I have a decent bodied 70 skylark hardtop with a semi rusty frame that would need welding in one spot for sure, and needing new suspension bushings etc. and a rusted out floored bondoed 70 skylark post coupe with a NICE frame and new springs, bushings, shocks, and for some reason its 350 engine gets 21 mpg! Whats involved in swapping the body to the frame? anyone done it? I have basic tools and know I would remove the gas tank, unhook brakelines, wires on firewall, unbolt the body and jack it up on boards probably, and roll out the chassis, do the reverse to put it on the other frame. I haven't done steering stuff before though, any tips for the column?. It would give me a chance to paint up (and undercoat maybe) the floor of the body I want to keep too.
Well, this is in the wrong section but Lord willing I will do my best to answer it. I replaced the frame on my 71 Riviera after a bad incident with a curb. Pulling the frame is fairly easy, their aren't to many tricks to it, it just takes time. You need to pull the engine, trans, suspension, rear axle, fuel tank and of course the brake and fuel lines. I forgot about the brake lines and when I dropped the frame they lost their coils, lol. You will need three sets of jack stands and two jacks to get the frame out. You will want to buy some small bags and label them with what bolts go where. The hardest part is getting the car up high enough to pull the frame out. I slide the frame out towards the front of the car and I had to get it high enough for the rear-wheel humps to clear the floorboards (I guess you won't have much trouble clearing the floorboards on the donar car :d I slide the frame, moved the jack stands, slide some more and moved the stands some more. You need two jacks to support the car while you move stands around. Get at least one friend to help you. It took me a total of two months to complete, but I also rebuilt the brakes and the front end while I was at it. I hope this helps, God bless, Tom
well I shouldn't have a reason to pull the engine and trans should I? its connected to teh frame not the body, except some linkages right? Your way is what I intended, cheaper and don't need other people much to help. Thanks for the input, what do I need new? body mount kit?
also... or take off the rear axle either I would think, what do you mean in the wrong spot. Don't I need divine intervention to pull this off well?
