Frame is bad...

[pontiacgp]

the El Camino frame is basically the same and you can use it with a few minor mods. You'll see the difference in this picture, the El Camino is on the left and the one you need is the middle picture. The rails on the right is for a station wagon. You'll just have to remove the right side body bushing perch and drill three holes in the frame for the body mounts on your car.

So basically in a sense I can take an El Camino frame and take the arms off the Cutlass (if they are good) and replace the ones on the Elco frame and basically put the body on there with a few minor mods?

if you look at the picture I attached you'll see the perch that has to be removed and the 3 holes you have to open up. You can get the locations of the holes from your old frame

 

[YaoGuaiCutlass]

Okay so I have a hook-up on an old cutlass frame that I can use to cut the section out to repair the rear end of my frame or I can buy my buddies Buick Grand National frame (to which I have already bought the rear axle out of) for $350 to put my Cutlass back on and I can just put the axle back on it. It already has good upper control arms, painted frame, new brakes, etc. The car was in a wreck and the frame is still good and my friend decided to just part it out instead of rebuilding it because of body damage and the motor is toast.

Which would be a better Idea? Fix my frame and buy the Buick GN frame for another project (another Cutlass) in the future or just swap the Cutlass onto the GN frame wait to buy another frame to do in the future?

Would love opinions!

 

[Trevor87]

If your planning on doing another project on the side, buy the frame and build the car from the frame up.

 

[cashmoneyspeed]

Frame swap would be the only option if consider if you an on keeping the car. Great time to replace all body bushings, trailing arm bushings, control arm bushings, brake an fuel lines, oil pan gasket if it needs it, rusty floor sections, etc. there's nothing like the feeling of that first drive afte you've put it all back together. The whole front end comes off as one piece, then engine/trans comes out as one, drop the gas tank, disconnect trans linkage, wiring to engine...... Not too bad of a job.

 

[YaoGuaiCutlass]

Okay, I have decided to just rebuild completely. I am going to use the Buick Grand National frame. This way I can replace the body mounts, do brake work, redo the motor mounts, etc. I think I am going to just buy the other frame for a daily driver frame. Thank you for all the suggestions and help 🙂

 

[565bbchevy]

I really don't want to part out my car but I don't have the time and money and tools to do the weld frame piece.

I would replace the rear frame rail that would be the least expensive route even if you have to pay someone to weld it in.
Though I think a frame off restoration would be great, I think people jump at this recommendation all too fast there is a great amount of time, money and tools to do one right and a majority of people lack many of these things including the knowledge to do it or even the knowledge to know that they shouldn't.