it is from pics.

both sites had no pictures. just listed it as New Yorker (RWD) 82 was NYer, 83 NYer Fifth Ave, then 84 is just Fifth Ave? i'd hate to drive the two hours then find just a K Car. but those were all FWD

 

[Mikes5thAve]

If it does say rwd it's the right one.
Yeah the name game with them is confusing. Thsts why a lot of parts places just called it full size or rwd rather them the model name.. same issue with Cadillac fleetwood identity crisis going back and forth between fwd and rwd.

 

[SonOfaTomP]

found a picture of this car in old family photos. yep, it was always grey it seems. had a repaint when the Plymouth header panel was put on i remember that.

new plugs, wires, cap, rotor. acceleration stumble is gone. that was simple. carb is leaking though. needs rebuild. wipers still don't work. will likely need a new switch. even the spray nozzles don't work.

made sure to check under the wheel well trims of my Plymouth. to my dismay i can see rot starting there. very minor bubbling now. made sure to clean em up really good.

hunting for quarter panels now. might have one lined up.

 

[M_Body_Coupe]

You're gonna need new quarters to do it right. Find some unlucky 5th ave and take an angle grinder to it

Yeah, absolutely agree with this!

Sure, you could patch it up with plastic stuff, but after a few years it'll come apart.

 

[AMC Diplomat]

made sure to check under the wheel well trims of my Plymouth. to my dismay i can see rot starting there. very minor bubbling now. made sure to clean em up really good.

Pop those bubbles, sand the area down to remove the rust. If you want to be surgical, use a Dremel. Clean with acetone or brake cleaner.

Treat with ospho

Paint with rusty metal primer, several coats


Is this the "professional" way to do it? Hell no. Will it slow the rust and preserve the car? Yes. Is it cheap? Yup. If it's behind the trim, you can use the trim to hide your work after and keep enjoying the car

 

[SonOfaTomP]

thanks AMC. gotta track down a good Black Cherry spray paint. or just get really good at taping off the fender. rust is only on a few paint chips and on the driver's side rear quarter. hidden on the underside and under the skirt. and one or two tiny bubbles around the window, those will be hard to hide. how easy are those rear window trims to take on and off? some paint chipped off there. filled in with a touch up pen but it really came out looking black

your tips have definitely taught be this task isn't as daunting as it seemed at first. gonna try and do these cars right

 

[AMC Diplomat]

thanks AMC. gotta track down a good Black Cherry spray paint. or just get really good at taping off the fender. rust is only on a few paint chips and on the driver's side rear quarter. hidden on the underside and under the skirt. and one or two tiny bubbles around the window, those will be hard to hide. how easy are those rear window trims to take on and off? some paint chipped off there. filled in with a touch up pen but it really came out looking black

View attachment 56163
your tips have definitely taught be this task isn't as daunting as it seemed at first. gonna try and do these cars right

With a trim removal tool, the window trim pops right off

I'm 100% a hack and I don't do anything the right way.