GM A body frames....why doesn't anyone re-pop these with mods?

[Nicks67GTO]

A lot of our beloved 64-67 or 68-72 GM A-bodies have frames that have been hit, rusted out, cut up etc. It can get pricey to find a good "rust free" one for replacement, only to have to have it checked at a frame shop and pulled on for a couple hundred more bucks. Then to box it, powdercoat it....on and on. I'm in this situation. I need a frame for my car because it got popped hard a LONG time ago, having a hack mess the frame up to make the car driveable but leaving a rust free frame in basic disrepair after the butcher work. I found a Montana frame locally so i got by without having to pay to have one shipped. I'm still going to have the frame checked out to make sure its square before i go boxing and powdercoating the dang thing. Ill be in well over $1K on just a stock frame. I could see where if a guy lived in the rust belt like I do and wanted a good frame, he could end up into it for over $2K really fast just on a frame, if he can find a good one to start with. Iv'e seen rusty junk going for 500-700 bucks...

Anyhow this leads me to my question.....why hasn't a business taken these frames on for the enthusiast that doesn't need/can't afford a $10-20K frame setup? Stamp them out, make a few upgrades to the process, allow for stock arms or the vast amount of upgraded aftermarket solutions, allow for options....



-Start with the stock A body frame stamped, welded, and out the door

-Add pricing for a rear mini tub frame rail, boxed in rails, a stamped crossmember etc... or whatever other options could be available.

-Add powdercoating

I would think the tooling would be pricey but the product would sell.....Has anyone tried or ever looked into this?

[1989GTA]

Are the 64-67 and 68-72 A-body frames that much different. It appears that the suspension stuff will interchange through the years. I know that the later A-body shells are wider. I am just wonder the difference if any between the early and later frames?

[MarkM66]

They're out there, so there's not much of a market for them IMO.

Now especially, since people are removing them for all the aftermarket frames.

I'm actually surprised they started making stock replacement sub frames for Camaros/Novas. People are giving those things away.

[MuscleRodz]

Both Ironworks and Roadster Shop have custom frames available. Be prepared to spend $16k-$20k

[srh3trinity]

I think JCG has been developing an A-body frame. They did a tri-5 weld together kit (or was that Ironworks?). The A-body frame is in their build thread. https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...p-Builds/page2 I haven't seen any pricing yet.
I can't imagine the amount of work that goes into building one. Not to mention the price that materials cost. A jig to build them on would take up a lot of space and you are going to have to cut up parts and do the welding. If you are going to mod stock frames, you have to find a steady supply of them. It would be hard to source them quick enough for some people that wanted a nice budget option on a time crunch. You could go with a weld in front subframe like DSE or what Mock is doing with his Chevelle. That might save you some, but it isn't really a budget option so to speak. The market for this is only so big which is why prices have stayed relatively high for aftermarket pro-touring stuff.

[Nicks67GTO]

Both Ironworks and Roadster Shop have custom frames available. Be prepared to spend $16k-$20k

Exactly. A Lot of companies have frames available but they're custom built units and theyre not priced in the realm of possibility for most enthusiasts. $16-20K on a chassis isnt in the cards for anyone I know.

[Nicks67GTO]

They're out there, so there's not much of a market for them IMO.

Now especially, since people are removing them for all the aftermarket frames.

I'm actually surprised they started making stock replacement sub frames for Camaros/Novas. People are giving those things away.

Yeah theyre out there, but theyre a crap shoot at best anymore. You might have a couple hundred bucks wrapped up in gas and a weekend of travel just to buy a frame that needs to be straightened out or worse?? I'm in Iowa and I was extremely fortunate to know a guy who had been hoarding a rust free Montana frame for 20+ years. My other options I could find at the time were a Minnesota frame that looked sketchy for $5-600 that I had to pick up and a North Dakota frame that was going to eat me alive in shipping or gas money, just the frame was going to be $750. I don't think they're plentiful all across the country anymore. Maybe in CA, AZ, TX etc but certianly not here or anywhere around the midwest/rust belt.

[Nicks67GTO]

And I agree 100% on the factory Camaro/Nova subframe. Those are everywhere, theyre cheap, and they easily fit into a pickup bed so hauling isnt an issue. If theres a market for those there has to be a market for A body frames??!!

[KnightMare]

I'm surprised that at the minimum the 68-72 frame aren't reproduced since dynacorn is making the 70 chevelle shell.

