86 442 frame-off

[BigBlockOlds]

Looking good Dave!

Hopefully I can get you my rotisserie here soon...

I'm on vacation this week and am trying to hit it hard. Finished rebuilding my two body mounts near the back seat and started seam sealing tonight. Tomorrow I hope to start spraying more sound deadening.

I'm shooting to have everything ready to sit back on the frame for the final time this weekend. Once thats done, the rotisserie is all yours.

[jackfrost]

that'd be awesome. but don't rush yourself, I have PLENTY to keep me occupied. :D

[jackfrost]

not much new, but it's been a while since I've posted. Andy was gracious enough to loan me his rotisserie since he's finished with it:



this will make the rest of the body work SO much easier, not to mention there's more room in the garage with the car vertical (and mobile). thanks again Andy.

also, the back half of the car is in epoxy now. the rest is ready, I just need to get the metal cleaned and find time to spray it.

[BigBlockOlds]

Awesome Dave! That rotisserie is nice isn't it! ;) Like you said, not only does it make it easier to work on but the amount of space you get back while having it vertical is great. There's no way I could have gotten the results I did on the underside without it.

Keep it as long as you need it. I'm glad you could make use of it.

[martyd03]

Looks great Dave... keep it up, I can't wait to see these cars finished. It seems that the Dayton area is a pretty good place to find G-Bodies, let me know if you end up at a show with this, I would love to see it in person.
I'm going to have to check out that shop that does the sand blasting. I've been searching for one close to Lancaster/Columbus, but haven't found one anybody would recommend yet.

[Code Red]

not much new, but it's been a while since I've posted. Andy was gracious enough to loan me his rotisserie since he's finished with it:



this will make the rest of the body work SO much easier, not to mention there's more room in the garage with the car vertical (and mobile). thanks again Andy.

also, the back half of the car is in epoxy now. the rest is ready, I just need to get the metal cleaned and find time to spray it.

I can see through your floor ;-)

[jackfrost]

I can see through your floor ;-)

and the rockers... and the quarters... and the windshield frame.. and...


*sigh*

[calcutlass]

i feel the same way, everytime i go in the gararge and see the full hotchkis suspension, new 9 inch extreme sway bar. i smile............then i look at the floor in the car.....damn

[1978Chevette]

You got a lot of work to go, but its going to be worth it...

[jackfrost]

well, I haven't had much time to work on it lately since I've been slammed at work, but I sneak in a few hours here and there. I had one good weekend where I was able to get one side of the frame notch completed.

I went downtown and picked up a 4x4' sheet of 1/8" and a big sheet of 16 ga. use the 1/8" to make the notch panel and it took me probably an entire day of trimming and fitting to get it nice. then I pie-cut the frame where the outside of the rail tied in, to make it look more natural.

here's the pics:


tacked in:


and fully welded:



I also got a new Eastwood Concours spray gun for my birthday, but then promptly ran out of primer. money has been tight, so I've been working on the frame until I can get more primer.

next up is boxing in the C-channels and fixing the body mounts on the frame that have rotted out. I'd like to have the frame completed by winter, but who knows...

[jackfrost]

got a little more done last weekend. I found on the McMaster-Carr website a set of washers the right size to fix the body mounts on the frame. these are 1 1/2" ID, 3" OD, 0.135" thick. 5 pack for $11. I was pleased to find that it only took me an hour or so to do each one. just hogged out the hole to get to good metal with a die grinder and cutoff wheel, then welded in the washer.






still got one left to do.

meanwhile, I cut up some of the 1/8" sheet I have and boxed in the open frame rails:


the other side is done as well, just no pic of it. I'll go back in with a holesaw and open up next to the body mount to be able to get the bushing in.

I also got another shipment of SPI epoxy in, so I can finish primering the body, and shoot some on the frame. just need to do the other side notch, fix the one remaining body mount, and add some gusseting and the frame will be ready for paint.

it's nice to be making progress!

[BigBlockOlds]

Looking good Dave! I really like how you went about your frame notch. Makes it look less like a notch and more like it came that way from the factory.

One thing you might consider is that I was told that you should try to box in the part of the frame where you ended your C channel boxing at.
I was told it would keep that from being a weakpoint in the chassis. I figured a little more metal wouldn't hurt.
You can see how it looks after adding the metal:



Keep up the good work!

[jackfrost]

One thing you might consider is that I was told that you should try to box in the part of the frame where you ended your C channel boxing at. I was told it would keep that from being a weakpoint in the chassis. I figured a little more metal wouldn't hurt.

yep, that's on the list. I was going to just put a square piece over it to tie it in, but I like the way you smoothed yours out. maybe I'll do that instead.

thanks!

[73supreme455]

Nice!! Keep up the good work.

[icebird84]

Nice!! Keep up the good work.

indeed

[Mr. Snrub]

Hats off to you Jackfrost. Very cool build.

[jackfrost]

thanks guys.

I got some more work done this weekend.

did the driver's side frame notch:


I cut out my own brackets to reinforce the LCA mounts:


and added some gussets to the rear axle crossmember. there was a little sheetmetal plate on the PS to shield the fuel lines from rocks and such (I'm guessing), so I just replaced it with 1/8" plate, and put one on the DS:


I also fixed the remaining body mount and cleaned up some of the factory welds where they looked thin. I flipped the frame over, and I want to brace the factory gussets to the rear crossmember so they're a little bit stronger.

after that, though, I'm done modifying the frame. I will start grinding off weld spatter and sand down the grinding, and it will be ready for some paint!

[6spdmalibu]

Came across this diagram:http://gbodyforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=8126
Most of these you've done already, but a few would help further.
Build is looking good BTW.

[malihoochie]

Keep it up! I just pulled the body off of my 1979 Malibu last night. I have been following all these G body frame-off threads with interest lately.
Pretty much I am doing the same as you without narrowing the frame.

[pmgm]

Keep up the good work. That is my next project. Keep us posted with alot of pics..