One sunny afternoon, on one of the rare occasions where I let my girlfriend drive my car, she decided it would be a good idea to introduce my 1968 Skylark Custom, (in EXCELLENT un-molested condition) to a GMC Envoy. Their meeting wasn't pleasant, there is heavy damage to the entire front of the car, basically everything from the firewall forward, except for the motor. Now, a few people around my work have laughed at me when I said this, but I want to fix it, and I want to fix it bad. I'm only the third owner and it has just over 100,000 miles on it. Every piece of trim was in pristine condition, the vinyl top looked in practically new, there was no rust or bubbles around the rear window, and the body was straight as an arrow and the interior was like new. Now for the question: The frame is slightly bent on the drivers side just past the engine cradle. I'm not sure about straightening it because I've heard some pretty bad stories about that. I know that there are a lot of GM A-Body cars arround but which ones have a frame similar enought to be swapped if I can't find another Sklylark?
consider my help available if your sorta near milwaukee or lake geneva. sorry I can't supply parts but i do know how to turn a wrench and play with some fire. I hope you get that car back on the road, and your defantly at the right place to make that happen. Nate any chance we can see some pics to see how bad the frame is since it dosen't look like there is much left of a front quarter. Nate
:jd: Hey jasguer, you will probably have an easier time finding a whole new Skylark frame than you will finding a good radiator core support. They are out there, so don't get discouraged, but be patient. The frame shouldn't be a big deal to find from one of the AZ salvage yards I don't think. Straightening it could be tricky, I know squat about it, but I know a car that's dog tracks a mile away and it looks hideous, so make sure if someone attempts to straighten it it's STRAIGHT!
Thanks, Im going to be taking the sawzall to all that twisted metal, and try to salvage anything that will be usefull tonight. Afterwards I will post a better picture of what the frame looks like. The motor will be taken out this weekend and I'm going to check to see if thats alright also. The hood sits like that because when I took the pictures I had already started to take what I could of the core support apart. And that red case......thats the sawzall...
tlivingd - I actually live not to far away I live in Janesville,about a half hour or 45min away from Lake Geneva.
I could be wrong, but it was always my understanding the any 68 GM (and or 68-72) A body 2 door (with exception to the convertible) used the same frame. If the damage to the frame is ahead of the front suspension, you should be ok- my buddy had the same thing happen- and he straigtend the frame no problem.
More pictures and a new problem has came about, The transmission support seems to have separated from the frame?!?! The picture is kind of deceiving because the cross brace is actually about 1 inch away from the frame....
More Pictures...... 2 1/2" Stainless Steel Exhaust from the Manifolds back......Sweet...Only $350 at this place I know.....
Okay now the unfortunate Pictures of the bent frame. It didn't look as bad when the fender was hinding it all. By the way all the stuff that is sprayed all over the place is power steering fluid because I wasn' t sure if the motor still started.. I cranked it over a few times, it started for about 5 seconds and I shut it off...good enough for me.....(I think...)
By the way, Ken Mild, I think after this one I might be in the runnig for "King of the 17 Year Resto's" :grin:
After seeing these photos I went out and hugged my '68 GS that is safely parked in the garage... I hope you can save her jasguer... I may have some front fender trim if you want it.. I will check in my garage attic. :beer
