Anyone know of any GOOD frame repair shops?

[MrSony]

I bought a 1970 Ford Thunderbird Sedan with a 429 and C6 trans in December of last year and drove it until Christmas because it kept trying to kill me.It also has a Poopy 2.xx open rear end, but gobs of low end grunt. Sad to say, these 45 years haven't been too kind to the old girl. Frame rot is noticeable, floors are gone, and if you just outright smack the car you can see piles of what's left of the car fall to the ground. But, I want to keep it. When's the last time you've ever seen a car this badass, or a sixth gen (1970-71) 'Bird? It's pretty much all stock except a half *ss MSD conversion, and flowmaster 2 inch or something exhaust.
SO, rambling aside, I plan to separate the body from what's left of the frame this summer if all goes as planned (might put that up on here if you all want) and I was wondering, if I got the money, would it be worth just sending the frame to a collision/repair shop and just have them deal with it? I have no welder, nor any welding experience but I do know the basics. I do want to learn however, just not on something "structural". Anyone have any experience in sending it to someplace to have it done? Also I'm in Des Moines Iowa.


The car looks better in pictures rust wise. It's not even really noticeable until you get about 5 feet away. Then you go bug-eyed.

 

[lilbowtie]

Another project?? By the sound of it I would be looking for another body if you really want a Bird.

 

[MrSony]

It's the same Bird I've been yapping about for the past few months. I have that and my Regal getting the 350/th350 transplant hopefully before summer. I might not actually disembowel the bird just yet. Worst comes to worse, I have my eye on a purdy lil 71 mercury cyclone in Little Rock AR that needs some love. That 429/C6 would be right at home in there.

 

[MrSony]

Just looked on AR craigslist. Bummer, post is gone. But there is a 71 Torino near my highschool. 😀 Ah, pipe dreams sure are fun.

 

[lilbowtie]

Sounds like you need a Ford fourm.

 

[joesregalproject]

I know a great frame shop here in Pittsburgh, but that's a haul from Des Moines. I can get you their info if you'd like, but like I said, it's a haul. They are really good at what they do though, I've passed a couple jobs that I wasn't confident enough to handle over to them and I've never been disappointed. They did some frame work on my old Lincoln, they made a new K-member for a customers Buick Lesabre, and I know they do rocker panels and floors as well. Good guys and high quality work.

 

[MrSony]

I know a great frame shop here in Pittsburgh, but that's a haul from Des Moines. I can get you their info if you'd like, but like I said, it's a haul. They are really good at what they do though, I've passed a couple jobs that I wasn't confident enough to handle over to them and I've never been disappointed. They did some frame work on my old Lincoln, they made a new K-member for a customers Buick Lesabre, and I know they do rocker panels and floors as well. Good guys and high quality work.

Hah. If only they were 800 miles closer... well it COULD be done. It's a 12 hour drive according to google maps to Pittsburgh from Des Moines. On the Bird I have it's got (the frame at least) fist sized holes in at least 4 spots and some little quarter sized holes up on the front. It's totally fixable, but cost is a worry. Do you remember how much your Lincoln cost, and how bad was it? I would have the body off and frame stripped before I even took it anywhere.

 

[joesregalproject]

My Lincoln they worked on was a '98 town car and it had a hole about 3" in diameter where the upper control arm on the front passenger side mounted. They made a patch out of 1/4 plate steel and TIG welded it in. I paid $100 for that repair. On the Lesabre they did for a customer, it was a 1994 and the entire K member on the passenger side was rusted away. I told the owner to start looking for a new vehicle, but I gave him their number if he wanted to check. To my surprise, they fabricated an entire frame rail for the car for $300. They made it out of plate steel that was probably stronger than original. They are great guys, been in business a long time. They do quality work for fair prices. I always recommend them to anyone who needs automotive frame work or welding done.

 

[MrSony]

My Lincoln they worked on was a '98 town car and it had a hole about 3" in diameter where the upper control arm on the front passenger side mounted. They made a patch out of 1/4 plate steel and TIG welded it in. I paid $100 for that repair. On the Lesabre they did for a customer, it was a 1994 and the entire K member on the passenger side was rusted away. I told the owner to start looking for a new vehicle, but I gave him their number if he wanted to check. To my surprise, they fabricated an entire frame rail for the car for $300. They made it out of plate steel that was probably stronger than original. They are great guys, been in business a long time. They do quality work for fair prices. I always recommend them to anyone who needs automotive frame work or welding done.

Cool. I hope they're still in business by the time I get around to separating the body,

 

[joesregalproject]

Cool. I hope they're still in business by the time I get around to separating the body,

I'm certain they will be. It's a guy and his son who run it, and the senior is beginning to retire but his son is just as good if not better than he was. I'll PM you their info.