frame troubles

[bb89]

my 79 malibu wagon has a extremley rusty frame and most of the bumper supports are rusted off.. i got a 83 Pontiac grand lemans 4 door and the frame is mint on that. is it possible to swap frames?

 

[88ss408]

i dont think that the frames will swap over because the wagon frame is longer but somebody with more exprience with wagons will probley be able to give you a more deffinite anser

 

[shotgun]

AFAIK, the only frame that is different is the El Camino.It has a longer wheelbase.The rest should all swap.

 

[bb89]

ok, sweet. just got the 2 cars about a month ago and wanted to make sure befor i spend alot of money on the frame.

 

[Blake442]

The El Camino is the only G-body with a different wheelbase... all coupes, sedans, and wagons are the same wheelbase.

However, there is a difference between the wagon frames and the coupe/sedan frames in that the left rear frame horn is different to accomodate the location of the fuel tank. The El Camino also shares this difference, since the wagon/elky are the only two to utilize a side fill gas tank.

Maybe a better option than an entire frame swap is to get some clean frame horns and section them in. There is also a gentleman in Canada that makes them. I've seen a seller on eBay from Cali that frequently has sets of clean rear frame horns up for about $150.

 

[85_SS]

Conrad Lozier is the guy in Woodstock, Ontario that makes aftermarket replacement rails:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/conradlozier/

For pics of him installing a set on my car a few years back, check my website.

 

[bb89]

i plan on puting a fuel cell in it anyways located where the spare tire compartment is so im not too concerned about the matching frame horns. but thanks for all the info,

 

[Blake442]

Well the body mount is different too...