Hello ... I have a 1971 Buick Riviera but the chassis is very rusty , my friend offered me 1975 Cadillac eldorado chassis which is in very good condition he told me it is the same chassis but from what I know the Cadillac is front wheel drive ... the question is ... will this chassis fit my 1971 Buick Riviera ? best regards
Hi, and welcome to the forum. No, unfortunately that won't work as noted above. You will probably need to look for a frame in a yard. I'm not sure if the frame is boattail specific for 71-73 or if one from a sister GM division interchanges. If the integrity of your existing frame isn't compromised, you may want to have it blasted and just paint it.
Actually I believe 71-72 is the same frame but 73 is different for Riviera. I also believe it is Riviera specific and no other GM platform will fit . Someone just had a frame listed on either the Riviera Facebook group or Buick Swap meet Facebook group. It was within the last 2 months.
The General Motors E platform or E-body was the automobile platform designation used for a number of personal luxury cars produced from 1963 to 2002. Notably, early E-bodies were produced in both front wheel drive and rear wheel drive configurations, and were the first front wheel drive automobiles produced in the United States since 1937. E-bodies were re-engineered to a smaller size in 1979, closely related to the GM K platform (FWD). Later, the cars were made smaller still with the 1986 redesign, along with the K-body. Most 1986–1993 E-bodies were produced at GM's high-tech Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly plant, with the Buick Reatta being built at the Lansing Craft Centre—then known as the Reatta Craft Centre. GM used the E-body designation until the Cadillac Eldorado ceased production in 2002. The E-body was used as the basis for the V-bodyhigh-end luxury coupes. This body shell designation was used for the following vehicles: 1963–1976 Buick Riviera (RWD) 1979–1985 Buick Riviera (FWD, longitudinal engine) 1986–1993 Buick Riviera (FWD, transverse engine) 1988–1991 Buick Reatta (FWD, transverse engine, shortened chassis) 1967–1985 Cadillac Eldorado (FWD, longitudinal engine) 1986–2002 Cadillac Eldorado (FWD, transverse engine) 1966–1985 Oldsmobile Toronado (FWD, longitudinal engine) 1986–1992 Oldsmobile Toronado (FWD, transverse engine)
Your confusion stems from the fact that not all year E bodies and frames are the same. Look for a 71 or 72 Riv donor. There is another option that is often superior —meaning cheaper. If the car you own has rust issues serious enough to cause you to really need a new frame, the body panels may also have issues. The cost of the labor to repair it may not be cost effective. Unless you have some family or other personal connection to your current car, sell it as a whole for parts and buy a cleaner example. These are not expensive cars ,relatively speaking, and this can often be the cheaper alternative. Unfortunately, this advice is not what people want to here so it is often not well received and followed. Nevertheless, it may be the best advice depending on the status of your particular vehicle.
YES the BODY Shell "E" designation was used for all those vehicles BUT ..... It does not mean the Frames are the same for all . Even the same year front drive and rear drive are NOT the same .
Ammar, You’ve started several threads here without reading the advice of those posting. These are some of the most knowledgeable Buick guys on the planet. They’re here to help. With that being said and trying to paste together previous threads you’ve started, your build would be insanely awesome when completed. With that being said, your entering into unchartered territory and will be pioneering several things. It will take someone with incredible skill to pull off what your trying to accomplish. I hope to see it done, but it starts with the research, and google doesn’t always have the answers. I look forward to seeing your progress. You should start a build thread in “members rides” to track your progress and help keep your questions consolidated to one post.
What is the difference between the 71-72 frame and the 73 frame? I have a 72 Riv and have a 73 parts car. I was planning to use the 73 frame so I could get it cleaned and setup and then swap the 72 body over to limit downtime. Bad idea?
Ken . I think the 73 frame is different because of the 5 MPH bumpers that were required in 73 . If I'm mistaken let me know. I'm going to dig out the parts book on Tuesday and see what they say
71-72 frame is # 1239938 for all "E" series . 73 frame is # 325888 for series EY 87 which is Riv . This according to my Parts book dated Oct.1977 covering ALL Buicks thru 1975 . As I said in the previous post I believe its because of the 5 MPH bumper requirement
Thanks! Saved me from doing a lot of work on the wrong frame. I guess I need to off my '73 parts car as it's of no value to me.....
