Thanks , will try and keep the pictures coming! The body can be lifted off the frame enough to work on the frame and body! What a friend of mine did was to take and make a tall pedestal so the body sat almost 2 feet above the frame! He took a large heavy washer and welded it to both ends of pipe , the length of the pipe on the front half of the frame was the same! He then used long treaded rod to bolt into the body mounts and utilized the mount holes in the frame!
Yesterday and today , I pulled the motor out of the frame removed the suspension. Frame mounts also! I also ground a little welding slag off and took the air nozzle and blew out the frame front to back ! My buddy Randy welded up a few holes in the rear crossmember left from a trailer hitch and bracket for the 4 speed linkage! Also had to straighten the lip of the rear crossmember a little heat, hammer and some motorcycle straps to pull it back in shape! Getting it ready for powder coat!
Here are some of the vin and inspection marks and where they are placed on the frame! For reference! Notice the double stamping on the side rail! Looks like they first tried to stamp it on the curve which didn’t work well and they restamped it! Also note the 8 with the small dot next to the vin ! Might be 8 degrees!?
So I gave my GS THE FINGER today! Lmao The smooth the seam sealer finger! Sealed inside floors, kick panels wheel housing, trunk and back of taillight panel! After some dry time I will spray a little chassis black ! Only a little more seam sealing, paint part of the back of the right quarter, internal paint rockers and trunk drops! Then we are going to possibly strip the top, filler panel, quarters etc…
Looks good! The frame stamping is interesting. I know there were a few suppliers for the frames. One of them was Pontiac Division, another was AO Smith and another was Parrish Pressed Steel. I don't believe there was distinction about which plants used which frames. My Flint-built car has a Pontiac-made frame.
Thank you! Would have never got this far without my buddy Randy’s help! Yes different frame builders! The one that drives me nuts is the 4 different jack manufacturers! 3 different paint suppliers and different fastener manufacturers! Too
Off to the sandblaster today , then powder coat! So here is what we used to get the frame on the roll bed without hand lifting! First put a wheel dolly under the center cross member then just strapped the rear end to the frame up easy up on the bed! Sandblaster had the skid loader for easy off the roll bed and onto the heavy duty sawhorses!
Nice!! That is so much better than manual removal. A real chore and you can't get all the areas well. I'm hoping that rust encapsulator inside and out will be good enough for mine. Wish I had tried to go your route. Much success to you.
Rotisserie! They make a restorer’s life easier! lol So painted up the last remaining item to get por 15 and chassis black! The back of the right hand quarter! Also bead blasted and por 15 the exhaust hangers and washers, sway bar holders, front brake line brackets, and rear frame stiffeners! Paint with chassis black and spray gray is next! Got to get the chassis rolling soon!
So got 30 minutes in and bolted a few pieces on! Test fitted fuel and brake lines have to smooth out the shipping bends that are in them!
Thanks guys! Boy there is serious work going on with other members cars also! Got a few minutes to look and read the posts! EXCELLENT!! I finally got the chance to put some paint down on the bolt on components! I had tried in the morning and afternoon but the wind was crazy! The garage I’m working in is not the best so didn’t help to be inside! So I waited till about 10pm!
So I waged war on the chassis today fought and wrestled with it! Fuel/ brake line clips,fuel and brake lines were disappointing , rear end and trailing arms getting to line up with axle! Did the one man show should have probably had a helper! Frame did slip off stands and put some scratches on it! I didn’t let it win!!! Tomorrow or should I say today is the hard one , front springs , spindles and no engine weight to help!
Jon, Put a chain around the top of the frame and under the base of the floor jack when compressing the front spring with the lower control arm. That will keep the frame from rising away from the floor while compressing the spring so you can secure the upper ball joint. I`ve done this many, many times. I have a mini come along which I wrap around the frame and jack so it makes the job easy. Be careful, alot of energy there... Tom Mooney
Interesting , thought about doing something similar, but didn’t want to wreck the powder coating! I borrowed a buddies nice spring compressor which worked good, the left spring compressed and stayed straight went in like butter! The Right one took three tries! First time spring didn’t stay straight, Second time got the bolt to far out on the top! , third time gotter in , but spring didn’t want to sit in the indented pocket! Had to twist her a little! Next is quick ratio steering box, tie rods and adjuster, idler arm, nos center link! Going to have to do some painting/ repainting! Oh and shocks! Maybe sway bar too?
On the frame finally! My buddy gets his garage back! Just my buddy and I got it done! Coming back to my garage for more front end work, exhaust hangers , change out rear end to full restored one, rear shocks! Then going to start bolting on doors and front sheet metal ! Checking the fit! Still have taillight section to straighten out and decklid!
Few more showing ride height before reassembly! Got to repaint and change out some pieces, restore and install spindles, sway bar front and back, get rear end checked and installed, muffler and tailpipe hangers! Thanks again guys for the nice comments! Sure wish Dad and buddy Gil were here to see this car getting better and closer!