[71RS/SS396]

There are repop frames or stampings out there. IMCA allows them to be used as replacements in their racing series, here's one place that sells the stampings http://www.hammondmotorsports.com/products.html but I'm sure there are others and likely some that sell the frames already welded together.

[dontlifttoshift]

The reason you can't find an A body frame is because they are all stashed in Mooresville Indianana........

But seriously, to the OP. How much do you think this would cost? Your worst case scenario up there was $2,000. The repop F body subframes sell for half that for half a frame for a much bigger market.

[Nicks67GTO]

The reason you can't find an A body frame is because they are all stashed in Mooresville Indianana........

But seriously, to the OP. How much do you think this would cost? Your worst case scenario up there was $2,000. The repop F body subframes sell for half that for half a frame for a much bigger market.

HAHA...From what Ive read, I think theres something like 20-25 of them there at least

Im not really sure what I would expect it to cost to be honest?? Im just an enthusiast....not a businessman and i really dont know what it would take. Thats part of my question as to why no one has done it yet. Would it be really expensive with the tooling needed? I know good tooling is very expensive. I used to work in a tool and die shop and watch this stuff be built. I think the potential is there for customers if the price is right. I think I would be in if the price was $2500 bucks for a brand new A body frame stamped with minitub provisions in the rear rails, boxed in, powdercoated and shipped.

[Nicks67GTO]

I'm surprised that at the minimum the 68-72 frame aren't reproduced since dynacorn is making the 70 chevelle shell.

Excellent point

[Mr. Anderson]

I can't see a brand new bare, stock frame going for less than $5k.

Since the volume of frames made would not be worth stamping different rear rails, each mini tubbed frame would be a "stock" one that they had modified. That would add an easy grand. Powder coating, $500 shipping $500.

$7000 for what you want seems likely...

[tommycomfort]

The reason you can't find an A body frame is because they are all stashed in Mooresville Indianana........

But seriously, to the OP. How much do you think this would cost? Your worst case scenario up there was $2,000. The repop F body subframes sell for half that for half a frame for a much bigger market.

HAHA...From what Ive read, I think theres something like 20-25 of them there at least

Im not really sure what I would expect it to cost to be honest?? Im just an enthusiast....not a businessman and i really dont know what it would take. Thats part of my question as to why no one has done it yet. Would it be really expensive with the tooling needed? I know good tooling is very expensive. I used to work in a tool and die shop and watch this stuff be built. I think the potential is there for customers if the price is right. I think I would be in if the price was $2500 bucks for a brand new A body frame stamped with minitub provisions in the rear rails, boxed in, powdercoated and shipped.

An attack on our collection without even mentioning my name? Blasphemy! Luckily I stumbled on this thread! Believe it or not, we're down to only a couple usable frames. Although, my plan is to buy as many 64-67 frames as I can when they pop up on Craigslist.

With all the modifications we have been doing to ours I have been thinking about ways to make upgrades easier. Maybe a whole new replacement frame would be the best answer.

A company we all know bought one of the 68-72 front sections and had to completely cut it up and re-weld it since it was so grossly out of shape.

[MrQuick]

Exactly. A Lot of companies have frames available but they're custom built units and theyre not priced in the realm of possibility for most enthusiasts. $16-20K on a chassis isnt in the cards for anyone I know.

look at it from a business stand point. It cost money to develop this stuff. You just don't pop one out of a machine then weld it together, test it then sell them for $1500. Never going to happen if the company wants to make money. Maybe a company would look to China to do most of the high priced work. But then again, would you buy one made in China?

[MrQuick]

I can't see a brand new bare, stock frame going for less than $5k.

Since the volume of frames made would not be worth stamping different rear rails, each mini tubbed frame would be a "stock" one that they had modified. That would add an easy grand. Powder coating, $500 shipping $500.

$7000 for what you want seems likely...

I agree, Look at the detail and engineering that went into doing the DSE hydro frame, and at $7k, they seem to be selling well. We are rehabilitating a 67 Convert frame and we will have $2k in it easy just correcting the factory welds and a crack.

[MrQuick]

There are repop frames or stampings out there. IMCA allows them to be used as replacements in their racing series, here's one place that sells the stampings http://www.hammondmotorsports.com/products.html but I'm sure there are others and likely some that sell the frames already welded together.

well that changes a bunch. Wonder what they are selling for? I tried a search for others but didn't see anything.

[Barrrf]

Im guessing the reason why these arent repopped is the same reason why Anvil discontinued there line of A-Body CF stuff.

Market.

[SPDMETL]

Anybody know what it would cost to buy a frame from GM for a new half-ton?