Project 85 Black 442 frame off restoration

[tobyp]

Looking good! I will be observing your build, as I am currently resurecting a 85' 442 as well... Did the floor pans have any holes or strictly surface rust? My car has almost no rust on the entire body/frame, but does have some in the t.top area & the floor pans have about 10 very small holes...must be from water logged carpet, someone thought it would be a good idea to add a layer of carpet over the existing carpet... Keep up the good work @ I'd keep the Canadian gauges if they are original! Good tip 69hurst, I have my fenders off so I will check that out!

Agreed 69hurst on the tip on the water leakage. When my clip comes off I will look for that seam. Fader, my floor pans only had one small rust hole through to the "flash light". I plan on taking a little brazing or mig weld that little area. The hole is about as big as a pencil tip, so not too bad. The rest was surface rust that was easily removed with a coarse wire wheel and primed, and satin black painted. I will keep the metric gauges. If they stay inside it give the car more mystery and makes confirmation of it being 1 of 200 exports to Canada. Next stop after I return from the orient next week is to get my frame into my garage (hanging above the 442 from the ceiling) welded up and off to the powder coater for a bead blasting and a nice finish of satin 80% black.

 

[MR442]

These gauges r known to have issues . May have just been swpped at one time. But cool.

In 89 I bought a 87 442 with 11000 miles on it . Had a chebby 305 in it that had correct date .It had been wrecked less than year after new. Couldn't figure the going to trouble of 305 swap way not 350? But GM Dealer told me everything checked out at time.

Odd stuff happens on assembly line...

 

[tobyp]

I wanted to get the frame out of the elements, close to my plasma cutter and welder, so I wanted it in my garage. Problem was I have a two car garage, the wife gets one spot, the 442 gets the other. So, we went up in the air with it. Next step will be cutting out the bad, and welding her up and puting the new frame rails in.

 

[fraido2002]

Toby,

I'm sur you are aware but i figure I would say it just in case. You are aware that your 85 with the 200 4r has a small frame extension on the driver side that your donor frame(pinky) does not have. You will need to cut it off of your 442 or a different donor. Just an FYI if you didn't already know. Also, great work, looks great.

 

[tobyp]

Toby,

I'm sur you are aware but i figure I would say it just in case. You are aware that your 85 with the 200 4r has a small frame extension on the driver side that your donor frame(pinky) does not have. You will need to cut it off of your 442 or a different donor. Just an FYI if you didn't already know. Also, great work, looks great.

Thanks Fraido. Yea, was aware of that extension. I also have another donor car sittign beside what was Pinky that is an 85 regal which I will steal that extension from.

 

[1bad79]

toby could you post a close up pic of your shifter bracket im switching over to a floor shifter and would like to see what the shifter screws to i got a diagram from evan but pic would help to thanks steve

 

[tobyp]

toby could you post a close up pic of your shifter bracket im switching over to a floor shifter and would like to see what the shifter screws to i got a diagram from evan but pic would help to thanks steve

When I did my 81 I made a mistake by placing the back bracket directly on the top of the tunnel. Make sure you observe that it sits slights to the drivers side. Also make note that the rear shifter bracket also sits slightly to one side.

 

[1bad79]

thanks toby, those pics will really help. good luck with your project looks nice car

 

[tobyp]

Got into the frame since my return from my trip. I got some much needed frame washers from Gbodyparts and went to town cutting out the bad and replacing with the new. Now no one pick on my welding jobs now..... I am used to stick welding heavy stock so I had to get used to the MIG setup.

 

[splitsecond]

Good work!
I would like to replace my frame but I do not want to take away the original numbers matching frame, did you happen to find a VIN stamped on the frame anywhere?
Perhaps on the passengers side where the door hinge area would sit?
Could you post a photo?