1970 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA

Symptoms: Sagging doors that won't close properly, Visible rust-through in trunk corners and rear frame rails, Floor flexing or cracks near seat mounts, Steering feels loose or wanders due to compromised front frame rails

Fix: Rust repair on E-bodies is structural welding territory. Torque boxes behind front wheels and rear frame rail sections rot out first. Floor pans typically need replacement panels welded in. Expect 20-40 hours labor depending on extent, plus metal fabrication skills. Front frame rail replacement is 25-35 hours and requires rotisserie access for proper alignment.

Estimated cost: $3,500-12,000

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Hard starting when warm, fires then dies, Erratic idle timing, backfiring through carburetor, Rattling on cold starts for 2-3 seconds, Loss of power above 3,500 RPM

Fix: Original single-roller chains stretch considerably by 80k. Nylon cam gear teeth shed on 318s and smaller blocks — fragments circulate through oil. Replace with double-roller timing set, new oil pump, and front seal while you're in there. 4-6 hours labor with radiator removal for access.

Estimated cost: $650-1,200

Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, One side sits noticeably lower than the other, Steering pulls hard to one side even after alignment, Visible rust or cracks in lower control arm socket welds

Fix: Torsion bar anchor crossmember rusts from inside out where bars insert. Lower control arm sockets crack under stress. Both are catastrophic failures waiting to happen. Proper fix requires removing K-member, welding in reinforcement plates or replacement crossmember sections. 12-18 hours labor plus alignment. Cheap temporary fix is shimming bars but that's asking for a wheel to tuck under the fender at speed.

Estimated cost: $2,200-4,500

Symptoms: Ammeter shows constant discharge or pegs to one side, Melted or burned smell from under dash, Headlights dim when accessories are on, Firewall connector housing shows heat discoloration or melted plastic

Fix: Chrysler ran full charging current through the bulkhead connector and dash ammeter — both corrode and create resistance over decades, generating heat. Burned terminals need replacement bulkhead connector and new ammeter bypass wiring. Modern fix is MAD Electrical bypass kit eliminating ammeter entirely. 3-5 hours for proper rewiring job.

Estimated cost: $400-850

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Rear axle shifts side-to-side under hard acceleration, Rear end hops or skips over bumps, One leaf spring sitting lower or visibly separated, Clunking from rear on deceleration

Fix: Leaf springs develop flat spots or separate between leaves, especially on high-horsepower cars that saw hard launches. Rear spring hangers rust through the frame rail where they're welded. Replace springs in pairs with polyurethane bushings. If hangers are rusted, frame rail reinforcement patches must be welded. 6-8 hours for springs alone, 15-20 hours if frame rail work needed.

Estimated cost: $1,200-3,800

Symptoms: Raw fuel smell after shutting off engine, Fuel dripping from air cleaner base onto intake, Hard starting after sitting for days, Black staining on intake manifold under carb

Fix: Carter carbs with pot metal bodies develop porosity leaks in float bowls after decades of thermal cycling. Nitrophyl floats absorb fuel and sink. Rebuild kits help temporarily but bodies eventually need replacement or upgrade to Edelbrock AVS2. Rebuild takes 2-3 hours, replacement 1.5 hours with tuning.

Estimated cost: $350-650