86 442 frame-off

[rmccubbin]

That's some awesome work Dave. Keep us updated with pics!

[jackfrost]

alright... here's some of the carnage:

passenger footwell


rear seat, passenger side


T-tops



driver floor


driver quarter, old repair


and here's the one that made me decide to go for the media blasting. this is supposed to be a body mount, right behind the driver rear wheel


that one will be fun to fix. I think i will probably cut out that whole section and build a box out of 16 ga that will be the body mount.

[jackfrost]

more pictures.

just got my engine stuff back from the machine shop last week.

Keith-Black pistons, special made to boost compression ratio in a 403. final comp will depend on other stuff, but normal for these pistons is 9.4:1 instead of the lousy 7.9:1 you'd get w/ stock replacement pistons. stock rods, ARP rod bolts.


block bored out to 4.375". biggest bore GM ever made.
ARP main bolts. crank cut 0.010", polished, chamfered oil holes.


beauty shot:



next up is heads, but I will wait until the body/frame is blasted and primed to do those.

[EagleEye]

wow.
yours is scaring me.

i'm kinda wondering how your going to brace it. do you plan on removing the doors at all.
i've heard bad things about pulling T-top body off a frame. i've heard flexes more than a convert.
would like to do frame resto while body is being prepped.

yeah, i'm still scared to dig into mine. it looks really nice on outside, but it's a Michigan lifer but orig owner did garage it most of it's life. just last few years it was sittin outside.

my bodywork won't be starting for a couple years tho..

keep those pics coming..............

[jackfrost]

i'm kinda wondering how your going to brace it. do you plan on removing the doors at all.
i've heard bad things about pulling T-top body off a frame. i've heard flexes more than a convert.

doors are out. the body doesn't flex at all, not sure where you heard that.

here's a pic of the media blaster loading it. the straps are going through the rear taillight holes and the firewall.

[Code Red]

ewww cancer I feel your pain though better be heading over to restoration world

[No one]

Any updates?

[Sowardjr]

Good luck with your project. I have an 82 Monte and I'm in the process of taking the body off the frame to box and move the frame rails inboard and mini tub it. I have three body mount bolts that's just spinning, so it looks like I'll be cutting through the floor to tack them in place. Keep the pics coming.

[jackfrost]

I have three body mount bolts that's just spinning, so it looks like I'll be cutting through the floor to tack them in place.

i had this happen with a couple. I just drilled down w/ a 1/8" bit from above close to the bolt, and left the bit in place. then remove the bolt, as the drill bit keeps the nut from spinning.

although, I think I'll have to end up cutting a piece of the floor out anyway when I put the body back on the frame.

[GBodyGMachine]

Thats how I did my frame. Easy isn't it?
Keep up the good work!

[jackfrost]

wow. it's been awhile since an update. I spent most of the summer working side jobs to try and save up some money to put toward the project. every time I'd put some together, some other expense would pop up.

anyway - i'm pretty excited to have some progress to report. sunday I loaded up my friend's trailer with anything rusty I could find, and monday morning (35*F and raining) drove it across town to the blaster


Dayton Metal Prep

they will be staying away from the flat surfaces like the quarters and roof, but going to town on everything else. after the picture was taken I loaded up the rear window w/ duct tape to protect it. he said they would probably get to it next week.

i'm looking forward to having a rust-free project!

[BigBlockOlds]

Dave emailed me today and said you took everything over there. Let me know how everything turns out. I had hoped to have my frame to them here before Thanksgiving but ran into a few problems that set me back a bit.

Looks good!

[jackfrost]

whoops. forgot to post an update. I got all my stuff back from the blaster after Thanksgiving. outside temp was about 30*




I knew not to expect any good news from the blaster, but I've got a lot more work ahead of me than I thought. here's the gory details:

inner fenders:


t-tops & roof

[jackfrost]

floors:




rockers:



I picked up a 60gal Devilbiss compressor off of craiglist, so I'm good to go for lots of grinding and sanding.

[gearheads78]

If this is a "mini" frame off I would hate to see you go all out

Looks like you will be a very good welder when this is all done. Its a cool project keep going.

[jackfrost]

If this is a "mini" frame off I would hate to see you go all out

Looks like you will be a very good welder when this is all done. Its a cool project keep going.

hah. it started as a motor swap, clean-it-up sort of deal. then I discovered half the body mounts weren't holding the body on anymore.

is there a way to change the thread title?

[icebird84]

nice project , you have some body work to do, I´m looking forward to your next update

hah. it started as a motor swap, clean-it-up sort of deal. then I discovered half the body mounts weren't holding the body on anymore.

is there a way to change the thread title?

go to the first post in this thread , edit it there in go advanced

[CRCRFT78]

It seems these g-bodies are prone to rust. I keep finding more on my Malibu everytime I look at something else. Keep up the good work though.

[BigBlockOlds]

Haha, I know that feeling. My project started as a simple "scuff & paint" 5 years ago. :(

[MZ 500]

Wow I think that T-Top area is going to be the hardest part are you going to try and fab it? you will want to get it epoxy primed soon I didn't get mine painted in time and got a lot of flash rust it only took a day or so to show up. Looks like your in it for the long hall just keep after it you will get there.

Matt