I'm new - my uncle gave me his Cutlass Cruiser

[carmangary]

My uncle gave me his old 79 Cutlass Cruiser. It is nice and straight with not much rust except for the rear portion that the rear bumper bolts to. For some reason, that part of the frame is swiss cheese but I can weld some new metal in there I guess. Engine is worn but runs OK. No dents. So, I figure I'll fixer up and drive it to work. The only interior piece missing is the rear tailgate plastic panel. I have a feeling I will never find one of those in decent shape. I might make one out of sheet metal unless some has a better idea. Anyway, I have a lot to learn. I restored a 69 VW Karmann Ghia to show condition so I am not new to fixing up cars but this thing is a little bigger and the engine has more hoses. 🙂

 

[Speedzter]

Sounds sweet!
Got pics???

 

[SnoPro]

Welcome and post some pics 🙂 Im also missing that plastic peice for the middle of the bumper lol, its such a gaping hole id love to fix it, but havent come across one eaither 😛

 

[madmaxstyle]

Good deal. I would say if your frame is swiss cheese because of the silt that collects in the rear portions of the frame.

Clean it really good the first time then keep it clean in there. There will be silt in there. I took 1/2 inch of it out of my G body frame. I have chunks I keep on my shelf to remind me.
I hosed it out with the water hose first then the air hose, then I tried to scrape it with a chunk of stiff wire and a screwdriver and blew it out again.

I heard somewhere its illegal to weld on a frame but I'm kind of confused because you see lowriders that have extensively modified frames

maybe its just frowned upon?

 

[Blake442]

Welcome!

Rear frame rails on these cars are a notorious rust spot. Clean rails are easy to section in, or there is also a fellow up in Canada that makes them.
Where are you located? I happen to have one of those plastic interior tailgate pieces... though it's a tad rough...


madmaxstyle: It is most certainly not illegal to weld on a frame... I don't know who told you that, but never listen to them again.

 

[carmangary]

Can you upload pictures here or do they need to be hosted? I am not familiar with this website software yet.

I'm in North Carolina. When you say that tailgate piece is rough, how rough do you mean? 🙂 I actually have the original but it is cracked and not useable. I have been finding the other door panel pieces at junk yards. Found the front door bottoms in a Buick Regal but they are brown instead of red. I need to figure out how this plastic dye stuff works and redo all of the interior pieces.

I'd be hesitant to mess with a car with a rusty frame but since it is only at the back and really doesn't support much I am not worried about it. Someone mentioned you can buy those rear pieces from someone? Do you have a link?

I have more questions but I think I should post them in the Wagon forum.

Thanks!

 

[joe_padavano]

I heard somewhere its illegal to weld on a frame but I'm kind of confused because you see lowriders that have extensively modified frames

Frames on these cars are mild steel. Welding is not only allowed but very easy to do. Considering that GM sold segments of the frame for crash repair, why would they do that if it was illegal? Weld repairs of truck frames are very common.

For the rear frame rail repair, get the repro rails from Conrad Lozier:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/conradlozier/

Be aware that there are three different versions of the rear frame rails - coupes and sedans, wagons, and El Caminos. He sells all three.

 

[carmangary]

Hey, thanks for the link. Those things would save me a lot of work.

 

[Longroof79]

You now have to brush up on your cutting and welding skills. :wink:

 

[carmangary]

I'm pretty good at cutting and welding. What I am most concerned about is how I am going to have enough room to weld the frame with the body on. Maybe I can lift the back up a foot or so? Removing the body sounds like more than I want to do. Has anyone removed the body or lifted it up a bit on one of these type of cars?