what would be my best option here. the rear frame rails are starting to look like a cancerous lung. would it benefit better by getting new rear frame rails or to try and find a good frame all together?
get new rails or find a frame??
- Thread starter That 4 door guy
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I would get a new frame all together. That way you can clean it up and paint it and sit the body down on it.
I agree to get a new frame, that way you can redo the brake lines and fuel lines easily and box the c section of the frame
Either way .. But you have to lift body to place other fram rails in . If you r that far . go for frame swap . Will cost more as you will want to regasket motor to say the least while its out . And go into other stuff swapping back. But will have a solid ride. when done.
you don't know the condition of your frame in the body bushing locations so you should have a look at those locations before you decide. That's why it may be a good idea to have another frame ready unless you don't mind parking the car till you do find another frame if yours is worse than you thought.
Replacing the entire frame is great if you have the space to do so...
But realistically, replacing the rails is pretty simple, and there is no need to lift the body from the frame... All you really need to do is drop the gas tank.
You can get yourself a pair of new rails or some clean originals and even have them welded in by a reputable shop for a few hundred bucks.
But realistically, replacing the rails is pretty simple, and there is no need to lift the body from the frame... All you really need to do is drop the gas tank.
You can get yourself a pair of new rails or some clean originals and even have them welded in by a reputable shop for a few hundred bucks.
Better check with your local DMV first. They usually look down at frame swaps and usually presume you are guilty of theft or fraud. They can get really pissed off if the numbers on the frame don't match the vin and in some areas will take your car and crush it for that (mainly the southwestern states). The vin is chopped-up and encrypted on various parts of the frame, so if you see any alpha-numeric codes, don't touch them.
I wasted a lotta money replacing my frame rails. Only later to find out the trunk floor was not fixable and was hard to find another trunk floor pan and fabricating was a headache and more money.
Ended up finding another GP and used it's frame which was solid.
If your frame rails are bad, chances are the rest of the frame is not so good either.
The good part is that I was able to clean the new one, box it in, paint it etc... and use all new body mounts/bushings etc..
The bad... it takes time, but do it right the first time -- so you don't waste time/money like I did.
Ended up finding another GP and used it's frame which was solid.
If your frame rails are bad, chances are the rest of the frame is not so good either.
The good part is that I was able to clean the new one, box it in, paint it etc... and use all new body mounts/bushings etc..
The bad... it takes time, but do it right the first time -- so you don't waste time/money like I did.
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