86 442 frame-off

[jackfrost]

well, my project isn't nearly as cool as what ya'll are doing, but here's whats happening:

I have an Olds 403 smallblock coming together, so I was planning a motor swap this winter. then I got to thinking, pulling the front clip isn't so hard, and it'll let me clean, detail and paint everything in the engine compartment. of course, nothing is that simple, and it becomes the classic "mightaswell" case.

before:


progress:




to get at the bolts for the right fender, you need to open the door... since it's like 20* outside, I just jockeyed the car around with floor jacks.

there's a good foot in between cars...



to get the HVAC unit out, the dash has to come out. (i didn't know this before I started) now look:




at this point the old 307 is ready to come out. i was underneath the rear unbolting the driver tailpipe, and I put my hand up between the frame and body, where there is a body bushing behind the rear wheel. well, i pulled out this:


that's supposed to be a bolt.

but the frame appears solid, which is usually a problem on these cars.

soo... now I know the body needs to come off the frame at least a little to put new body bushings in it (not so bad, since it will firm up the ride as well). then I get to thinking, well, if I lift the body all the way off, I can clean up the frame and get it painted up nice. also, i found some rot in the floor on the passenger side that needs repaired, so the rest of the interior will be coming out.

my biggest problem (besides lack of money) is space! as you can see from the pics, i have two cars in the garage, and not much room on the sides. my house has no basement and tiny attic. I think the Javelin might have to sit outside in the snow for a few weeks.

anyway, that's the current state, minus a couple small things I've been working on after work. i'll add more pics later.